Metropol

Didn't Argos announce a while ago that they were scrapping the catalogues? They were still going strong at the store I was in the other week.

Not exactly a collapse, but I just recieved some properly good customer service, via Netflix. They'd put some block on my account as the system had automatically flagged something, so I logged onto the chat service to ask what was up, and within two minutes they'd told me that X was the reason and they'd lifted the block - really surprised because all I ever seem to get from customer service is the person on the other end telling me it's my fault...

No idea if they're a chain or a one-off (only ever seen this one in Stretford Mall), but Internacionale has gone into liquidation.

Internacionale used to have a good number of stores but have since decreased their numbers.

Further details: http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2 ... rnacionale

Neil DG wrote:

That poster in the window acknowledging the 'going into administration' business is quite odd in the sense that it's quite upbeat and jolly when what's happening isn't.

Internacionale seems to go into administration at least once a year, only to be bought back out of it by the owners.

http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2 ... rnacionale

The retailer has struggled in the last few years. It was borne out of the administration of its predecessor, Internacionale Retail limited, which entered administration on 12 July 2013. Prior to the administration of Internacionale Retail, the business employed about 1,500 staff.

There's a bit of history of the brand here. They were originally known as Razzle Dazzle, and I remember two things about them - as a 10-year-old, they were a great place to get Christmas presents for the family; and also that they always seemed to be closing down and popping up as something slightly different. Au Naturale was another of their brands - are they still around? (Did they ever exist outwith Scotland?)

Au Naturale appeared and disappeared fairly rapidly in some fairly obscure locations - Sutton in Ashfield retail park for one.

Internacionale seemed to have been expanding in England at least fairly recently.

An interesting reverse ferret from administrators here in the North East - Collectables, the retailer of tat of many kinds, closed all of its stores when it went into administration last September. Now, still in administration, it is reopening four of them.

Strange move. Especially since 2 of the 4 shops are in the same mall!