High Street chain that collapsed costing 11,000 people their jobs to relaunch this week as an online retailer
'Iconic' brand set for relaunch just one month after the last of its stores shut down after 88 years on the High Street
BRITISH Home Stores looks set to relaunch online – just one month after the last of its high-street shops closed for good.
The troubled business went into administration in April this year when a suitable buyer couldn’t be found.
Now BHS International, formed by the Al Mana Group, is relaunching the “iconic” brand for British shoppers.
BHS.com will go live on Thursday, from which point customers will be able to purchase lighting and furniture – some of the retailer’s most popular products prior to its collapse.
Its kitchen, dining and clothing ranges will be made available as early as next month.
The firm’s collapse led to the loss of 11,000 jobs and 22,000 pensions, sparking a cumbersome parliamentary inquiry and a potential criminal investigation for its owners.
Retail mogul Sir Philip Green has been lambasted for his role in what has been branded the “unacceptable face of capitalism” by MPs.
Sir Philip owned BHS for 15 years, before selling it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell for a measly £1 in 2015.
The British businessman has been slammed for walking away with over £400million in dividends from BHS, essentially leaving it with a £571million pension deficit, and selling it to Mr Chappell, who has no retail experience.
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BHS International is keen to stress the online retailer will have no links with either Sir Philip or Mr Chappell.
The new company, based in London, will employ a staff of just 84 people – most of whom worked at BHS before it went into administration.
Speaking on the upcoming website, David Anderson of BHS International, who will oversee the launch, said: "We are thrilled to be relaunching this iconic brand back into the UK.
“It had a loyal customer base with around 1.2 million British shoppers who bought from us online, and for our relaunch we have managed to secure many of the products they liked the most.
"In addition to this, we have developed a new specially designed online platform for our UK business so we are not inheriting any legacy systems, and we were able to recruit the majority of people who worked on the profitable online and international operations of BHS before it went into administration.
"So although we are starting again in the UK, we have a number of advantages over a typical start-up. We are nimble and efficient, but with a great brand, strong customer base and a proven and dedicated team."
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