Jessops shuts up shop as administrators move in (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Jessops shuts shop in Wimbledon as administrators move in

2:30pm Monday 14th January 2013 in News By Lauren May, Chief Reporter

The Wimbledon branch of high street camera retailer Jessops has closed after the company announced it was going into administration last week. 

The company confirmed it would be closing all 187 of its stores with the loss of 1,370 jobs on Friday with customers now unable to return any purchases.

Accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been appointed as the troubled company's administrator.

The firm, which was founded in Leicester in 1935, has been struggling in recent years because of increasing competition from supermarkets and internet retailers.

PwC confirmed that while Jessops was a "well-known brand with a strong reputation for service" it had suffered a significant decline in 2012 which was projected to continue in 2013.

The company narrowly avoided going into administration in 2009 by agreeing a last-minute deal with HSBC.

Did you work at Jessops? Have you been affected by their closure?

Contact the newsdesk by emailing lmay@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 020 87226 336.