Concessionaires tell of shock at closure as they try to get their stock released

Former concession-stand operators at Clerys on O’Connell Street in Dublin have stated their surprise at the sudden closure of the department store and called for the release of their stock.

David Jones, the managing director of Best Menswear, which operated a concession in Clerys for six years and employed 25 staff, said trading had improved over the past 18 months, since Clerys reopened following storm damage in 2013. “It had a modern fresh feel to it,” he said.

Mr Jones was aware that Clerys had been put up for sale by its owner, Boston-based Gordon Brothers, but he had no sense that the store would close in such dramatic fashion. “It was our impression that it would be sold as a going concern,” he said, in reference to it continuing to trade. “There was no indication the store was going to close.”

Best has €500,000 worth of stock in Clerys that Mr Jones now wants released. “The stock belongs to Best Menswear,” he said. “It will be difficult but we will fight our way out of this.”

A group of Clerys concession-holders have written to the company’s liquidators KPMG seeking details on the whereabouts of their takings from May, which they were due to be paid yesterday.

Helen Lynch, owners of women’s fashion group Best of Irish Designs, was on holiday in Tenerife when she got news of Clerys’ liquidation. She also has had a concession in Clerys for six years, employing 12 staff.

Ms Lynch has not received any payments from Clerys for her sales since May 1st, but she has had to pay wages and suppliers in the meantime. “The first priority is to get our stock back and to salvage something from the business,” she said.

Ms Lynch added that the liquidators had told her that her €150,000 worth of stock could be released by June 26th. She said this was too late given that they were summer items. “That’s too late, I need my stock ASAP,” she said.

A large number of concession-holders have formed a lobby group to put pressure on the liquidators for payments due and the release of their stock.

In a letter to the liquidators on their behalf, Michael Lavelle of Lavelle Solicitors has sought the release of the summer stock immediately. “Sales of summer stock are being discounted and in three weeks’ time, summer stock will be of no value as autumn stock will be supplied to other clothing stores,” Mr Lavelle states in the letter to the liquidators.