The Original Factory Shop has plunged into administration (Image: Getty Images)
The Original Factory Shop has fallen into administration, it was announced on January 28, putting the future of the chain’s 137 stores and 1,180 staff at risk. The discount retailer, which sells products including clothing and homeware, appointed administrators from Interpath Advisory on Wednesday.
Its shops are dotted across the country, and it counts a total of 97 stores in England, 29 in Scotland, 10 in Wales and three in Northern Ireland. While insolvency experts assess options in a bid to keep the business afloat, these locations will continue to trade. But The Original Factory Shop has now shut down its online operations, although all online sales made before Wednesday will be delivered as normal.
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The Original Factory Shop’s troubles have been driven by challenging trading conditions, linked to high cost inflation, fragile consumer confidence and rising labour costs caused by government policies, according to administrators.
Problems were then said to have been exacerbated by issues linked to its third-party warehouse and logistics operator, weakening sales further.
Rick Harrison, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “The Original Factory Shop has long-been a cornerstone of local high streets up and down the country.
“Unfortunately, however, trading challenges have impacted the business such that the company had to be placed into administration.
“Over the coming weeks, we will be working closely with TOFS dedicated team of employees as we endeavour to operate all stores as a going concern while we assess options for the business.”
The business had filed its intention to appoint administrators earlier this month.
Full list of The Original Factory Shop stores in the UK
Clitheroe – Shawbridge Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire
Rustington – 15 Churchill Parade, Rustington, West Sussex
Newhaven – Unit 1, 3 Drove Road, Newhaven, East Sussex
Nailsea – 61-63 High Street, Nailsea, North Somerset
Penrith – 1 Bowling Green Lane, Penrith
Egremont – Empire Buildings, Main Street, Egremont, Cumbria
Wigton – 5 Market Place, Wigton, Cumbria
Tiptree – The Cross Roads, Kelvedon Road, Tiptree, Essex
Warwick – 40 Market Place, Warwick, Warwickshire
Southam – Oxford Street, Southam, Warwickshire
Atherstone – 59-61 Long Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire
Congleton – Unit 1-5 Bridestone Shopping Centre, Congleton
Stanley – 46-51 Front St, Stanley, Co Durham
Shildon – Church Street, Shildon, Co Durham
Northallerton – 166-170 High Street, Northallerton
Barton on Humber – Malt Kiln Road, Barton On Humber, North Lincolnshire
Cleethorpes – Meridian Point, Kings Road, Cleethorpes
Sturminster Newton – 1 Station Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Blandford Forum – 43B East St, Blandford Forum
Bridport – 34 West Street, Bridport, Dorset
Sherborne – 55 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset
Seaton – 8 Harbour Road, Seaton, Devon
Honiton – 5/7 Lace Walk, Honiton, Devon
Holsworthy – 18/19 The Square, Holsworthy, Devon
South Molton – 75 South Street, South Molton, Devon
Cinderford – 24/26 High Street, Cinderford, Gloucestershire
Lydney – 67A Newerne Street, Lydney, Gloucestershire
Cainscross – 16 Cashes Green Road, Cainscross, Gloucestershire
Bishops Cleeve – Tobyfield Road, Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire
Haslemere – Unit 1, West Street, Haslemere, Surrey
Cranleigh – inside the Co op, Village Way, Cranleigh, Surrey
Ripon – 16 Fishergate, Ripon, North Yorkshire
Hereford – inside the Co op, Grandstand Road, Hereford, Herefordshire
Leominster – 52 Broad St, Leominster, Herefordshire
Ross on Wye – Unit 4a-9, The Maltings, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
Hornsea – Unit 1, 63-69 Newbegin, Hornsea, Yorkshire
Withernsea – 207 Queen Street, Withernsea, Hull
Felixstowe – 180 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk
Leiston – Sizewell Road, Leiston, Suffolk
Saxmundham – Church Street, Saxmundham, Suffolk
Harleston – 50 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk
Watton – 5 Chaston Place, High Street, Watton, Norfolk
Brandon – London Road, Brandon, Suffolk
Lancaster – Wyresdale Road, Lancaster, Lancashire
Ulverston – The Gill, Ulverston, Cumbria
Melton Mowbray – 39/41 Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray
Lutterworth – 26 George Street, Lutterworth, Leicestershire
Mablethorpe – 43 High Street, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
Horncastle – Boston Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire
Garforth – 77-91 Main Street, Garforth, West Yorkshire
Kippax – inside the Co op, 60 High Street, Kippax, West Yorkshire
Prudhoe – inside the Co op, Oakfield Terrace, Prudhoe, Northumberland
Ashington – High Hirst Farm, Ashington, Northumberland
Alnwick – 3-5 Lagny Street, Alnwick, Northumberland
New Ollerton – Unit 1-2 Forest Road, New Ollerton, Newark
Sleaford – Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Rushden – High Street, Rushden, Northamptonshire
Stalham – 131 High Street, Stalham, Norfolk
Attleborough – 4 Church St, Attleborough
Wymondham – Ayton Road, Wymondham, Norfolk
Dereham – Matsell Way, Dereham, Norfolk
Cromer – North Norfolk Retail Park, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk
Gorleston on Sea – Unit 7 The Precinct, High Street, Gorleston on Sea
Wrentham – London Road, Wrentham, Suffolk
Bungay – 40 St Marys Street, Bungay, Suffolk
Todmorden – Sutcliffe House, Halifax Road, Todmorden, Lancashire
Carterton – 15 Alvescot Road, Carterton, Oxfordshire
Holbeach – 51 Fleet Street, Holbeach, Lincolnshire
Spilsby – 35 High St, Spilsby, Lincolnshire
Skegness – Unit 25, The Hildreds Centre, Skegness, Lincolnshire
Snettisham – Lynn Road, Snettisham, Norfolk
Downham Market – Bridge Road, Downham Market, Norfolk
Whittlesey – 21 High Causeway, Whittlesey, Peterborough
Saltash – 130 Fore Street, Saltash, Cornwall
Plympton – inside the Co op, The Ridgeway, Plympton, Plymouth
Garstang – 7 Park Hill Road, Garstang, Preston
Wokingham – 32-33 Market Place, Wokingham
Oxted – 1-3 Station Road, Oxted, Surrey
Langold – Doncaster Road, Worksop, South Yorkshire
Calne – 85 The Pippin, Calne, Wiltshire
Melksham – Market Place, Melksham, Wiltshire
Corsham – 23-25 Martingate, Corsham, Wiltshire
Romsey – 8 Dukesmill Centre, Broadwater Road, Romsey, Hampshire
Gillingham – Station Road, Gillingham, Dorset
Crewkerne – Unit 1-3 South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset
Minehead – Mart Road, Minehead, Somerset
Biggin Hill – 148 Main Road, Biggin Hill, Kent
Heathfield – 14-18 High Street, Heathfield, East Sussex
Headcorn – The Foreman Centre, High Street, Headcorn, Kent
Tenterden – 9-11 High Street, Tenterden, Kent
Bexhill – 8/12 St Leonards Road, Bexhill On Sea, East Sussex
Crowborough – Unit 8/9 Fernbank Centre, High Street, Crowborough, East Sussex
Redruth – Mount Ambrose, Scorrier, Redruth, Cornwall
Newquay – 29 Cliff Road, Newquay, Cornwall
Frodsham – Unit 1 Eddisbury Square, Frodsham, Cheshire
Bridgnorth – 16 High Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Whitby – inside the Co op, Langborne Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire
Stonehaven – 76 Allardice St, Stonehaven
Fraserburgh – 3 Barrasgate Road, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
Buckie – East Cathcart Street, Buckie
Montrose – 36-38 High Street, Montrose, Angus
Monifieth – Monifieth Shopping Centre, 7 Reform Street, Monifieth
Forfar – 167-169 Castle St, Forfar, Dundee
Annan – 54-60 High St, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
Castle Douglas – 127/129 King St, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway
Stranraer – 3 Castle Street, Stranraer, Dumfrieshire
Tranent – Haddington Road, Tranent, East Lothian
Haddington – 24-28 Court St, Haddington
Dunbar – Countess Crescent, Dunbar, East Lothian
Bathgate – 11 Edinburgh Road, Bathgate, West Lothian
Milngavie – 19 Station Road, Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire
Kirkintilloch – 71 Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow
Stornoway – inside the Co op, 8 Macaulay Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Troon – 75-79 Portland St, Troon, Ayrshire
Dalry – Drakemyre, Dalry, Ayrshire
Stewarton – 4-8 High Street, Stewarton, East Ayrshire
Galston – Park Road, Galston, Ayrshire
Thurso – 27-29 High Street, Thurso, Caithness
Cowdenbeath – Woodend Place, Cowdenbeath, Fife
Lanark – 65 High Street, Lanark, South Lanarkshire
Shotts – inside the Co op, Station Road, Shotts, North Lanarkshire
Carluke – 56 Chapel St, Carluke, South Lanarkshire
Campbeltown – 1-3 Main St, Campbeltown, Argyll
Oban – 18-20 Combie Street, Oban, Argyllshire
Kelso – 41 Bowmont Street, Kelso, Scottish Borders
Porth – Dinas Enterprise Centre, Cymmer Road, Porth, Mid Glamorgan
Abergele – Marine Road, Abergele, Conwy
Barmouth – High St, Barmouth, Gwynedd
Porthmadog – 70 High Street, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
Pwllheli – 86 High Street, Pwllheli, Gwynedd
Bangor (N Wales) – The Menai Shopping Centre, Bangor
St. Clears – Pentre Road, St Clears, Carmarthenshire
Cardigan – High Street, Cardigan, Dyfed
Lampeter – inside the Co op, Lower Bridge Street, Lampeter, Ceredigion
Machynlleth – inside the Co op, 80-88 Maengwyn Street, Machynlleth, Gwynedd
Northern Ireland (3 stores)
Warrenpoint – 55 Newry Road, Warrenpoint, County Down
Ballycastle – Market Street, Ballycastle, Moyle
Portrush – 16c Eglinton Street, Portrush, Co Antrim