Jessops store re-opens in Birmingham
Dragons' Den star Peter Jones has chosen Birmingham as one of the places to relaunch camera retailer Jessops today.
Dragons' Den star Peter Jones has chosen Birmingham as one of the places to relaunch camera retailer Jessops today.
Some 2000 jobs have been put at risk as camera chain Jessops became the first retail casualty of 2013, with store closures "inevitable".
Jessops looks set to become the first high street casualty of 2013 as the retailer is understood to be on the brink of administration.
Midlands camera chain Jessops is back after Dragons' Den entrepreneur, Peter Jones, decided he was going to make them an offer.
It cost him £4 million for 100% of the company.
The group was founded in Leicester in 1935 and had almost 200 stores before they all closed in January 2013 with 1,500 people losing their jobs.
Lee Comley reports.
Chris Edger, Professor of Multi-Unit Leader, Birmingham City University, has told ITV News Central the reopening of Jessops in Birmingham is 'great for customers and employees'.
Dragons' Den star Peter Jones has chosen Birmingham as one of the first cities to relaunch the camera retailer company.
Birmingham has been chosen as one of the first cities to relaunch the camera chain store Jessops.
Dragons' Den star and businessman Peter Jones bought the brand and certain assets after the Leicester based firm went bust at the start of the year.
Also reopening today is the branch on London's Oxford Street.
This weekend four more stores will start trading again in Manchester, High Wycombe, Aberdeen and St Albans, with 30 more planned to re-open throughout April.
Speaking about today's relaunch of camera chain Jessops, new Chief Executive Peter Jones said:
– Peter Jones, Chairman & Chief Executive Jessops"I believe Jessops is an iconic British brand which can lead the retail resurgence on Britain's high streets, powered by new innovations and world-leading, expert staff.
"Image is everything, and even in the mobile and tablet era, there's no substitute for a quality camera when it comes to taking the perfect picture."
Thirty more Jessops stores are due to re-open across the country as part of a £4 million investment by tycoon and TV personality Peter Jones.
The Dragons' Den star bought the brand and certain assets after the Leicester-based camera retailer collapsed in January.
Stores have reopened in Birmingham and also in London's Oxford Street today.It was the first high profile retailer to go into administration this year.
It is not yet clear where the stores will be - but the store's new website will go live at midday.
Dragons' Den star Peter Jones has chosen Birmingham as one of the places to relaunch camera retailer Jessops today.
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A Jessops administrator has said in a statement that the company has been sold to a number of buyers including entrepreneur Peter Jones.
Rob Hunt, joint administrator and partner, PwC said: "We can confirm that we have sold the brand and certain other assets to a number of buyers including entrepreneur Peter Jones CBE."
Restructuring firm, Hilco UK, is in discussions with the administrators of Jesspos, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), about buying the brand.
PwC has already closed all of the Leicester-based chain's 187 shops with the loss of 1,370 jobs.
Reports are suggesting Hilco UK is considering opening Jessops concessions in HMV stores, which the group have bought this week.
Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce says it was surprised by how quickly the Jessops photo shops were closed down. Administrators for the company were called in last week, with all branches closing two days later.
Nearly 1,400 staff are losing their jobs, including those working at the company's head office in Leicester. John Willats reports.
Last week's closure of Leicester-based high street store Jessops, is a sign of the rising popularity of the internet, says Martin Traynor of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce
The camera chain went into administration last week and closed all 187 of its stores in the UK as well as 20 in the Midlands. But the Leicestershire chamber of commerce says the city has performed better than expected during the recession.
Workers of Jessops who seek advice should contact The Retail Trust.