Published at 19:31, Thursday, 01 January 2009

STAFF at a Workington shop under threat of closure remain positive about keeping their jobs.

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Adams Kids, which has a shop on Murray Road, has confirmed it could go into administration after creditors began proceedings against the childrenswear retailer.

The notice of intention to appoint administrators, which expires today, was filed on Christmas Eve.

The firm is actively looking to raise funds to avoid going into administration and store manager Dorothy Kirkbride has issued a rallying cry.

She said: “We have been in this situation before and come through the other side.

“We know what the situation is but we are not worried. We will fight for our jobs and stay positive until we are told that it is the end.”

Seven people, with more than 100 years’ of service to the firm, would lose their jobs if Adams did go into administration.

Mrs Kirkbride has been at the shop since it opened 20 years ago, as has Mary Barnes. Faye Heskett and Joan Hunter have been there 19 years, Christine Shepherd started 16 years ago, Pamela Dixon 15 years ago and Gemma Finn has been there two years.

Mrs Kirkbride said it was an incredible achievement to rack up 103 years of service.

She said: “This is my family away from home. We have known each other so long and we all get on.

“It would be a very sad day if I had to say goodbye to my friends but we hope that will not happen.”

Adams Kids has had a bumper Christmas, helped by a sale with more than 50 per cent off some items.

Mrs Kirkbride said: “Our Christmas sales have been great. We are a quality shop selling quality items and that is proven by how good our Christmas sales have been. It has been manic at times, which can only help.”

Adams has 260 outlets in its UK chain and 103 internationally, employing around 2,000 people.

The company, which is celebrating its 75th year, was originally founded in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, cut-price clothes store The Officers Club, which has a branch on Workington’s Murray Road, has reportedly been put on the market by accountants KPMG, although a spokeswoman for the firm would neither confirm nor deny that it was involved.

The Officers Club, set up by Dave Charlton in 1992, has its headquarters in Cramlington, Northumberland.

The firm has 150 outlets across the country and is being marketed as “a distressed sale”, according to the trade magazine Drapers.

When the company began, it sourced clothes cheaply from Asia, selling them under its own-brand labels.

It grew rapidly and, after buy-outs, became Britain’s biggest menswear-only retailer. Staff at the Workington store declined to comment.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk