Homebase saves Bathstore – but 200 jobs still at risk

Homebase has bought collapsed bathroom specialist Bathstore, saving around 175 jobs, but leaving 200 more hanging in the balance.

The DIY chain said on Monday it had acquired Bathstore’s website and 44 stores – a month after administrators at BDO were called in.

Bathstore joined the list of casualties of the crisis facing the high street – a result of weak consumer spending and high costs – after failing to find a buyer.

BDO made 159 people redundant in the following weeks but kept stores open to sell remaining stock.

Homebase said it was retaining 150 shopfloor workers and another 25 at head office.

The deal leaves 91 remaining stores employing 200 staff at risk of closure.

But Homebase held out hope that some of those people could yet find work in the new future for Bathstore.

That is because it is planning to roll out a number of Bathstore concessions into its stores over the coming 18 months.

Chief executive Damian McGloughlin said the acquisition “complements Homebase’s reinvigorated range” and said the business had been working to reintroduce popular ranges.

“As a result of the hard work of the Homebase team, our turnaround is ahead of plan,” he said.

“While we still have a significant amount of work to do, the customer response to our new ranges has been very encouraging and we are on track to break even this year against a loss of over £100m last year.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Homebase saves Bathstore – but 200 jobs still at risk