Ethel Austin
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Apparel) |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founder | Ethel Austin |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Liverpool , United Kingdom |
Area served | North West England, North Wales, United Kingdom |
Number of employees | Over 400 (at peak after 2011 acquisition) |
Ethel Austin was a British apparel retailer that, at its height, operated approximately three hundred outlets. Established in 1934 in Liverpool by Ethel Austin herself, the enterprise evolved from a small-scale knitting operation run from home into a prominent retail chain throughout North West England and North Wales. The founding family divested the company in June 2002.
History
Following its inception, the business experienced consistent growth, becoming a key regional retail presence. Ethel Austin passed away in 1989. In June 2002, ownership transferred from the Austin family to a management consortium supported by Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) for £55 million. Subsequently, ABN-AMRO Capital purchased the company for £122.5 million in 2004. By 2007, Ethel Austin had secured the contract for supplying uniforms during Liverpool’s European City of Culture celebrations. That same year, the retailer operated over three hundred locations and initiated nationwide marketing campaigns.
Difficulties and administration
In April 2008, Ethel Austin entered administration, which led to the shutdown of 33 stores and the loss of more than 450 jobs, including positions at its head office and distribution centre in Knowsley, Merseyside. The following month, Elaine McPherson—formerly of MK One—acquired the business with intentions to restore its fortunes.
The company faced administration again in February 2010, resulting in the planned closure of 196 shops and over 496 redundancies among corporate and distribution staff.
In August 2011, Ashloch Ltd., headed by ex-Blackwell's director Sue Townsend, took ownership of Ethel Austin along with its remaining 62 stores, safeguarding upwards of 400 jobs. However, Ashloch entered administration in July 2012 due to rental payment difficulties that jeopardized operations. Shortly after, Ricli Limited, owned by clothing entrepreneur Mike Basso, purchased the brand.
GA Europe—a subsidiary of Great American Group—handled Ashloch’s debts and oversaw store operations during administration. In July 2012, Liric, controlled by Mike Basso, acquired 32 Ethel Austin outlets from GA Europe. The company ultimately became insolvent on 11 January 2013 and ceased operations by closing all remaining stores immediately.
Relaunch
A new Ethel Austin store was inaugurated in Runcorn in May 2015. Additionally, a clearance outlet opened during 2016 at Units 15 to 16a in Liverpool City Centre L1 1QE.