25 jobs go as Quayside store is closed down
HOMEWARE store Quayside closed early yesterday to allow staff to come to terms with the news that the retailer will close its doors for the last time in January.
The store's owner, the NP Group, announced the closure, which will see 25 staff lose their jobs.
It said the 30,000sq. ft Quayside premises needed to be rebuilt but that would not be cost-effective. And the business, which is almost 30 years old, would not be able to sustain itself during the period of closure needed for the work, it added.
NP Group chief executive Tony Gallienne, pictured, said the fact that the computer system needed upgrading had also been taken into consideration.
'This has been an extremely difficult decision for us, as one of the key strengths of Quayside is the loyalty and professionalism of the staff,' he said.
The store closed and the HR manager was conducting one-to-one meetings with employees.
'Staff were very shocked to be told that it was closing down, as you would naturally expect. But we are not closing it immediately and will continue trading until the end of January – so we have given them plenty of time to try and find alternative jobs and also for us to support them.
'We are putting in place a pretty comprehensive redundancy package.'
