BHS launches online following high street closures

BHS has relaunched online '“ backed by a call centre team in Glasgow '“ a month after the last of its high street shops shut down.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Sep 2016, 10:56 BST
Updated 5th Oct 2016, 14:31 BST

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The last BHS stores closed their doors for the final time last month. Picture: Greg MacveanThe last BHS stores closed their doors for the final time last month. Picture: Greg Macvean
The last BHS stores closed their doors for the final time last month. Picture: Greg Macvean

The business, a staple of British shopping, went into administration in April and the company was wound down when a buyer could not be found.

Now BHS International, formed by the Al Mana Group, has relaunched the “iconic” brand, allowing shoppers to make purchases on a new website.

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BHS.com sells a range of lighting, bedroom and bathroom products, with 23 suppliers and 84 employees. The company said all its launch suppliers were based in the UK, and most of its employees were based in London.

It has also partnered with Motherwell-based Ascensos, to set up a call centre team based in Glasgow.

Kitchen, dining and clothing ranges are set to go on sale next month. BHS International said the launch products made up around three-quarters of the most popular online items sold by the retailer before it went into administration.

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End of an era as final BHS stores close for good

Managing director David Anderson said: “A huge amount of work has gone into rebuilding and launching BHS back into the UK as an online retailer.

“With a loyal British customer base of well over one million people and the fact that we have secured contracts with so many leading suppliers who are providing products that were among the most popular with our shoppers, we are in the best possible position for launch.”

The collapse of BHS affected 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions, and sparked a lengthy parliamentary inquiry.

Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has borne the brunt of the public fallout, having been branded the “unacceptable face of capitalism” by MPs.

Green owned BHS for 15 years before selling it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell for £1 in 2015, and has come under fire for taking more than £400 million in dividends from the chain, leaving it with a £571m pension deficit and for selling it to a man with no retail experience.

BHS International has stressed the online retailer has no links with Green or Chappell.

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