Empire Direct

Empire Direct

Empire Direct company logo
Type	private
Industry	Retail and distribution
Founded	Bradford, England (1982)
Headquarters	Leeds
Key people	Jaswant Singh Toor, Managing Director, Amarjit Singh, Deputy MD, Madan Showan, Chairman, Manohar Showan, Director
Revenue	£87.2 million GBP (2006)
Number of employees	300 (approx. retail)
Website	http://www.empiredirect.co.uk (retail)

Empire Direct PLC was an electrical retail business which operated in the United Kingdom.

History

File:Empire direct, Thorpe Arch.jpg

Empire Direct on the Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Wetherby, West Yorkshire

It was formed in 1982. It had its headquarters in the former Clock Buildings Cinema on Roundhay Road (A58) in Harehills (Harehill's Corner). It had 350 employees.

Administration

On 19 January 2009, 158 of the 350 employees were made redundant as the company was taken into administration with KPMG being appointed as administrators.

In a statement issued by KPMG, joint administrator Mark Firmin said, "Empire Direct has been severely affected by the economic downturn and experienced a significant reduction in sales from the middle of last year. In addition, the business really suffered when credit insurers withdrew cover in October. Low stock levels and operating losses mean the business cannot continue to trade in administration."

Empire Direct however offers a helpline service for those who are awaiting deliveries and refunds which is displayed on the front page of the company's website www.empiredirect.co.uk.

Richer Sounds Plc acquired the Empire Direct website.

External links

• Empire Direct