Deathwatch: JJB footwear spin off in administration

By Andy Dawson

The JJB Sports chain has been teetering on the edge of the precipice in recent months and it’s now looking as though the endgame has begun. The group’s lifestyle division, which is made up of The Original Shoe Company and Qube (no, we had no idea either) is to go into administration with immediate effect.

JJB’s shares have plummeted by 90% since September 2008 and things could get much worse sooner rather than later. They have until Saturday to refinance their outstanding debts – if that doesn’t happen, the whole group could wind up in administration by next week.

Following the recent collapse of fellow shoe peddlers Priceless, Barratts, Stead & Simpson and Dolcis, it seems that during a recession, it’s better to be a shoe-mender than a shoe salesman. As Confucius almost certainly said.

Tags: administration, JJB, original shoe company, qube
Posted in News, deathwatch February 10th, 2009 | 9 Comments

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 11:03 am and is filed under News, deathwatch. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 Responses to “Deathwatch: JJB footwear spin off in administration”

Posted by Simon | February 10th, 2009 at 11:23 am

It must be horrible for these type of companies. You would think that they would be majorly profitable in the late nineties, only to see their stuff undercut by online stores like M&M and also the supermarkets.
Posted by Ducky | February 10th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

In Blackpool they closed the Qube store near the end of last year and were in the process of closing the Original Shoe Co… they’ve been dying for a while.
Posted by Martin | February 10th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

Stock up on shoes before there is a shoe shortage.
Posted by Pizza_D_Action | February 10th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

JJB, the sports shop that sells chav gear, not sports gear.
Posted by Dave Benson Phillips | February 10th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Wow… Pizza you are so funny….
Posted by matthew | February 10th, 2009 at 1:26 pm

Thats why they have been touting their players at Wigan. Shame for the staff.
Posted by Amanda Hugginkiss | February 10th, 2009 at 1:39 pm

If JJB goes, there is going to be panic buying for baseball caps. This country seems to have a huge baseball cult. I’m not sure where all the baseball grounds are?
Posted by Pizza_D_Action | February 10th, 2009 at 1:57 pm

Dave Benson Philips “Wow… Pizza you are so funny….”

Wasn’t meant to be funny, just pointing out a fact…..

Glad you enjoyed it though
Posted by Matha Galbavy | March 20th, 2010 at 12:13 am

I know your secret too! I look at commenting in this way – since I’m relatively new to blogging, I always thought from the beginning that it was a two-way medium, where someone is starting a conversation that invites interaction, so I picked up the habit right away. In contrast, I’d think if some folks never commented when they first ventured into the blogosphere, it would be more difficult to jump in down the road (i.e. not a habit). Nevertheless, I agree with you on your last statement