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The4thCircle wrote:I dropped by to our closest HB today to see if there were any last minute bargains for grabs but they were shipping stuff out in boxes and taking down shelves already. Big white lorry outside to take it all away.

-Stacy

ACE T wrote:Oh and some mystical (dee) lites

Friday, 30 December, 2011 - 13:34
30 December 2011
STATEMENT FROM ZOLFO COOPER: TOBAR GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED (T/A TOBAR, HAWKIN'S BAZAAR & LETTERBOX) (IN ADMINISTRATION)
Peter Saville, Fraser Gray and Anne O’Keefe of Corporate Advisory and Restructuring specialists Zolfo Cooper were appointed Joint Administrators of Tobar Group Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries (The Group) on 30 December 2011.
Headquartered in Worlingham, Suffolk, The Group operates as a retailer and wholesaler of toys and gifts via a network of 65 permanent retail stores, websites and direct selling. At the time of appointment The Group employs approximately 380 permanent staff nationally.
Commenting on the appointment, Joint Administrator Peter Saville said the following:
“In common with many retailers The Group has experienced exceptionally challenging trading conditions of late. At this stage we intend to continue to trade the component parts of The Group whilst we seek a buyer for all or parts of its operations.
We will be working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we identify the best possible outcomes regarding preservation of jobs, the value of the business and returns to creditors. As this work continues we will seek to make further announcements as appropriate”.
ENDS
Notes to Hawkin's Bazaar customers
Hawkin’s Bazaar customers in possession of gift vouchers may continue to exchange these for goods as normal in any of The Group’s stores. Those customers seeking to make returns should look, wherever possible, to visit their local store where they will be permitted to exchange their goods. Cash refunds will not be provided. A full list of store locations and opening times can be found at http://www.hawkin.com" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank.
Notes to suppliers
All suppliers who believe they are creditors of Tobar Group companies should make contact with the administration team via the following email address hawkinsbazaar@zolfocooper.eu" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank. Please include details of your claim and full contact details.
Notes to Editors
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Robin Knight
Tel: +44 (0) 7799 477733
rknight@zolfocooper.eu" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


Friday, 30 December, 2011 - 22:47
30 December 2011
TOBAR GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED (T/A TOBAR, HAWKIN'S BAZAAR & LETTERBOX) (IN ADMINISTRATION) – BUSINESS UPDATE
The Joint Administrators of Tobar Group Holdings (The Group) regret to announce the closure with immediate effect of 40 permanent Hawkins’s Bazaar retail units and six concession stores. These closures will unfortunately result in the loss of 302 jobs nationwide along with a further 35 redundancies at Tobar’s Worlingham, Suffolk, head office.
Commenting on the announcement, Joint Administrator Peter Saville said the following:
“It is clear from our analysis that a significant portion of the Hawkin’s Bazaar estate is not viable in today’s exceptionally challenging retail environment. In order to preserve value in the remainder of The Group, we have regrettably had to take today’s decision regarding store closures. Our focus now is on the remaining 25 permanent stores as well as The Group’s internet, wholesale and direct selling operations. We consider that there remains a saleable core underlying business within The Group and we have received a number of expressions of interest which support this view. We will be working with interested parties in the coming days with a view to identifying the best possible outcome for creditors and other stakeholders”.
In addition to the permanent store closures, The Group has also shut down 52 temporary stores built with the express purpose of serving the Christmas market. Their closure is in line with plans agreed prior to The Group entering administration.
ENDS

Friday, 6 January, 2012 - 16:48
6 January 2012
TOBAR GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED (T/A TOBAR, HAWKIN'S BAZAAR & LETTERBOX) (IN ADMINISTRATION) – SECOND BUSINESS UPDATE
The Joint Administrators of Tobar Group Holdings (The Group) regret to announce the closure with immediate effect of an additional 14 permanent Hawkin's Bazaar retail units which will affect 123 store employees. Unfortunately, there will also be an additional 17 redundancies at The Group’s head office in Worlingham, Suffolk.
Commenting on the announcement, Joint Administrator Peter Saville said the following:
“Despite today’s regrettable decision regarding the additional store closures and redundancies, we remain hopeful of achieving a sale of the underlying business. We will be looking to work with potential interested parties during the course of next week with a view to identifying the best possible outcome for creditors and other stakeholders”.
Stores to be closed with immediate effect:
Aberdeen
Barnstaple
Basingstoke
Bluewater
Bristol
Bromley
Cardiff
Cheltenham
Chester
Ealing
Hereford
Leamington Spa
Poole
Southampton
Stores that remain open at time of announcement:
Braintree
York
Bath
Edinburgh
Northcote Road, Wandsworth
Croydon
Milton Keynes
Birmingham Bullring
Stratford, London
Yeovil
Norwich
ENDS

Part-Timer wrote:Sorry to be really boring, but HB is in administration, not liquidation.

MagicNeil wrote:The 1 in Cambridge didn't show many signs of closing down at the weekend!
My little boy loves that shop, he's going to be heart broken!