Wards saved in management buyout

Staff at JB Ward and Company Ltd gave the business six weeks to survive after closing down signs in the window marked the business' recent entry into administration.

The signs were removed after two directors of the company bought up the Bexhill branch on Tuesday.

The remaining seven branches, including the head office on Robertson Street, Hastings, remain under threat.

Nicki Lee and Ben Field, the new owners of Wards Bexhill, have changed the name of the store to Wards Group Ltd. Speaking on Wednesday after the deal had gone through, Nicki, who worked in the Bexhill branch prior to the takeover, said it was "business as usual" as far as Wards customers are concerned - and that includes the coffee shop.

She said: "We wanted to keep Wards going because it's been a very popular shop. Also it'll save a few jobs as well.

"Hopefully we've got quite good support from customers going forward.

"I'm actually looking forward to it. I've done retail for forty years and I'm looking forward to getting back to hands on."

Nicki could not comment on whether all jobs in the Bexhill store would be saved, saying it was impossible to predict at this stage.

She said the new management were aware of areas which needed to change. Wards Group Ltd will retain its traditional feel, but the new owners also have an eye to bridging the age gap between school uniforms and gentleman's clothing by introducing lines for people aged 25-30 plus.

No concrete reasons were identified for the company's problems, but Nicki said much of it related to larger clothes shops offering cheaper prices.

Quick to thank customers for their support, she said: "We've had some great feedback from the customers and people are relieved that it's still staying.

"They've all been making a special visit to come in and say about keeping the branch open. We would like to thank them for their support and we hope it continues."

A spokesman from the Hastings branch of Wards confirmed that store was still in adminstration, due to close. No deadline has been set for an investor to come forwards, but it is expected the business will run for a matter of weeks before closure.