Denby Pottery has closed its store at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon as the 217-year-old ceramics company prepares to close its remaining UK stores. The British homeware brand, which dates back to 1809, entered administration earlier this year after struggling with rising costs and weaker demand.
Its Swindon store has now closed, bringing an end to the company's presence at the shopping destination as Denby winds down its retail operation, Swindon Advertiser reports.
Historic brand's collapse
The Derbyshire-based company is famous for its handcrafted stoneware and ranges including its popular Imperial Blue collection. Production at Denby's historic Derbyshire factory stopped earlier this year, with more than 120 workers made redundant.
Administrators had been searching for a buyer for the struggling business, but efforts to secure a deal that would preserve its existing operations were unsuccessful.
Store closures and future
The company's remaining stores are expected to close by Sunday, August 30, including its historic flagship at Denby Pottery Village. Other affected locations include Ashford, Portsmouth, Braintree, York, Dalton Park, Castleford and Cheshire Oaks. Closing-down sales have been taking place as the retailer clears its remaining stock.
Joint administrator Tony Wright said: "Despite a comprehensive marketing process and considerable interest in the business, we have unfortunately been unable to secure a sale of the business and assets which would have preserved Denby’s manufacturing and retail operations."
While the closures mark the end of Denby's existing retail operation, the famous name itself is expected to survive under new ownership. The brand has been making pottery for more than two centuries after being established in Derbyshire in 1809, using locally sourced clay to produce its distinctive stoneware.
Denby's collapse came after the company faced mounting financial pressure, including higher employment and other operating costs, alongside falling demand.
