Latest news with #Nairn
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
High street chain with 178 shops puts ANOTHER store up for sale ahead of three more branches shutting
A MAJOR discount store with 178 shops has put one site up for sale ahead of closing three more stores. The landlord of The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) in Nairn, Scotland, has listed the site for sale. 1 The retail unit is already listed for sale on the TSA Property Consultants website, suggesting it is likely to close soon. This follows news that another TOFS location in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, has been listed for rent. Staff at the Peterhead store told The Press and Journal that it is expected to shut in June. These developments come just weeks after TOFS' owner, Modella Capital, launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of its stores. Despite these efforts, the retailer has confirmed that two more stores, in addition to the Peterhead location, will be closing in the coming weeks. Its site in Market Place, Staveley, Derbyshire is set to close permanently on July 12. The announcement, shared on the store's Facebook "The Original Factory Shop Staveley has served you for 20 years and will be closing its doors for the final time on the July 12." TOFS' store on Charles Street, Milford Haven, has also announced its closure with the launch of a 30% off closing-down sale. A post on Facebook read: "Closing down sale now on in store! Why are shops closing stores? "Up to 30% across all items." Its unclear when this store will pull the shutters down for the final time. A spokesperson for The Original Factory shop told The Press and Journal: "The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) recently confirmed that as part of a restructuring a number of its loss-making stores will have to close. "Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. "This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future. "We have already announced that two stores will close. "Additionally, a small number of other stores are currently under review, with their continued operation subject to ongoing negotiations with landlords." While many bargain stores such as B&M and Home Bargains have seemed to profit from the cost of living crisis, The Original Factory store has struggled to stay afloat. Duke Street Capital, which had owned the company since 2007, attempted to offload the business in 2023 through Deloitte, but a deal never came to fruition. In February, TOFS was eventually sold to private equity firm Modella Capital, which also owns Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street stores. What's happening at TOFS? Modella Capital, the new owner of the Original Factory Shop, drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) at the end of April. Companies often turn to a CVA as a means to stave off insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. A CVA provides struggling firms with an opportunity to explore strategies to safeguard their future, such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. For TOFS, this involves trying to renegotiate rents at 88 of its 178 stores. However, it's important to note that landlords don't have to agree to reduced rents. If an agreement cannot be reached, TOFS may be forced to close stores, which would unfortunately result in job losses. For now, the future remains uncertain. The retailer has also shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months. History of The Original Factory Shop FOUNDED in 1969 by the Black family in Keighley, the first shop was part of Peter Black's retail network. Initially, it focused on selling surplus soap produced by one of Black's factories, offering local communities great value. Over the years, TOFS evolved from its humble beginnings, expanding its product range to include clothing, homeware, beauty products, toys, and more. It became known for offering a diverse selection of well-known brands at discounted prices. The company grew steadily, reaching 185 stores by 2011 and expanding its headquarters and warehouse in Burnley to accommodate its increasing needs. In 2007, the chain was acquired by private equity firm Duke Street Capital. Since then, TOFS has undergone various transformations, including store closures and openings, as it adapted to the changing retail landscape. In February 2025, Modella Capital, the owner of Hobbycraft, acquired TOFS. Hard times for discount stores Store closures are indicative of the harsh retail climate which has plagued high streets up and down the UK in recent years. Rising costs, coupled with shoppers tightening their purse strings, have placed pressure on businesses and damaged sales. Bargain retailers such as B&M and Home Bargains have performed better than others thanks to their low price point, but this has created rivalry. However, much like TOFS, Poundland is also grappling with challenges to remain competitive in the market. The discount retailer, owned by Pepco, enlisted advisory firm Teneo earlier this month to manage the potential sale of its business. A significant number of stores could be axed as part of the proposed sale, reports say. It comes after Pepco said it was looking at "all strategic options" to separate Poundland from its brand. The Polish group said it might turn its focus to its more profitable businesses in Europe. Pepco previously warned that hikes to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) and national minimum wage would significantly add to its costs. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during her autumn statement last year that she would raise employers' NICs from 13.8% to 15%. She also announced a reduction to the threshold at which businesses start paying NICs from £9,100 to £5,000. It's estimated that the move will raise £25billion, costing the equivalent of around £800 per employee for businesses. Late last year, it was revealed that profits at Poundland also tumbled by £641million in the year to September, with bosses again blaming slow sales amid a poor outlook thanks to measures set out by Reeves. The firm is not the only business to have warned of these challenges. The move has been blasted by a number of high street stores including Greggs, Sainsbury's, Next and Halford s, which all said it could force them to raise prices and further bruise the industry. Why are retailers closing shops? EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline. The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors. In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping. Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed. The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing. Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns. Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead. In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few. What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online. They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Culbin Forest wild fire prompts plea to public to avoid area
Emergency services are dealing with a wild fire which has broken out in woodland in the north of Scotland said it had received reports of the incident in the Culbin Forest area at about 15:10.A short statement said there were no reports of any injuries as a result of the of the public have been asked to avoid the area between Nairn and Burghead.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dumfries Cricket Club's season off to a great start with both teams winning their opening matches
Dumfries Vigilant had an impressive performance in Western Premiership One with an eight-wicket win at Kelburne. Dumfries Cricket Club's senior sides registered good wins in their first league outings at the weekend. The 1st team, Vigilant Dumfries, started with an impressive performance back in Western Premiership One with an eight-wicket win at Kelburne. That performance was led by the side's 15-year-old twin brothers, Nairn and Munro Cubbon. Both opened the bowling for Dumfries, and the two Scotland Under-17 pace bowlers proceeded to take the first six wickets with Nairn taking four, for the Dumfries Doggy Day Care Player of the Match, and Munro two to leave Kelburne at 36 for five at one point. Mann took a further three wickets for Kelburne to reach 90 all out. Dumfries passed that for the loss of two wickets with an opening partnership of 50 between Chris Bellwood and Alan Davidson setting up the chase. Dumfries 2nd team, Nunholm, fought back in both innings to register a 54-run win over visitors Renfrew 2nd XI in Western Championship 2. Skipper Drew Dawson led his side to a total of 221 for six with his score of 89, for the DG Project Solutions Man of the Match, aided by Max Corbett-Byers with 38 not out. Then after a fast Renfrew start, Ross Lamb managed to peg the visitors back with 3 wickets and then Sultan Kamran with a further four, and Finley Trigg with a couple, finished the task. Kamran also starred the next day in a tense last over one wicket win for Dumfries in the Eden Valley Sunday League. He hit 72 not out and he and Adam Malik, with a masterly innings of 80 not out, got their side to victory chasing Lanercost's 204 for four, and shared the Player of the match award from Muirhead Electrical. Dumfries U13s also won their first league match at Carlisle on Friday by seven wickets. Dashiel Trigg's two early run-outs were key and Danny Allsop scored 31 not out to chase 86 for seven, and the several U11s who were making their debuts enjoyed their game against visitors Temple Sowerby who ran out the victors. On Saturday, Vigilant Dumfries, is at home against Stenhousemuir in Western Premiership One and Nunholm, is away at Stenhousemuir 2nds in Western Championship Two. On Sunday, Dumfries play Stoneywood-Dyce at home in the Scottish Cup. To try some junior, senior and women's cricket at Nunholm this summer contact the club at dumfriescricketclub@ or online at -
Press and Journal
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Wayne Mackintosh honoured to become Nairn County manager
New Nairn County manager Wayne Mackintosh admits he was surprised to be offered the job – but says it's an honour to take it on. The Wee County have named club legend Mackintosh as their new boss. The Station Park outfit have been looking for a permanent manager since Ross Tokely departed in January, with Brian Macleod holding the fort on an interim basis since then. Mackintosh retired from playing at the end of the season after 16 years and 411 appearances in Nairn's midfield across two spells. He played for County from 2004 to 2017 and helped them win the North of Scotland Cup twice and R Davidson (Banchory) Highland League Cup. Mackintosh then moved to Formartine United, who he helped to win the Highland League Cup, Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup and Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield. He spent the 2021-22 season at Rothes and was part of their North of Scotland Cup winning squad, before returning to Nairn in September 2022 and helping them win the North Cup again in November 2023. Mackintosh didn't apply to become Nairn manager, but revealed his delight at being asked to take on the job. The 37-year-old said: 'It came as a bit of a surprise to me, I'd decided to retire from playing and I was actually looking forward to having a break. 'But then the club hadn't appointed as a manager and they approached me and had a conversation about the job. 'It was a surprise to me, but when I thought about it I decided it was a really good opportunity. 'I've always thought I would like to get into coaching, although I didn't anticipate it being as Nairn first-team manager. 'But it's an honour to be considered for the role. I've got a passion for the club, I wanted to retire as a player at Nairn and now becoming manager is something I'm delighted about. 'I want to see the club do well so for me coming into management it probably makes it easier to be doing it with Nairn. 'There's a really good squad here, it's a great bunch of boys so hopefully I can help them improve individually and collectively to make the club successful.' Nairn finished 13th in the Breedon Highland League this season and looking ahead to next term Mackintosh believes the squad at his disposal is capable of better. He would also like County to challenge in the cup competitions next season. Mackintosh, who has also had a spell in charge of Nairn's Under-18s side, added: 'I want to get the club up the table. For the quality we have at the club I think we underachieved this season. 'We want to move up the table and I also want us to be more competitive in the cups. 'We went out in the first round or second round of every cup this season. 'So being competitive in the cups and trying to bring some silverware back to Nairn is what I'd like to do. 'There's a good core of a squad at Nairn which is very competitive and if we can make a couple of additions that would only make us better. 'Playing alongside the boys I know there's real quality there and hopefully we can be more competitive next season.'
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Teacher identified among those killed in vehicle ramming at Vancouver festival
A teacher and school counsellor has been identified as one of the 11 people killed when a driver ploughed a vehicle through a crowd at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver over the weekend. Kira Salim worked at two schools in the New Westminster School District south-east of Vancouver, the district said in a statement. Ms Salim 'was a valued member of our community whose wisdom and care for our middle and secondary school students had a powerful impact,' the district's superintendent and board chair wrote. 'Their work, and the great spirit they brought to it, changed lives.' Those killed ranged in age from five to 65, officials said. The youngest was five-year-old girl Katie Le, who died along with her father, Richard Le, and mother, Linh Hoang, according to Richard's brother, Toan Le. They were survived by Katie's 16-year-old brother, who did not attend the festival, he said. The black Audi sped down a closed, food truck-lined street just after 8pm on Saturday and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival, which celebrates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an indigenous chieftain who stood up to Spanish explorers who came to the Philippines in the 16th century. Thirty-two people were hurt and 17 were still in hospital late on Sunday, including some in critical and serious condition, the British Columbia Health Ministry said. A 30-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder in the deaths, and mourners including the Canadian prime minister remembered the dead at vigils across the city. Kai-Ji Adam Lo was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder in a video appearance before a judge on Sunday, said Damienne Darby, spokeswoman for British Columbia prosecutors. Lo has not yet entered a plea. Investigators ruled out terrorism as a motive and said more charges were possible. They said Lo had a history of mental health issues. The Associated Press could not immediately reach a lawyer representing him. Nathaly Nairn and her 15-year-old daughter carried flowers to one of the vigils. They attended the festival on Saturday, and Ms Nairn recounted seeing the damaged vehicle and bodies on the ground. 'Something really dark happened last night,' Ms Nairn said as she and her daughter wiped away tears. While attending a vigil, Vancouver mayor Kenneth Sim said the Filipino community and the city were 'heartbroken, were sad, were scared and there's a bit of anger there, too'. Interim Police Chief Steve Rai called it 'the darkest day in Vancouver's history'. There was no indication of a motive, but Mr Rai said the suspect has 'a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health'. Video of the aftermath showed the dead and injured along a narrow street in South Vancouver. The front of the vehicle was smashed in. Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up clothing and lifestyle booth to the festival, saw the vehicle roll slowly past a barricade before the driver accelerated in an area packed with people after a concert. He said hearing the sounds of people screaming and bodies hitting the vehicle will never leave his mind. 'He slammed on the gas, barrelled through the crowd,' Mr Pangilinan said. 'It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.' Investigators were collecting evidence at the scene on Monday and had executed a search warrant at a Vancouver property, police spokesperson Sergeant Steve Addison said. Investigators were also going through bystander video from the scene. Officials will review the situation, and it may change how they approach such events, Mr Addison said. 'This was intended to be a safe, fun, family-friendly community block party for people to celebrate their community and culture,' he said. 'The actions of one person stole that away from them.' Mr Rai said the suspect was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders. Video circulating on social media showed a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him. 'I'm sorry,' the man said, holding his hand to his head. Mr Rai declined to comment on the video. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited on Sunday, a day before a national election. He cancelled his first campaign event and two major rallies on the final day of the campaign before the country votes on Monday. 'Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son or a daughter. Those families are living every family's nightmare,' Mr Carney said. He joined British Columbia premier David Eby and community leaders on Sunday evening in Vancouver. Mr Carney posted a photo of himself on X lighting a candle at a makeshift memorial near the scene of the attack. The assault was reminiscent of an attack in 2018, when a man used a van to kill 10 pedestrians in Toronto. Vancouver had more than 38,600 residents of Filipino heritage in 2021, representing 5.9% of the city's total population, according to Statistics Canada, the agency that conducts the national census. The organisers of the Vancouver event, which was in its second year, said Lapu-Lapu 'represents the soul of native resistance, a powerful force that helped shape the Filipino identity in the face of colonisation'. Mr Eby said the province will not let the tragedy define the celebration. He urged people to channel their rage into helping those affected. 'I don't think there is a British Columbian that hasn't been touched in some way by the Filipino community,' he said. 'You can't go to a place that delivers and not meet a member of that community in the long-term care home or hospitals, childcare or schools. This is a community that gives and gives and yesterday was a celebration of their culture.'
