Suppliers praise CMJ as retailer goes into liquidation
BIRMINGHAM, April 19, 2013 – Following the collapse of CMJ retail member Leslie Cass Jewellers of Sheffield, which went into administration last week with six figure debts, CMJ suppliers have praised the work that the CMJ’s chief executive Willie Hamilton and Chairman Stephen Hughes have undertaken to ensure that all CMJ approved suppliers will be recompensed.
Peter Andersen, the European president of Pandora, said: “As the key jewellery brand within Leslie Cass Jeweller the liquidation of this business would have hit us hard if we had not been a CMJ approved supplier. Even though Pandora are a world leading jewellery brand to have the trust and confidence that Pandora will be recompensed by the CMJ shows how beneficial it is for suppliers to work with the CMJ. On behalf of Pandora, we appreciate the efforts that Willie Hamilton has put into the case on our behalf.”
Ti Sento’s UK brand manager Judith Lockwood said: “The CMJ were not obliged to recompense us as a supplier and to receive assurances from the group meant a great deal to Ti Sento and IBB Amsterdam. It is just one example of the great support we have received from the CMJ to support the growth of the Ti Sento brand in the UK.”
The Chairman of the CMJ, Stephen Hughes, said: “Although the demise of Leslie Cass Jewellers was a sudden shock to the group, I would like to praise the work that our chief executive Willie Hamilton has put into this case. It was sadly too late to save this individual retailer, but the long hours of negotiation he has put into helping our approved suppliers no matter how large or small they are, has shown the benefits of working with CMJ. Five years ago, the CMJ would not have had the funds to support these suppliers. Willie Hamilton has the full confidence and backing of the CMJ Board of Directors and our faith in his leadership over the restructuring of CMJ over the past five years has proven invaluable.”
CMJ chief executive Willie Hamilton added: “I am delighted to have had the full support of the CMJ Board of Directors in this case. While every effort is made to help our retail members in times of need, we should never forget that part of our remit as the biggest co-operative of independent retail jewellers in the UK and Ireland is to support our approved suppliers whenever we can. Part of the CMJ’s strategy in recent years is to make adequate financial provisions to provide for such an eventuality. Due to the phenomenal growth of the CMJ over the past five years, we are fortunate to be in a position to assist our suppliers. The sad demise of a number of retailers recently proves that if Leslie Cass had not been a member of the CMJ, this loss to our suppliers would have been a significant blow.”
