Family Photo Firm - OLAN MILLS - CLOSES

quoia

Family Photo Firm Olan Mills Closes

8:44am UK, Tuesday December 30, 2008

Family photo business Olan Mills, which traded mostly out of Mothercare stores, has shut all its 34 sites across the UK.

The group has announced that it ceased trading on Boxing Day and is poised to call in administrators.

Olan Mills said it was "endeavouring to fulfil all outstanding orders" for photography already taken, but admitted that those that had pre-paid for vouchers or gift boxes would have to queue up in the list of creditors for any refunds.

Its collapse will hit many families that bought photographic studio sessions as Christmas presents and it is thought that hundreds of jobs have also been put at risk.

The group, which is based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, said it hoped to post out photography direct to customers during January.

Details for customers with outstanding orders were posted on the Olan Mills website.

Those that pre-paid by credit card will be able to claim refunds from their credit card company, but customers who paid by cash, debit card or cheque will have to claim as unsecured creditors.

Olan Mills Photography specialised in baby and family portraits, with more than half its 34 UK studios based within the Mothercare chain, but it also operated stand-alone studios at sites including Coventry, Derby, Peterborough, Nottingham.

chickflick

yep just seen this in the sun
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2080678.ece

drbeat

C'mon, own up! Who missed this? Who was on 'Administration Watch' yesterday morning?

quoia

http://www.olanmills.co.uk/

CLOSURE NOTICE

It is with regret that Olan Mills Photography announces that it has ceased to trade in all locations with effect from Friday 26th December 2008.

An administrator will be appointed shortly to handle the affairs of the business.

All enquiries should be addressed as follows:

The Administrator
Olan Mills Photography
Waterside House
Station Road
Irthlingborough
Northamptonshire
NN9 5QF

Questions :
Question: I have paid a deposit/paid in full and I have not received my photographs.
Answer: Regrettably, Olan Mills has ceased trading and will shortly be placed in administration. However the company is endeavouring to fulfil all outstanding orders, which will be posted direct to customers’ home addresses during January.

Question: I have purchased a Gift Box from Olan Mills, can I get a refund?
Answer: Olan Mills has ceased trading and will be in administration. Your claim will be classed as an unsecured creditor claim and you will need to register your claim. Register your claim by writing to the administrators with your Voucher Number at the address above giving details of the amount you have paid.

Question. I paid by Credit Card, what do I do?
Answer. Contact your Credit Card issuer, who may be able to make a refund.

Question. I paid by Debit Card, what do I do?
Answer. Your claim will be unsecured and you should write to the administrators with details of your claim.

Question. My Credit Card Company requires a letter confirming that the photographs will not be delivered.
Answer. If the information on this website does not satisfy your credit card company, please request confirmation by writing to the administrators at the address above, giving details of the order you have not received.

Question. When are your stores closing?
Answer. All stores have already closed.

Question. I have a Olan Mills Gift Voucher, can I use it?
Answer. The company has ceased trading and vouchers are therefore no longer valid and cannot be redeemed (Customers may write to the address above and register themselves as unsecured creditor).

Question. Can I take any legal action?
Answer. Paragraph 43 (6) of schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 states that ''...no proceedings and no execution or other legal process may be commenced or continued, and no distress may be levied, against the company or its property except with the consent of the administrator or the leave of the court....''

As you are aware, the Company will shortly be in administration and therefore its actions are strictly governed by UK insolvency law. As agents of the Company, appointed by the High Court, it is their duty to ensure that all unsecured creditors are treated the same. UK insolvency law states that an individual unsecured creditor of the Company cannot be preferred and paid independently of others within that class.

SingleSue

It has already been covered in another thread Dr Beat...althought it didn't have it's very own thread.

caveman38

Surprised that they lasted as long as they did.
1 15" X 12" and 4 10" X 8" prints £110 4 years ago. Most propbarly more now. Studio shots maybe but staffed by amateur photographers given crash courses. Pretty decent exposures but nowhere near professional quality for the high prices.

mewbie_2

I find it a bit odd to clock one of these family pictures in someone's house - with hair all done nicely and best clothes on? I guess they copy them and send to all the relatives as well. Fair enough - pictures are nice, but surely not these posed 'school photograph' style shots.

Bit gruesome if you ask me.

SingleSue

Hehe, I'm looking at one of those shots right now!

We moved away from doing the posed, school looking like ones and went into more natural action.....they look so much better.

Mind you, what better action can you have than one where youngest child is running screaming away from the camera, props are falling over and the 2 older boys are fighting (I kid you not, we did actually have one like that in the proofs - we didn't buy it) :rotfl:

oldMcDonald

SingleSue wrote: »

Mind you, what better action can you have than one where youngest child is running screaming away from the camera, props are falling over and the 2 older boys are fighting (I kid you not, we did actually have one like that in the proofs - we didn't buy it) :rotfl:

I think I would have! I have photos I have taken like this and they are the ones I love best - they remind me of how monsterous my kids really are and stop me from thinking about having any more!

Only kidding;). These piccies remind me of each of their personalities at a certain age. I do 'the Christmas photo' (the one that gets sent out with the cards to people we never see!) and I have one that was rejected to send out 5 years ago, where my 8yo is holding sleeping 6mth old, 3 year old is bawling his eyes out and 5yo is stuffing raisins into 4yo ears (I was bribing them with raisins to keep still). I love this photo

SingleSue

Oh I kept the proof photo.......I get it out and show them when eldest has a new love interest and we see her.

Mind you, my parents like getting the one of me on the potty at Butlins out to show my friends.....:eek:

Edit - Thought I better add that I am around 2 years old in the photo, I gave up the potty a fair few years ago.

robin_banks

Parents, who'd have 'em ?.