Greenwoods

lellypants

Hello all,
I dont like to spread panic but I thought I better share. *couldn't see this anywhere on here but please delete or merge for me if I've missed it*
I have my suits fully booked and paid for for my august wedding and we've just found out that they've applied for adminstration monday gone.
Also we've gone to our local branch just to find out that it has been closed.

Other half has managed to get hold of another branch who have advised that there is nothing to worry about because they've transfered all of our paperwork over there.
he's gone on to explain that they are simply closing branches that are not making any money for the time being.
We will be contacted to ask if we are happy with moving our contract to the other store and if we say no we'll have to deal with their head office.

OH has done some research online which shows that a chinese company bought out part of their shares last year and are looking into taking the rest but they have also stated that their 1860 hire company may not be taken with the rest of the company.

So now I don't know if I should leave my booking with them or try to get as much money back as possible!
Has any one else heard anything?
thanks
Lesley

debs2327

me and my partner was only in greenwoods on saturday buying shirts for hubbys work , we were commenting on the quatity and price of the suits , there was a girl in the cue before me paying and ordering her grooms party suits for her wedding , hope you get things sorted hun x

little_miss_messiah

EEeeeek - one of my things left to do - and Greenwoods are the only reasonable (read the other place is 1.5 times as much) hire place in my town.

Does anyone have any further?

lch_2

My OH's friend works as a manager at a Greenwoods branch. Its not our nearest, so when we went to have a look at their suits, it wasn't him we dealt with. My OH called his friend to see if going to his store would benefit either of us; commission for him, maybe some discount for us. The friend said quite openly that his job wasn't secure. We decided to look for an alternative hire company and have now chosen a local independant, which unfortunately is a little more expensive, however the service and suits are far better quality and the price difference is worth it. I just couldn't risk being unsure about Greenwoods. What if we went ahead and they did go bust? What if that happened a week before the wedding? For my piece of mind we went else-where and i really feel for those of you that have already booked, as i know you will now being worrying. I hope we are all wrong and that Greenwoods survives, but people worrying will only deter business.

Good luck everyone.

lellypants

I have an update. I'm still confused.

The head office rang my OH today. They've advised that they've moved the contract for the suits to the closest open branch.

My OH told them we wanted a full refund which she said was fine but could she ask why. So obviously OH explained about finding out they were in administration etc.

Apparently Greenwoods were rescued from administration on Tuesday by a Chinese company who promptly closed down 5 branches because they weren’t making any money.

They are currently personally guaranteeing the suit hire and are offering 2 free European flights if we stay with them.

OH said we'd try the other store on Sunday (which is when our local store had advised us to go in for our first fitting) have a look around, decide if we liked it and maybe stay with them. Apparently she said that was ok and if we wanted to we could still have a refund.

Then OH rang the other store to book our fitting. They've said it's too early, to call in the middle of Feb and they'd book is in for the middle of March.

This has got me worried. Help!

lch_2

As i said before, we didn't book with Greenwoods, but when we were looking into it, the Norwich branch were talking about a first fitting in January and our Wedding date is May. They'd obviously need a second and or final fitting nearer the date as well.

Lellypants, when you phoned to book, was it for a first fitting?

lch_2

Hey everyone,

I have an update and its good news! My OH spoke to his friend (who is a branch manager at Greenwoods) tonight. He confirmed that they have been "taken over" as he put it, and he confirmed his job is secure.

I hope this puts peoples minds at ease. :-)

sugared_honey

Just in case anyones Greenwoods has closed down, ordered my OH's Ushers& best man etc suits today from Burtons today for 280 for 6 of them Seemed very reasonable, Has anyone had any experience from them so far?