Jewellery and watch repair firm InTime is set to collapse into liquidation with staff given the news just days before Christmas. The firm that was founded in 1981 and at one time reportedly carried out more than 500,000 repairs a year has closed "for the foreseeable future".
The company, which had around 50 branches, including one in St David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff, reportedly shut up shop on December 22, leaving staff bereft just days before Christmas. The Cardiff branch had long operated from Debenhams department store before moving to a pop-up in the shopping centre when it closed.
In a note on their now closed website, InTime are advising people who had left items with them to be cleaned or repaired to contact the liquidators for their return. The full message read: "We regret to inform out customers that the company has now ceased to trade. The stores and the website are now closed and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
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"The Company is proposed to be placed in Creditor’s Voluntary Liquidation by FRP Advisory Trading Limited in the coming weeks, following which, the proposed Liquidators and their staff will be available to assist existing customers with any queries they may have regarding the Company’s circumstances.
"Should you have a piece with us currently in for service, repair, or cleaning, please feel free to contact the proposed Liquidators via the contact details below. FRP Advisory Trading Limited, ITWS-Creditors@frpadvisory.com"
While no information has been given about the circumstances surrounding the collapse, it appears as though staff were given little to no notice of the branch closures. The SomersetCountyGazette are reporting that staff were told on video call, in front of customers.
Speaking to the paper, Customer Mike Phillips who was in the Taunton store at the time said: "In-Time called out of the blue just two days before Christmas telling the two workers to go home.
"I just happened to walk in and witnessed it. I was probably their last customer. It looked like they were losing their jobs. One of them had only started there three weeks ago and the other had been there several years. It was totally heartless."
If you or anyone you know worked at InTime in Cardiff and would be happy to share your experience, please email ffion.lewis@walesonline.co.uk
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