Confusion as seven-store Scottish furniture chain ceases trading

1st September 2009 | retail | Family owned Scottish retailer Artisan Furniture closed suddenly at the end of last week - prompting an angry reaction from both customers and staff.

The firm has seven stores across Scotland and it is not yet known if they will reopen or if an administrator will be appointed to try and find a buyer. Staff and customers also face a wait to see if they will lose their jobs and deposits.

According to Scottish newspaper the Daily Record, customers arrived at stores late last week demanding furniture they had already paid for, while staff were left without any direction from management as to the future of the business.

Artisan built its name for solid wood cabinet furniture for living, dining and bedrooms, and has stores in Aberdeen, Ayr, Perth, East Kilbride, and Edinburgh, as well as two stores in Glasgow.

One man, commenting via the Daily Record website, claimed to be a member of staff and pinned the blame on the company's owner, Graham Lambie. He said he had turned up to work on Saturday to find the store closed and feared they would not receive their wages or potential redundancy cash should the stores not subsequently reopen.