Following the demise of BHS in August 2016, which sold homewares to include candles and reed diffusers, along with a wide spectrum of decorative home accessories, its online spin off, BHS.com, will be closing down on June 27.
After BHS collapsed, the brand and worldwide IP was acquired by Al Mana in 2016, with the website launched less than two years ago. Initially it focused on homewares, home accessories and fashion accessories, although fashion was subsequently added.
A spokesman for BHS.com said: “The 18 members of our BHS.com team, along with all suppliers, will be treated fairly and equitably as the website is closed down. We’d like to thank our team, suppliers and our customers for all their support over the past 20 months.”
The closure of the website contrasts sharply with results posted by BHS.com which claimed sales growth of 23% in the six months April 29.
E-commerce delivery specialists says that the closure of the BHS.com site comes as no surprise. Commenting, ParcelHero’s head of consumer research David Jinks said: “BHS.com never really grabbed the consumer’s awareness – and perhaps the BHS name is just too tarnished in the UK. The same happened to Woolworths. After its collapse in 2009, a new website promised to restore the wonder of Woolies online, but that too, couldn’t stand alone, and its owners merged it with Very.”
Al Mana will now be concentrating on the BHS International franchise business, which it bought when the original store collapsed. Overseas, the BHS name remains untarnished with stores operating profitably in Europe and the Middle East.
Top: Following the closure of BHS stores in 2016, website BHS.com will be shutting up shop on June 27 less than two years after it launched.
