A 130-year-old furniture store in central Dundee is to close, with the loss of 16 jobs.
Robertson’s House Furnishers had traded from Willison House in Barrack Street for decades until economic pressures forced the business into liquidation this week.
The move brings the curtain down on a firm that is familiar to generations of Dundonians and which managed to trade its way through both world wars and through the various economic highs and lows.
The store headed by managing director Brian Cram, the great-grandson of founder John L. Robertson catered for the higher-quality end of the market and was a constant among Dundee’s ever-changing retail landscape.
The company started as a second-hand operation, but the business grew and Robertson’s eventually stocked a wide range of interior furnishings, mainly from premium manufacturers.
The firm was known for its high levels of service and its traditional values and it tended to shun marketing and promotional gimmicks as part of a longer-term strategy that allowed it to build up a loyal customer base.
Unfortunately, the sharp economic contraction in recent years, coupled with intense competition in the furnishings market, conspired against the store and it has been forced to cease trading.
The Courier found the building locked up on Thursday, but joint liquidators Ken Pattullo and Paul Dounis of Begbies Traynor said the shop would reopen in the next week to allow the stock to be sold off.
Mr Pattullo said: ”The demise of a once thriving family firm is sad, and particularly when it involves the loss of this many jobs. However, the business is simply not able to trade profitably, and will have to close once we have sold the remaining stock in a clearance sale.”
Begbies Traynor senior manager Neil Dempsey said: ”We have informed staff of the situation, and we are opening as usual for the next week at least while we trade the remaining stock at much reduced prices in order to recover funds for the creditors.
”There are hundreds of items to be sold and we have decided to sell the items to the public, and we expect in the current economy there will be significant demand for the type of traditional furniture that will be discounted.”
Dundee’s Depute Lord Provost, Councillor Ian Borthwick, described the loss as a severe blow.
He said: ”It is a great pity that a business with such a good reputation over such a long period a history of good service to the city and the people of Dundee should be going out of business.
”The merchandise at all times was of the highest standard, as was the service by all of the staff.
”It is very sad that the staff many of whom were long-serving should be losing their jobs. I hope that they will be able to secure new employment. Their record in the past at Robertson’s speaks for itself.”
Alan Mitchell, chief executive of the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said the loss of any firm was sad but he said the success of Robertson’s over so many years should act as an inspiration to other aspiring businesses.