F Hinds to save Chapelle stores

Family owned retailer F Hinds, which has 116 stores across England and Wales, has reached an agreement to take on 12 Chapelle stores in top outlet centres.

Chapelle was founded in 1979 by Paul and Margaret Mortimer as a retail business that offered discounted watches and jewellery. It trades in outlet centres across the UK and stocks brands such as Armani, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Hot Diamonds, Michael Kors, Radley and Ted Baker.  

Chapelle has recently updated and improved its branding and proposition with most of its store units having been recently refitted and rebranded, however it entered administration last month.

Managing director David Hinds, said: “We are delighted to be able to take on many of the Chapelle outlet stores as well as their website. We are also very pleased to be saving over 80 jobs. We believe that Chapelle complements our existing F Hinds business and that we will be able to share our experience and to offer increased operational efficiency.  

“We welcome the Chapelle staff and customers to our family and believe that a similar company culture will help us to build a new and better business together. We believe our purchase will provide an opportunity for existing Chapelle and F Hinds suppliers as well as offering new brands an efficient route to clear end of range product in an ideal environment.”