The Bristol shoe and clothing chain has kicked off a clearance sale at its store on Keesinglaan in Deurne. Items are priced at 1, 3, or 5 euros. The company, formerly known as Shoe Post and Shoe Discount, is facing financial difficulties and actively seeking a buyer. In the meantime, clearance sales have begun in their stores.
The Deurne store is the first to start the clearance sale, with a significant amount of clothing still needing to be sold at discounted prices before it closes. Other Flemish stores are currently being restocked from the distribution center in Beringen, with discounts of up to seventy percent being offered.
Bristol’s marketing director, Lore Vanaudenhouve, stated that negotiations with potential buyers for its stores are ongoing and updates are expected by early August. The company faced challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, including store closures, increased rent and energy costs, and a struggling economy. Additionally, poor weather impacted sales of spring and summer items.
Gino Van Ossel from Vlerick Business School highlighted that Bristol lacks the scale enjoyed by competitors like Van Haren. This makes it difficult for Bristol to secure competitive discounts from suppliers. Despite these challenges, Bristol remains committed to finding a solution for its financial difficulties and continuing to serve its customers in Belgium.