A well-known UK fashion business has fallen into administration. Customers have been warned they will not be given any refunds they are owed. SilkFred, which is the home of more than 500 independent brands, has stopped accepting orders and won’t be able to handle any returns. Shoppers have been told not to send any items back.

Andrew Watling and Duncan Beat were named joint administrators. They said: “As a result of the administration, it is not possible to make any further refunds. Anybody owed money by SilkFred is now called a ‘creditor’, and you will rank as an ‘unsecured creditor’ in the administration.

“Creditor claims will be dealt with as set out in a legal order of priority, but unfortunately, based on current information, there will not be sufficient funds to make any payments to unsecured creditors.”

The announcement of the administration came through Instagram. It said: “We’re heartbroken to share that SilkFred has entered administration.

“In recent years, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis has placed immense pressure on consumers, while rising costs and increasing competition from overseas fast fashion have made it increasingly difficult for independent brands to survive.

“We remain incredibly proud of what SilkFred achieved – helping women discover outfits that made them feel amazing, while supporting hundreds of independent designers to grow their businesses.

“We’re deeply grateful to everyone who’s been part of our journey – our customers, our brands, and our team. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of our journey. You made SilkFred what it was.”

For shoppers who paid for items on SilkFred by credit card and spent more than £100, you may be eligible to claim a repayment from your card provider.

Other affected customers will need to request a refund under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

Gardening and DIY fans have been given two blows as it has been announced that 27 major outlets are closed as trouble hits the sector. Yesterday garden chain Dobbies said that 17 outlets will shut down, saying they are unprofitable.

And last month it was announced that Sainsbury’s is taking over 10 Homebase stores, which are also big suppliers of garden products, and converting them into supermarkets. Dobbies is thought to have faced another difficult year after racking up losses of £130m last year driven by high inflation and unseasonable weather dampening sales.

The popular chain is carrying out a restructuring plan that will see it close 17 stores – including all six of its Little Dobbies urban format – taking its store count down to 60 shops in a bid to “address historically uneconomical rent costs and ensure a return to sustainable profitability”.

Homebase racked up heavy losses last year, as it claimed customers had been “cautious” with their spending. The business reported an £84m loss in the year to January 2023, from a profit of £30m the year prior, according to accounts viewed by The Times. Sales also plummeted from £788m to £701m during the period.

The changes mean that shoppers will find in many cases their local store has closed down – here’s the full list of those impacted.

Dobbies main stores closing:

• Altrincham
• Antrim
• Gloucester
• Gosforth
• Harlestone
• Heath
• Huntingdon
• Inverness
• King’s Lynn
• Pennine
• Reading
• Stratford-upon-Avon

Little Dobbies

• Cheltenham
• Chiswick
• Clifton
• Richmond
• Stockbridge
• Westbourne Grove

Homebase stores changing to Sainsbury’s

• Birmingham Sutton Coldfield
• Bromsgrove
• Cromer
• Derry/Londonderry
• Fareham, Inverurie
• Lowestoft
• Newark
• Omagh
• Rugby

The Homebase stores chosen for conversion are because they grow Sainsbury’s supermarket coverage across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Once converted, the shop floor area of the leasehold stores will range from approximately 15,000 to 40,000 square feet.

The first of the 10 stores will open next summer, with the aim to convert all new sites by the end of 2025. The gross investment value of the acquisition (the total cost of leases, acquisition premium and fit-out costs) is expected to reach approximately £130 million.

CEO of Sainsbury’s, Simon Roberts, said: “Sainsbury’s food business continues to go from strength to strength as we push ahead with our Next Level Sainsbury’s plan… We want to build on this momentum, which is why we are growing our supermarket footprint.”

Dobbies will also seek rent reductions at nine further sites. It said that this, alongside “other tangible cost savings” will help it secure “its long-term future…allowing access to future investment”. Sales fell 8% to £278.7m, which it said was down to the impact of “adverse weather in Spring 2022 exacerbated by the macroeconomic conditions”.

The wider gardening sector also feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and weakened consumer demand. British Garden Centres development and project manager Amy Stubbs told Retail Gazette the weather has played havoc on trading this year. “It’s never really felt like the season has properly started. We always normally feel like we have a bit of a rush and we can tell that the season’s kicked in.

“But this year, it hasn’t ever felt like it’s got going. It almost feels like any time it’s had a chance to start, the weather has then ruined it and it’s gone backwards again. It’s just been very stop start.”

GlobalData lead analyst Emily Salter said on the Homebase challenge: “The DIY market fell by 0.3% in 2023 as consumers had already made any improvements to their homes during Covid-19 lockdowns, and due to the weak housing market and low consumer confidence for purchasing big-ticket items.

“These trends continued into the first half of 2024, impacting DIY demand.”