School uniform shop closes

11:04am Thursday 15th March 2012 in News By James Cox

A SHOP that stocked sports and school wear has gone into administration.

Ernest Newson, in Colchester High Street, closed on Tuesday.

Its glass doors have been painted over and a sign has been put up saying that it has passed to administrators FRP Advisory LLP.

The brand, established in 1902, sold uniforms for many schools including Colne Community, Holmwood House, St. Thomas More’s and Colchester County High School for girls.

It also stocked brownies, cubs and scouts uniforms.

Full story in tomorrow's Gazette.

Comments(15)

Say It As It Is OK? says...
11:54am Thu 15 Mar 12

Unfortunately a sign of the times. Newsons used to be one of only a few retailers who specialised in School uniforms. Now most things can be bought from supermarkets who are competative. I remember kitting our children out with full uniforms and sports kits from them and the start of a new School was an expensive time for parents because Ernest Newsoms were usually quite expensive!

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shyprincess says...
1:03pm Thu 15 Mar 12

It was very expensive, my son started school in September and I had to buy his polo shirts and sweatshirts from there, as they have to have the logo uniform.

Wonder where we will get it now.

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wellnow says...
2:02pm Thu 15 Mar 12

a sigh of relief for many households.the clothes that were supplied by that outlet were expensive and caused many a problem for people on a tight budget.

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nick2480 says...
4:10pm Thu 15 Mar 12

They must have know something was amiss as last August when we needed a rugby shirt for our son starting at Philip Morant we were promised more would be available by the end of the month, we had to wait until December to get it...

Considering the amount of schools they provided for and the various shops up the country seems strange to find them in finacial problems..

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jut1972 says...
4:26pm Thu 15 Mar 12

High Street rent cant have been cheap.
A product that can be bought elsewhere (in the majority of cases) cheaper.
Not a good recipe for success.

As for any school that insisted on purchasing from one store I hope the parents where brave enough to tell them to shove it!

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Boris says...
4:44pm Thu 15 Mar 12

Another century-old Colchester retailer bites the dust, which is sad. Let's hope the staff are able to find new jobs.
Each school insists on its own uniform, which is ridiculous.
Why can't all schools have the same uniform, with just a different badge or tie?
Good job Newson's has gone half way through the school year. Maybe a new supplier will come to light in time for September.

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Another Point of View says...
4:49pm Thu 15 Mar 12

Its not just the supermarkets, a number of schools have been making sure their uniforms are only available from the schools themselves or from the PTAs. These have tended to be alot cheaper than Newson's as well.

Another sad day for our High Streets especially with Game having gone or about to go out as well.

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ephemeral girl says...
4:56pm Thu 15 Mar 12

The cost of the jumpers, blazers etc is determined by the cost of the embroidery, so not really Ernest Newson's fault.

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californianana says...
6:03pm Thu 15 Mar 12

agree with every word Boris. every time I come home now it's like I'm visiting a. strange town.

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roger bacon says...
6:39pm Thu 15 Mar 12

Not only do Ernest Newson have a shop in Colchester, they also had shops in Clacton,Dover, Newcastle and Canterbury.
Another nail in the coffin for the small shops, yet still Colchester BC are still letting more Tesco's to open. They must be getting very close to double figures soon.

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roger bacon says...
6:40pm Thu 15 Mar 12

Not only do Ernest Newson have a shop in Colchester, they also had shops in Clacton,Dover, Newcastle and Canterbury.
Another nail in the coffin for the small shops, yet still Colchester BC are still letting more Tesco's to open. They must be getting very close to double figures soon.

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Boris says...
9:21pm Fri 16 Mar 12

californianana wrote:
agree with every word Boris. every time I come home now it's like I'm visiting a. strange town.
When was the last time you were over, californianana? What are your plans for another visit?
Would you have time to meet a few of us?

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Reginald47 says...
2:07pm Sat 17 Mar 12

Sadly it seems to be national policy that now decides planning applications not the council - and it looks like getting worse from what I've read.

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wellnow says...
1:02am Sun 18 Mar 12

i know what it's like when your favourite shop closes.i found it hard to get good equestrian supplies when claridges closed it's door's.

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Sdapeze says...
4:41pm Mon 19 Mar 12

This further loss of an old established business can be of no surprise. It's a changing world. We all want something for nothing and anybody who provides a personal service via a High Street shop, is shunned in favour of Mr Tesco or the internet, where the same goods may be purchased at a much reduced cost. Just look at the way our pubs are going. It's survival of the fittest, pure and simple. But what I want to see is what our council are going to do about all the empty shops. Our High Street is an unpleasant place to visit - at night it's full of drunken yobs, during the day it's full of cars. How nice!

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