A Glasgow-based fashion retailer with more than 40 stores across the UK has collapsed into administration.
Some 109 jobs have been cut across the company’s head office in Glasgow and distribution centre in Bellshill following the appointment of Alistair McAlinden and Geoff Jacobs from Interpath as joint administrators to Orion Retail, Tarak International and Zandra Systems, which collectively trade as Quiz Clothing, today (February 5).
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The joint administrators said the business has experienced challenging trading conditions over the past 12 months. While sales were reported to be stronger than anticipated in the period to the end of September, they fell below expectations at the crucial Christmas season, both online and in store.
A statement added that the retailer faced economic headwinds including changing consumer habits, and cost pressures from business rates and increased employment costs. Following their appointment, the administrators will continue to trade all 40 stores and seven concessions across the Republic of Ireland as a going concern.
The retailer's online operation has now closed, meaning orders can no longer be placed on the website.
Quiz, which was founded by Tarak Ramzan in 1993, employs around 565 people, the majority of whom will assist the administrators to run the business and stores.
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The company was valued at £200 million when it floated in July 2017 with a placing price of 161p per share, but struggled amid challenging conditions on the high street in more recent years. In January last year, shareholders voted to de-list the company from the stock exchange, shortly after it warned of a material uncertainty over its ability to continue as a going concern.
Alistair McAlinden, head of Interpath in Scotland and joint administrator, said: “With Quiz the latest retailer to fall into administration, there’s no doubt it’s been a tough start to 2026 for the UK high street. “
"It’s our intention to continue to trade all stores and the concessions in Ireland as a going concern for as long as we can while we assess options for the business. We are tremendously grateful for the support of Quiz’s employees and directors who will work alongside us as we trade the business over the coming weeks.”
Geoff Jacobs, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, added: “Any parties with an interest in acquiring the stock, store operations and infrastructure of Quiz should contact us as a matter of urgency. We are ensuring that those employees impacted by redundancy are provided with all available support at this difficult time.”
Quiz concessions which trade from New Look and Matalan stories in the UK are not part of the administration process.
The administrators said that gift and credit notes will no longer be honoured. Customers who made purchases on the website before February 5 are being advised to go to their nearest Quiz store where a replacement or substitute item(s) equal to or less than the value of the original purchase will be provided.
Customers who have already returned items purchased via the website but who have yet to receive a refund will not receive money back from Quiz, and are urged to contact the provider of the credit or debit cards used for payment to seek assistance, the statement added. In addition, the administrators said online orders that have not yet been despatched will not be fulfilled.
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