Last updated 13:03, Wednesday, 24 December 2008

BRIGHTER PICTURE: Barrow Klick Photo Store manager Shirley McVeigh (right) celebrates with staff member Kelly Doyle, after hearing her Portland Walk premises has been saved from closure. JON GRANGER REF: 0464126

A BARROW town centre shop manager has been given the best Christmas present she could have wished for – her shop being saved from credit crunch closure.
The Klick shop in Portland Walk had made three staff redundant already, leaving just manager Shirley McVeigh keeping it going until the doors finally closed.
Loyal customers gave Miss McVeigh flowers and even a bottle of champagne to say goodbye.
But now she has been told she still has her job and that the photo developing shop is one of 187 Klick and Max
Spielman shops around the country to be sold to the Timpson shoe repair and key-cutting firm.
Ironically Timpson occupies the shop next door in Portland Walk, the premises Klick used to occupy.
Miss McVeigh said: “It’s a wonderful Christmas present, I’m absolutely
ecstatic. It’s great.
“To be honest I never thought anyone would buy it. Now I just hope I can get all my staff back.”
She has already rehired one staff member, Kelly Doyle, but isn’t sure yet whether she can save the other two.
Miss McVeigh added: “The customers are delighted for us.
“We have got a lot of regulars and we are helpful and friendly so they tend to come back.
“I love my job because I enjoy meeting all the customers.”
The shop has been in the town for 11 years and the staff were laid off when parent company Bowie Castlebank went into administration with financial troubles.
Timpson has bought the shops, which will now be called Max, from the administrator KPMG.
Blair Nimmo, joint administrator for KPMG, said: “Since our appointment on the 2nd December 2008, the commitment on the part of employees in particular and the customers in working with us to preserve the business has been exceptional.
“This sale represents a fantastic result for everyone involved, and we would like to wish the business every success in the future.”
John Timpson, chairman of Timpson said: “The strength of our core shoe repair business has given us the chance to expand our reputation for unique customer care into another part of the high street. We see this as a great opportunity to apply the successful Timpson culture to another service business.”