Rustington Focus DIY closure is ‘soul destroying’

Staff at Focus DIY, in New Road, said this week they had been told by administrators Ernst & Young that their store was one of the many for closure in the coming months.

News of the store’s impending shutdown came just weeks after the administrators had hinted that all 37 jobs at the store were “safe”.

One member of staff from the Rustington store, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “We had so many customers coming in confused.

“They were saying our jobs were safe, when in fact it was no secret that we’re closing down.

“The loss of our jobs is definitely something quite soul-destroying.

“We’re a good store and we enjoy serving the customers. We just can’t understand why we’re left to suffer.

“The customers leave us comments that are really heart-thumping. Most of the comments say that we’re a lovely store. Some just say why, why, why?”

Focus DIY went into administration last month, announcing that it would be selling all 175 stores, nationwide.

In an updated statement, administrators Ernst & Young confirmed that not all jobs would be safe when the stores were eventually sold.

Simon Allport, joint administrator, said: “We have been working hard to sell the business.

“While we have been successful in securing up to 900 jobs from the sale of 55 stores in three separate deals, finding a buyer for the whole of the business has not been possible.”

The statement confirmed that a number of employees would more than likely face the uncertainty of redundancy.

Spokeswoman for Ernst & Young, Vicky Conybeer said that those who worked in stores being purchased by either B&M Homestore or Wickes should be able to keep their jobs.

However, the jobs of those in stores purchased by other buyers, remained unclear.

Ernst & Young was unable to comment specifically about the future of Focus DIY in Rustington.