High Street Fashion Chain Quiz Enters Administration with Immediate Job Cuts
Fashion retailer Quiz has formally entered administration, resulting in 109 immediate redundancies at its head office and warehouse operations, with hundreds of additional staff positions now under threat across the company's retail network.
Administrators Appointed as Stores Continue Trading
Administrators from Interpath have been appointed to oversee the business, confirming that Quiz's 40 UK stores and seven Irish concessions will continue trading while options for the company's future are explored. However, the retailer's website has been closed to customers.
The job losses specifically affect employees at Quiz's Glasgow head office and its warehouse and distribution centre in Bellshill, Lanarkshire. The company employs 565 workers in total across all operations.
Challenging Trading Conditions Cited
Interpath revealed that Quiz had been struggling with difficult trading conditions throughout the past year, with sales performance falling significantly short of expectations during the crucial Christmas trading period.
The administrators noted that the company faced multiple economic challenges including:
- Changing consumer shopping habits
- Significant cost pressures from business rates
- Recent increases to employment costs
Despite exploring various options to secure its future, including attempts to secure additional funding, Quiz was unable to find a viable solution to continue operations independently.
Administrator Statements and Customer Impact
Alistair McAlinden, head of Interpath in Scotland and joint administrator, commented: "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."
Geoff Jacobs, fellow joint administrator and managing director at Interpath, 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."
Customer Information and Refund Policy Changes
The administration has resulted in significant changes for Quiz customers:
- Gift cards and credit notes are no longer being accepted
- Online returns must now be completed in-store for exchange only
- Cash or card refunds are no longer available
- Shoppers who have processed returns online but not received refunds will not receive payment from Quiz
Customers are advised to contact their original payment provider (credit or debit card company) to request assistance with any outstanding transactions or refund issues.
The situation represents another significant blow to the UK high street retail sector, with administrators working to find potential buyers or solutions for the business while maintaining store operations where possible.
