News

Get me to the sale on time!

              Almost a hundred thousand pounds worth of wedding dresses is to be sold off in North Lincolnshire following the bankruptcy of an upmarket county bridal shop in the credit crunch.

              On offer in the sell-off will be gowns that had price tags of between a thousand and three thousand pounds, by some of the most famous names in the business.

              The Bridal Centre in Stamford went under at the beginning of last month after an extraordinary run of evil luck that saw the company having to relocate after a disastrous fire – just in time to get hit by the onset of the credit crunch last year.

              Leading auctioneers CJM Asset Management have been brought in to help with the situation and the business’s stock of dresses and accessories has been moved to the firm’s headquarters at Duchess House in Scunthorpe.

              Meanwhile members of the CJM team have been in talks with bridal companies around the world to resolve the claims of dozens of brides who had paid substantial deposits – and who are all to get their dresses, despite the collapse of The Bridal Centre.

              CJM’s Matthew Cooper said: “With some brides having paid out deposits of up to £500 there was a lot of anxiety but we have been in negotiations with manufacturers in Australia and America, as well as all over the UK.”

              “I’m delighted to say that the companies have been very understanding and arrangements have been made in respect of all of the brides – none of whom will lose out.”

              “Meanwhile the stock of the centre has been moved to Duchess House and the boardroom has been transformed into a rather impressive wedding wonderland – much to delight of the girls.”

              “In all we have just under fifty wedding gowns, twenty bridesmaids’ dresses, a very nice selection of shoes and a range of accessories such as tiaras, necklaces and veils. Everything needed for the big day.”

              “The wedding dresses . . . sizes 10-24 if you’re interested . . . retailed for up to £3,000 and are by all the big names including Maggie Sottero, Hollywood Dreams, Essence Design and Ella Bride”

              “It is all top of the range, expensive, stuff. We’ve got tiaras that retailed for £150 and veils that were priced at over £200.

              The dresses are to be sold by ‘public tender’ rather than by auction, which means that potential buyers have until October 14th to make offers. Matthew explained: “It is just logistics. No bride is going to buy a wedding dress without trying it on – and it would just be too chaotic and unkind to have dozens of eager brides trying to get into things on a view day at the main auction centre.”

              “So there are to be three days of viewings at Duchess House (6th,7th,8th October) and buyers then have until Noon on Tuesday 14th October to register their offer. Obviously the dress goes to the best offer.”

              “Things will make what they make - there are no reserves – but we think that the dresses will probably make up to 50% of retail prices. Clearly that is going to be quite a saving on a gown that would normally cost two or three thousand pounds.”

Catalogues and tender forms are available from CJM or can be downloaded from the firm’s website: www.cjmasset.com free of charge.

For further information or comment please contact Matthew Cooper at CJM Asset Management on 01724-334411.