13 February 2013 Last updated at 08:13 ET

High Street retailers: Who has been hit hardest?

The High Street has been suffering in the consumer downturn. Customers have been watching their pennies amid concerns about high inflation and job security.

Here are some of the retailers who have been hit hardest over the past year or so.

Company	UK employees	UK stores	Troubles faced	Steps taken
Republic	2,500	121	Expanded rapidly about 10 years ago but sales failed to keep up Its target youth market has been the hardest hit demographic of the recession, plus it has faced increasing competition from online	Appointed Ernst & Young as administrators on 13 February The administrators have made 150 staff at the firm's head office redundant, but hope to sell the business as a going concern
Blockbuster UK	4,190	528	Increasing competition from online firms streaming films over the internet as well as rentals through the post	Accountancy firm Deloitte appointed administrators on 16 January A total of 324 stores have been earmarked for closure Deloitte is trying to find buyers for the remainder of the business
HMV	4,350	239 (230 HMV stores and 9 Fopp stores)	Sales of CDs and DVDs undermined by competition from supermarkets, online retailers and online downloads Expansion into live music (now abandoned) and sales of electrical gadgets have failed to stem the overall sales decline	On 15 January, the firm announced its intention to file for administration. On 7 February, administrators Deloitte said that 66 of the group's stores would close over the nest two months, affecting 930 staff.
Jessops	1,534	187	Hit by increasing competition from supermarkets and internet retailers Improving quality of cameras on smart phones means people think less about buying a dedicated camera	Went into administration on 9 January, with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) appointed as the administrator All stores ceased trading and most jobs lost on 11 January Brand is bought by a group including entrepreneur and Dragons' Den star, Peter Jones
Comet	6,611	236	Economic downturn led many to put off purchases of big-ticket items such as TVs and large appliances Sales of such items have moved increasingly online	Appointed administrators on 2 November 2012, after suppliers refused to provide credit in the run-up to Christmas Administrators, Deloitte unable to sell the chain off as a going concern, with the last stores closing on 18 December Government will have to pay the £23.2m in redundancy payments to former Comet workers HM Revenue & Customs stands to lose out on £26.2m of owed tax payments
JJB Sports	4,000	180	Sales had been in decline for five years as the over-indebted firm was unable to compete with the pricing of its far more successful rival Sports Direct	Announced plans on 24 September 2012 to enter a pre-pack administration following the failure of an attempted sale of the company over the summer On 1 October 2012, Sports Direct said it was buying JJB's website and 20 of its stores, which were rebranded Sports Direct. The remaining JJB Stores were closed.
Clinton Cards	8,300, of which 4,800 are full-time posts	More than 750 shops, including 139 Birthdays stores	Sales hit as consumers rein in spending, while the retailer has also faced competition from supermarkets and the internet Two loans to the firm from UK banks were sold to Clinton's largest creditor - American Greetings - and then immediately called in	Went into administration on 9 May 2012. On 7 June it was announced that US firm American Greetings was buying nearly 400 stores, saving 4,500 jobs In total, more than 350 shops, including all of its Birthday stores, have closed or are due to close
Aquascutum	250	10 stores and 16 concessions	New owners, who bought the 160-year-old brand in 2009, were unable to stop the losses amid tough economic times in the UK Crucially, it doesn't own the right to sell its luxury products in fast-growing Asian markets	Went into administration on 17 April 2012 Up to 30 out of 115 jobs were saved when administrators agreed to sell the Corby factory Swaine Adeney Brigg The brand, including the UK stores, has been sold to Hong Kong's YGM Trading
Ellie Louise	439	97	Cash flow problems caused by both "challenging" trading conditions, and buying the Trade Secret brand in 2010	On 2 April it was announced that the clothing retailer Ellie Louise had gone into administration. On 20 April Liric Limited announced purchase of 57 stores.
Game Group	5,800 in the UK and Republic of Ireland	600	Seen increasing number of customers switch to online rivals Company also saddled with debts linked to its £74m purchase of rival GameStation in 2007 Confirmed on 13 March that its key suppliers were now refusing to do business	On 21 March 2012, Game Group announced that it intended to file for administration. On 1 April administrators announced the sale of Game's 333 stores to investment firm, Baker Group
Peacocks	9,600	611 stores and 49 concessions	The discount fashion chain, bought in a management buyout from the founding Peacock family in the mid 1990s, was struggling to refinance its £240m debts	On 18 January 2012, Peacocks entered administration Administrators KPMG cut 249 HQ jobs on 19 January, leaving 266 staff at the head office On 23 January, the firm's Bonmarche chain was sold to Sun European Partners Sun will continue to run 230 stores but will close about 160, making 1,400 staff redundant
Pumpkin Patch	400	36	Consumer downturn has seen the children's clothes firm struggle in the past six months	Firm appointed administrators Deloitte on 19 January 2012 for its UK business It closed five branches, making 60 staff redundant The remaining stores will continue to trade as a buyer is sought
Past Times	500	51	The gift retailer entered administration on 16 January Administrators KPMG claimed the firm was a "casualty of difficult trading conditions for the retail sector"	Before administrators were appointed, the company closed 46 stores resulting in 507 job losses and closed 72 "pop up" stores KPMG made 67 redundancies on appointment and is looking for buyers for all or parts of the firm
Blacks Leisure	3,500	300	The outdoor goods company, which operates the Blacks Outdoor and Millets chains, reported a £16m loss in October and expects below-par Christmas trading Shares have fallen 90% since January as supermarkets offer strong competition	On 9 January, JD Sports confirmed it bought Blacks for £20m The sportswear retailer confirmed that any "underperforming stores" would close, but did not say how many The group has about 100 Blacks outlets, about 200 Millets branches and owns the Peter Storm and Eurohike brands
Hawkin's Bazaar	380	65	As with other retailers, experienced challenging trading conditions	Entered administration on 30 December 2011. On 20 January, the firm was sold in a management buy-out Administrators Zolfo Cooper closed 57 of the stores, making about 300 staff redundant The remaining eight stores will stay open and trade under the Hawkin's Bazaar name
D2 Jeans	400	47	James Stephen, from BDO LLP, said "extremely difficult trading conditions" had hit the sector	Entered administration on 29 December 2011. Administrators closed 19 UK stores and laid off 200 shop workers at the Ayrshire-based firm. D2's other 28 stores are being run as a going concern while a buyer is sought
Barratts	3,840	191 stores and 371 concessions	Has "faced a downturn in trading as a result of the difficult economic conditions"	Entered administration on 8 December 2011 On 30 December, it announced 1,610 redundancies after failing to find a buyer for the concessions part of its business Administrators still trying to find a buyer for Barratts' 173 High Street stores, which remain open
La Senza	2,600	146 stores and 18 concessions	Blamed High Street "trading conditions" and the economic environment	On 9 January, the firm went into administration 60 of its stores were bought by Arabian retail group Alshaya, saving some 1,100 jobs However, the remaining 84 stores and 18 concessions will close, resulting in 1,300 job losses
Jane Norman	1,600	89 stores and 82 concessions	Has experienced "severe cashflow difficulties" and depressed sales, resulting in debts of £140m	Entered administration on 27 June 2011 Edinburgh Woollen Mill bought 33 of its stores. However, 95 stores and concessions have closed permanently, resulting in 382 staff losing their jobs
Habitat	900	33	Low consumer confidence has made it difficult for retailers of big ticket items such as furniture, and the home furnishings store made continuing losses It also faced increased competition from cheaper rivals such as Ikea	Went into administration on 24 June 2011 Home Retail Group (HRG) bought the Habitat brand and three central London stores HRG has retained 150 staff, although the remaining 750 staff were made redundant
Focus DIY	Just under 4,000	180	Another retail victim of the weak housing market.	Entered administration on 5 May Since then, 55 stores have been sold in three separate deals, securing up to 900 jobs. A further 3,000 staff were made redundant
Homeform	1,300 staff in showrooms plus 1,500 fitters and designers	160 showrooms	The owner of brands such as Moben, Kitchens Direct, Sharps Bedrooms and Dolphin, has also suffered from the weak housing market	Sharps Bedrooms business has been sold Operations of Moben, Dolphin and Kitchens Direct have been closed down, with 557 staff made redundant Administrators are still trying to sell the brands
TJ Hughes	4,000	57	Falling sales at the department store chain led to the loss of supplier and credit insurer confidence	Entered administration on 30 June 2011. Lewis's Home Retail has bought six stores but another 42 have closed with about 2,200 staff made redundant Its flagship Liverpool store reopened in September