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The Daily Insight

What went wrong with Arcadia?

Author

Sarah Cherry

Updated on March 09, 2026

November 30, 2020: Arcadia Group ultimately collapsed into administration, affecting 13,000 jobs. December 2020: UK ministers said they were keeping “a close eye” on Arcadia Group's administration due to the controversy surrounding the management of the company.

Simply so, why did Arcadia fail?

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Arcadia's high-street names were struggling under a lack of investment and a failure to capitalise on the growing online market taken advantage of by brands such as Asos and Pretty Little Thing.

Also Know, did Philip Green do anything wrong? They did nothing wrong - a government report into the collapse found their behaviour "inappropriate" - but they quietly volunteered to be banned as directors in future.

Correspondingly, are Arcadia in trouble?

Arcadia Group collapses into administration. The collapse of Sir Philip Green's retail empire leaves 13,000 jobs hanging on a thread. It becomes just another corporate failure from COVID-19. The retail empire operates from 444 UK sites and 22 overseas.

What did Topshop do wrong?

Sales also took a hit in 2018 when shoppers boycotted Topshop after Green was accused of sexually harassing and racially abusing staff. Activists also pressured the pop star Beyoncé, who had launched her popular activewear brand IvyPark under Topshop in 2016, to cut ties with Green and Arcadia.

Related Question Answers

How much is Arcadia Group in debt?

Arcadia collapsed under debts of £750m, Deloitte says.

Why did Arcadia go into administration?

Earlier this week, Arcadia Group fell into after blaming the Covid-19 pandemic for “severely impacting†sales across its stable of brands. Administrators from Deloitte will comb through Arcadia Group's books to see what value is left in Green's retail empire.

Is topman going out of business?

Topshop and Topman.. Topshop and three other Arcadia retail brands will permanently close stores as Asos confirmed it has sealed a £265 million takeover on Monday morning. The online fashion retailer is buying Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT.

Where did Debenhams go wrong?

Debenhams was left with many underperforming shops which came with high costs, including rising rents, business rates, wages and maintenance. Those liabilities got harder to cover, as revenue began to fall and the retailer booked a record £491.5m loss in 2018.

Who is Philip Green's daughter?

Chloe Green

Is Monsoon part of Arcadia?

Some of the stores not retained by Arcadia were taken up by other fashion retail groups, with Monsoon acquiring a large number of the outlets. In February 2009, it was announced that the BHS department store chain, also owned by the Greens, would be integrated into Arcadia.

Which stores are Arcadia closing?

When Arcadia fell into administration, it placed hundreds of stores and up to 13,000 jobs at risk. With Evans sold off and Outfit now permanently closing all its stores, Arcadia's remaining fascias include Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Burton, Miss Selfridge and the flagship Topshop.

Is Burton closing down?

All of Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton's stores are set to permanently close with a loss of around 2,500 jobs after online clothing giant Boohoo agreed a £25.2 million buy out deal. It means all of controversial business tycoon Sir Philip Green's Arcadia group's brands have now been taken out of administration.

Are all Arcadia shops closing?

Arcadia, the group behind Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins, is set to close another 31 shops after it fell into administration in November. The stores, including 21 Outfit shops, will not reopen once lockdown is lifted, resulting in 700 job cuts.

What companies do Arcadia own?

Deloitte, which is handling the administration, said the latest transaction completes the sale of the Arcadia brands and follows the sale of Topshop,Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT and Evans.

Is Topshop going bust?

However, the UK retail industry was left reeling after Green's Arcadia Group retail empire, of which Topshop is a part, collapsed into administration last year. While it seeks to sell assets, Topshop's world-famous flagship store on London's Oxford Street is likely to go on the chopping block to raise cash.

Is Topshop a failure?

However, Topshop, and Arcadia's other retailers, have fallen out of fashion in recent years, as it failed to respond to increasing competition from younger firms such as Asos and Boohoo. Last year it secured a company voluntary arrangement in order to shrink its store estate amid falling sales.

Is Selfridges owned by Arcadia?

It was part of the Arcadia Group, controlled by Sir Philip Green, which went into administration in late 2020. The Miss Selfridge brand was purchased by ASOS on 1 February 2021.

Miss Selfridge.

Type Subsidiary
Fate Converted into an online store
Owner ASOS
Website

Is Burton going under?

Arcadia Group's creditors narrowly approved a drastic rescue deal on June 12, 2019. As a result Sir Philip Green will have to shut 48 stores and axe 1,000 jobs. Shops earmarked for closure include those belonging to popular high street brands Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Topshop, Topman, Wallis and Evans.

Who owns Topshop now?

Arcadia Group

How much is Philip Green worth now?

Today Sir Philip and Cristina Green rank No. 1299 on Forbes' latest World's Billionaire list, with an estimated net worth of $2.4 billion—down from a high of $5.9 billion in 2016. The Greens are among the few U.K. billionaires whose net worth fell between 2020 and 2021.

How much is Christina Green worth?

Her net worth in 2020 was estimated to be around £930 million.

Why is Sir Philip Green bad?

Sir Philip's estimated £900 million fortune was a horribly bad advert for free market capitalism. His manner was oafish, tasteless and boorish. His bullying was legendary. He gutted the companies he bought, side-stepped taxes, and ignored his staff, suppliers and pensioners.

How much did Philip Green take from BHS?

It was BHS, known then as British Home Stores, that marked the moment Sir Philip Green finally "arrived" in 2000. He paid £200m for what was already a slightly faded, dowdy chain.

How old is Chloe Green?

30 years (March 2, 1991)

Does Arcadia own Debenhams?

Arcadia Group and Debenhams were bought this month in deals that did not include their store portfolios. Asos purchased Arcadia Group's Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands for £265m on 1 February. Boohoo Group acquired department store Debenhams for £55m in January.

Why is Topshop so successful?

Topshop's Legacy

The aim was to sell fashion made by young British designers. Crucial to the brand's early success was Topshop's buyer Diane Wadey, who was known in the business for having a keen eye for young talent. The brand was so successful that Burton launched its male equivalent, Topman, in 1978.

Who created Topshop?

Raymond Montague Burton