Lazer To Close Shop!

One of Northern Ireland's most prominent electrical retailers is to close it doors after the administrators KPMG failed to find a buyer for the business. Most of the public learnt about the company's fate, when auction house Armstrong's advertised a closing sale at each of the company's premises.

Connswater, was one of five Northern Ireland stores to start its sale on Thursday the 22nd April 2010, with queues forming early for the 9am opening. Those not fortunate enough to be at the start of the queue found that it took about two hours, before it was their turn to search out a bargain.

The cash only sale, saw the police in regular attendance and other retailers working the queue to highlight their services and products. Once inside it was apparent why there was such a delay, there was only one staff member on, to deal with a queue as long as the store. Each customer's transaction had to be manually written out and most customers, no matter the age, were left to shuffle their chosen items up the store. None of the items had the discount price on them, only Lazer's original price and Armstrong stickers reiterating the Lazer price. Frustration appeared to be tempered only out of respect for the staff of the doomed retailer, but it was by far the most unusual of closing sales.  

Editorial

During these tough economic times it heart breaking to see businesses go under, but its even more heart breaking when they are Northern Ireland stores. It is off little comfort to the staff who have lost their jobs at Lazer, that questions will now be asked of Invest NI and other agencies as to why they weren't assisted. considering the millions spent on rich foreign companies, but on you're behalf we will ask them. Until then, on behalf of Simply Belfast and all our users, may I extend our thanks and very best wishes to all the staff of Lazer!