Four franchise stores of a popular chain that sells work clothing and boots to businesses collapsed, with owners closing stores and staff left in the lurch.
Totally Workwear branches in Hoxton Park, Narellan, Eastern Creek and North Parramatta, in Sydney’s west and south-west, have ceased trading and eviction notices have been posted on doors.
Staff members have claimed they knew something was wrong months ago and say they are owed salaries and pension contributions.
Staff at the Hoxton Park franchise received an email earlier this month informing them they had lost their jobs.
Totally Workwear branches in Hoxton Park, Narellan, Eastern Creek and North Parramatta, all in south-west Sydney, have ceased trading (pictured, a Totally Workwear store in Queensland)
“As you all know, we have encountered immense and considerable financial problems that have now forced us to cease operations,” the email said. news.com.au reported.
‘Therefore, we must dismiss all employees. We take into consideration that a payment cycle has not been completed.
“We are currently dealing with administrators and liquidators and are in the process of selling our companies.”
The affected stores have not yet gone into administration.
One worker, who preferred not to be identified, said that in September she realized that stocks were not being replenished.
‘I came to work in February and there was a lockout notice on the door. “The boss said ‘have the day off,'” he said.
She said she and other staff members had access to some of the franchisee’s financial figures and could see things were “going wrong.”
Totally Workwear describes itself as “an iconic brand stocking, supplying and selling iconic workwear, footwear and safety brands.”
The worker claimed that when businesses began to suffer, a couple who had just started a cleaning business placed an order for uniforms for $7,000.
‘I can’t take $7,000 from you, I didn’t think they would get anything in return. So I thought that if I didn’t accept that money, none of us would get paid. Morally I thought I was doing something wrong,” she said.
The staff member said it was “very disheartening” to see a well-known company cease trading.
The four franchises that closed are owned by Brett Sargent and his wife Elizabeth.
Totally Workwear has 90 stores across Australia.
The company describes itself as “an iconic brand.”
“Humble, hard-working and honest is who we are, always operating with integrity and a culture focused on creating authentic connections with customers through the community,” their website reads.
‘We keep the consumer experience across our retail network at the center of our culture. “It is our commitment to consistency across the entire consumer journey that underpins our market-leading retail relevance.”
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted head office for comment.