Tom Joule ‘So Pleased’ To Have Help Save Brand He Founded

More details have been revealed about the new company formed to save Market Harborough-based fashion retailer Joules.

Next has a 74% stake in it, while Joules’ founder Tom Joule owns the remainder.

The £34m deal to buy the company out of administration secures around 400 jobs in Harborough and over 1,000 nationwide, with over 100 of the retailers’ shops staying open.

Leicester-based retailer Next has also acquired the Joules head office on Rockingham Road for £7m.

Tom Joule Pic: Supplied

Tom Joule said: “After three years away from the operational side, I’m truly looking forward to inspiring teams with clear direction to excite and recapture the imagination of the customer again.

“Our customers have always trusted us to lead, not follow, with products that reflect their lifestyle.

“It’s important that we live up to the high standards they desire in design, quality and, with NEXT’s Total Platform delivery and customer support proposition, the service they expect.

“I’m so pleased that we have been able to strike a deal that protects the future of the company for all its loyal customers, its employees and also for the town of Market Harborough, which have been so central to Joules’ success.”

40 redundancies were made at the head office during the administration process and there will be 133 job losses with the closure of 24 Joules stores.