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| Why is River Island in trouble? | Why is River Island in trouble? |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The future of River Island is in the balance ahead of a crucial court ruling on the fashion chain's restructuring plans. | The future of River Island is in the balance ahead of a crucial court ruling on the fashion chain's restructuring plans. |
| The British chain - which once collaborated with Rhianna - revealed in June that it intends to close 33 shops in the UK, putting hundreds of jobs at risk, and also wants its landlords to cut rents at a further 71 stores. | The British chain - which once collaborated with Rhianna - revealed in June that it intends to close 33 shops in the UK, putting hundreds of jobs at risk, and also wants its landlords to cut rents at a further 71 stores. |
| It said more people shopping online and higher costs to run stores had contributed to heavy financial losses. | It said more people shopping online and higher costs to run stores had contributed to heavy financial losses. |
| Reports have suggested it could collapse if its plans are not accepted by the High Court next month, although the firm said it was "confident" they will be. | Reports have suggested it could collapse if its plans are not accepted by the High Court next month, although the firm said it was "confident" they will be. |
| So what has gone wrong for the High Street stalwart? | So what has gone wrong for the High Street stalwart? |
| Catherine Shuttleworth from Savvy Marketing said River Island's challenges were "significant" but they were shared by the wider retail industry. | Catherine Shuttleworth from Savvy Marketing said River Island's challenges were "significant" but they were shared by the wider retail industry. |
| She believed the fashion chain had been affected by several factors including having its stores in the wrong place and facing rising costs. | She believed the fashion chain had been affected by several factors including having its stores in the wrong place and facing rising costs. |
| "River Island has maintained an expensive portfolio of stores at a time when costs are rising and footfall is falling," she told the BBC. | "River Island has maintained an expensive portfolio of stores at a time when costs are rising and footfall is falling," she told the BBC. |
| "Many older stores find themselves in parts of town which may have been busy 20 years ago but now find themselves on the periphery." | "Many older stores find themselves in parts of town which may have been busy 20 years ago but now find themselves on the periphery." |
| Known for affordable and stylish fashion, brands such as River Island and Topshop dominated High Street fashion from the early 2000s to the mid 2010s. | Known for affordable and stylish fashion, brands such as River Island and Topshop dominated High Street fashion from the early 2000s to the mid 2010s. |
| The first River Island store opened in 1988, after being originally founded in 1948 under the Lewis and Chelsea Girl brand before being renamed. | The first River Island store opened in 1988, after being originally founded in 1948 under the Lewis and Chelsea Girl brand before being renamed. |
| The family-owned retailer currently has 230 shops, employs about 5,500 people and was one of the first big UK High Street names to launch online in the late 1990s. | The family-owned retailer currently has 230 shops, employs about 5,500 people and was one of the first big UK High Street names to launch online in the late 1990s. |
| But recent years have proved tough. Ben Lewis, chief executive of River Island, said last month that a sharp rise in "the cost of doing business" over the past few years had "only added to the financial burden". | But recent years have proved tough. Ben Lewis, chief executive of River Island, said last month that a sharp rise in "the cost of doing business" over the past few years had "only added to the financial burden". |
| Intense competition in fashion retail, not only from the likes of Boohoo, but also from Chinese giants such as Shein and Temu, have also added to its challenges. | Intense competition in fashion retail, not only from the likes of Boohoo, but also from Chinese giants such as Shein and Temu, have also added to its challenges. |
| Its most recent set of accounts revealed a £33.2m loss, with sales down 19%. | Its most recent set of accounts revealed a £33.2m loss, with sales down 19%. |
| Rihanna collaborated with River Island in 2013 | Rihanna collaborated with River Island in 2013 |
| Creditors will start to vote on River Island's restructuring plan on 1 August, and the High Court will decide whether to approve it on 7 August. | |
| If the plans are rejected, then it is understood the retailer will revise its strategy. | If the plans are rejected, then it is understood the retailer will revise its strategy. |
| River Island says the plan is a "proactive measure" to place it on "a firm footing". | River Island says the plan is a "proactive measure" to place it on "a firm footing". |
| "We have been having positive conversations with key stakeholders and are confident that we will achieve approval of the plan in the next few weeks," a spokesperson for the retailer said. | "We have been having positive conversations with key stakeholders and are confident that we will achieve approval of the plan in the next few weeks," a spokesperson for the retailer said. |
| Nick Sherrard, managing director of Label Sessions, said River Island was in trouble now because of actions not taken years ago. | Nick Sherrard, managing director of Label Sessions, said River Island was in trouble now because of actions not taken years ago. |
| "What's very apparent here is that from landlords and suppliers, to investors, no one believes in River Island enough to do it some favours," he told the BBC. | "What's very apparent here is that from landlords and suppliers, to investors, no one believes in River Island enough to do it some favours," he told the BBC. |
| Mr Sherrard also said River Island was missing the mark when it comes to keeping loyal customers. | Mr Sherrard also said River Island was missing the mark when it comes to keeping loyal customers. |
| "Customers know it, but they don't know why they should care about the brand," he added. | "Customers know it, but they don't know why they should care about the brand," he added. |
| River Island launched a range of T-shirts in aid of The Prince's Trust in 2009 | River Island launched a range of T-shirts in aid of The Prince's Trust in 2009 |
| Can it make a comeback? | Can it make a comeback? |
| Mr Sherrard said River Island may need more time to turn its fortunes around. | Mr Sherrard said River Island may need more time to turn its fortunes around. |
| "River Island's leadership team clearly think that if they can just get a few more months, they can turn the ship around, but the best businesses know that you always have a lot less time than you think before change hits the market," he said. | "River Island's leadership team clearly think that if they can just get a few more months, they can turn the ship around, but the best businesses know that you always have a lot less time than you think before change hits the market," he said. |
| Remy Farrell, fashion editor at the Who What Wear website, told the BBC that River Island's fate depends on how it chooses to rebrand. | Remy Farrell, fashion editor at the Who What Wear website, told the BBC that River Island's fate depends on how it chooses to rebrand. |
| "Times are tough for High Street brands that need to feel premium to stay afloat." she said. | "Times are tough for High Street brands that need to feel premium to stay afloat." she said. |
| The current best performing brands are those that "don't rely on buzzy microtrends", she added, but provide "interchangeable pieces rather than seasonally targeted drops". | The current best performing brands are those that "don't rely on buzzy microtrends", she added, but provide "interchangeable pieces rather than seasonally targeted drops". |
| "As we wait with baited breath for the return of Topshop to see just how well the nostalgia factor will support an affordably-priced, younger-skewing brand in the years to come, the concern here for River Islands longevity is who its key market is." | "As we wait with baited breath for the return of Topshop to see just how well the nostalgia factor will support an affordably-priced, younger-skewing brand in the years to come, the concern here for River Islands longevity is who its key market is." |
| Additonal reporting by Connie Bowker | Additonal reporting by Connie Bowker |