Frasers Group announced, on 20 August, in a statement, that it would fully settle so-called « goodwill payments » to independent stylists and personal shoppers at Harvey Nichols who had been left unpaid by the brand's former management. The group had completed the acquisition of Harvey Nichols on 13 August, while the company was in administration.
L'opération includes the flagship store in Knightsbridge, five regional stores across the Royaume-Uni, the online business, international franchises and more than 1,000 employees whose jobs are being taken on. Harvey Nichols' Dublin arm, meanwhile, has gone into liquidation and its website has closed.
A Frasers Group spokesperson explained that the company had identified « un nombre important d'indépendants » left unpaid for their personal shopping and styling services under the previous management. He noted that the matter would normally fall to the administrator, with no obligation on Frasers Group, but that the group nonetheless intended to ensure prompt and full payment. He added that the company wanted to « être solidaire des commerçants indépendants et des petites entreprises ». According to Drapers, most payments are expected to be processed within 72 hours of the announcement.
Sans this decision, those affected would, according to WWD, have had to wait a long time for only partial recovery through the administrator.
A change in payment pace
Anna Berkeley, a personal shopper and stylist at Harvey Nichols for five years, welcomed the announcement: « Cette décision est incroyable et très appréciée. On me doit une somme importante et, en tant qu'indépendante, ces commissions font partie du salaire dont je dépends. Cette décision va changer beaucoup de choses pour les personnes dans ma situation. »
Michael Murray, chief executive of Frasers Group, described Harvey Nichols as « une institution britannique emblématique au potentiel important », while also stating that « changement significatif est nécessaire ». Going forward, Harvey Nichols' stylists and personal shoppers will be paid monthly rather than quarterly.
