Uncertain days ahead for Kirkwall shoe shop

The fate of the Kirkwall branch of DE Shoes is unclear this week after the company confirmed it has begun a formal process of employee consultation across its network of shops.

In a statement, managing director, Robert Sinclair, said that the company had been going through a period of “incredibly difficult trading”.

He said that despite directors exploring how to the business model could be changed to ensure sustainable profitability, no sustainable business model had been found.

The employee consultation will last a minimum of 90 days before “any final decisions regarding the company or individuals are taken.”

Mr Sinclair added: “Throughout the consultation we will still be trading, we will still be paying our suppliers and if it does come to any redundancies every employee will receive what they are entitled to.

“The directors will also continue throughout this difficult time to identify any other options open to the company which would avoid or reduce the need to make redundancies.”

The Dundee-based company said they could not make any statement about the future of the Kirkwall branch.