A liquidator is expected to be appointed to the Tabs for Tools owner following a creditors meeting that will be held on Wednesday, August 18.
While the company has not officially entered administration yet, a spokesperson for Begbies Traynor, who is handling the case, told DIY Week: "It is due to go in next Wednesday... It is expected that a liquidator will be appointed at the meeting."

While no further details are known at this stage, there have already been several redundancies on the sales side of the business.

Fletcher O'Brien, creator of Tabs for Tools, provides tool retailers and distributors with electronic trading systems and transactional websites. DIY Week gathers from a source within the industry that the company currently services around 30 customers - although it is unknown whether these businesses are aware of proceedings.

According to Creditsafe, two earlier creditors meetings were held this month - on August 3 and 4. One of Fletcher O'Brien's largest creditors is Lancashire County Developments, whose Rosebud Fund helped support the company when it was first set up. It also has an outstanding loan with the Co-op Bank.

Despite Fletcher O'Brien's Lancashire location, the case appears to be being handled by Begbies Traynor's Southend branch, with the company changing its registered address to that of Begbies' office in Southend-on-Sea. When asked why this might be, the spokesperson replied: "I don't know. I think initially they met with someone at our Manchester office. They are holding the creditors meeting."

Meanwhile, Fletcher O'Brien director Tony Fletcher's son Ryan is listed as the sole director of a newly incorporated company E-Trading and Business Services Ltd. The company, with a registered address in Deansgate, Manchester, was set up on June 8, 2010.