Electrical wholesaler cuts depot numbers amid rumours the business is in trouble again.
Following a turbulent period in the company's history, which has seen the business change hands twice in less than two years, it seems the future of electrical wholesaler BDC is once more in question.
DIY Week can confirm that BDC has closed its Croydon branch and may have closed at least two more
[UPDATE 22/07/10: a DIY Week reader has confirmed that the Park Royal branch has now also closed]. The company's own website is now only listing three of the six depots it operated at the beginning of the year: Harringay, Watford and Park Royal.
A handwritten sign at the Croydon branch reads: "As of 25/6/10 this branch is now closed. Please contact Watford, Park Royal, Harrringay or call centre on 0844 811 0040. Many thanks."
However, the phone number quoted, the company's main sales number, is non-operational. The same is true of the individual numbers for the remaining three depots, all of which are no longer working, with the exception of the Watford branch, which rings, but is never answered.
A main switchboard is still being manned, but it seems all decision-makers are staying away from the office as, despite repeated attempts, DIY Week has been unable to speak to anyone who can clarify what's going on and confirm if the closures are permanent.
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Mr Eamonn Swift, who took over as managing director in April after investing £2.5m in the company in 2009, has been uncontactable by telephone. Attempts to reach him by email have been met with an out of office reply saying he's out until June 1 - six weeks ago.
Interviewed by DIY Week in April, immediately following his appointment as md, Mr Swift said: "I'm expecting us to grow - definitely double digit this year and we're definitely looking at expansion. We'll be upgrading all our branches and potentially looking at opening a brand new site in the next quarter." However, the most recent developments appear to suggest that those plans were a little ambitious.