[Leica]Relocation of Ffordes

[Gerry Walden <gerrywalden@cwcom.net>]

The following was posted on a UK message board. Personally I would be 
reluctant to trade with them from now on:

Subject:	Ffordes staff care plan tragedy
From:	cmingus99@aol.com
Date:	Tue, 12 Jun 2001 14:25:47 GMT

Camera Shop To Close Its Shutters

Southend Evening Echo Tuesday 29th May 2001

One of Southend's oldest businesses has relocated without warning to
Scotland - leaving four staff without jobs.

To many in the South East, Ffordes camera shop on Westcliff's London
Road was a institution.

A family business with 40 years of expert technical knowledge, it drew
orders from across the UK and garnered praise from amateurs and
professionals alike. However, the shop now stands empty and stripped
of its stock, leaving its four staff contemplating unemployment.

In a brief statement on the shops website, the owner said he had
relocated to Brollan, in Invernesshire. He added "Along with the
improvement to our own quality of life in the beautiful surroundings
of Scotland, our custimers will also benefit from an improved personal
service."

"Our online store will continue to perate as normal. However, whilst
we are in the process of moving, this will result in an inevitable
delay in being able to promptly process orders and despatch goods".

Westcliff shop assistant David Cundy, 55, from Leigh, said he was
coping but added that at least one of his colleagues was "devastated"
by the news.

Mr Cundy said he had turned up on Sunday morning to talk to Mr Byford
after weeks of specualtion about the shop's future.

Mr Cundy, who has worked at Ffordes since 1986, said: "We aksed what
was going on. The shop was already closed up and being emptied. Mr
Byford opened the door and said not to come back as the shop was
closing."

Specialising in camera equipment, Ffordes opened in 1960 on Elmer
Approach, Southend, building up a loyal legion of customers.
Originally owned by Stephen's father Reg Byford, the business was then
handed on and moved to Westcliff in 1998. Mr Cundy said profits were
buoyant and insisted the business had been doing well. However he
added "We knew Mr Byford was unsettled but he has just upped and
gone. He didn't tell us anything on Saturday. We found out by putting
two and two together".

Mr Byford was unavailable for comment.

- -C. Mingus