13 August 2010

The UK's leading retail and online wedding and celebrations supplies business, Confetti*, has been placed in administration. The Manchester-based business was founded in 1999 and expanded across the UK with five high street stores, a mail order division and the launch of the market-leading website Confetti.co.uk. The website receives nearly 8 million hits a month and won the 'Best Wedding Website' category in the BT Online Excellence Awards. With a turnover of c£5.7m, the company employed 94 staff and provided an extensive range of essential supplies for weddings and celebrations, ranging from invitations and wedding dresses through to venue hire, gifts and insurance.

The administrators, RSM Tenon, announced an urgent search for a buyer and that an early closing date for offers has been set for 5pm on Monday 23rd August. RSM Tenon has moved quickly to close the five stores in order to focus on the established online business.

Joint administrator Kenny Craig, Director with RSM Tenon in Glasgow, said: "Confetti is a very high profile market leading online brand and enjoys a large customer base. The business has great potential for further development and the administration presents an outstanding opportunity for a retail business or entrepreneur to acquire an immediate presence in the wedding and celebrations market. We would urge interested parties to make contact in the next day or two to ensure they have a chance to bid for the business."

36 jobs are being retained to support the online business and provide key administrative services. Interested parties should contact the Recovery Team within the Edinburgh office of RSM Tenon on 0131 221 8820.

*Confetti was a subsidiary of CWIO, which was owned by Metro Holdings Ltd - its stores were located in Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Reading and London.