Gift card warning for Jersey shoppers as Paperchase collapses

Wednesday 01 February 2023

Islanders have a limited time to use any existing gift cards for Paperchase after the stationery store collapsed into administration yesterday.

Tesco has agreed to buy the chain's brand but not any of its 106 shops, leaving hundreds of jobs at risk.

Staff at the King Street branch of the store declined to comment on the local impact yesterday.

While the fate of the Jersey shop remains in doubt, notices were placed in the window today, warning islanders that gift cards are no longer being sold and that those in possession of one will not be able to use them after 14 February. 

Gift cards will only be able to be redeemed against full-price goods, and cannot be exchanged for cash.

Pictured: The notices placed in the window of the King Street branch of Paperchase.

The store also said that an exchange may be offered on goods sold before 10:15 on 31 January 2023 and after that point. 

Islanders in possession of faulty goods purchased after that point may be able to receive a refund “if the faulty goods are returned to the store of original purchase along with a receipt or valid proof of purchase, otherwise only an exchange to the current value of the goods may be offered”.

The retail chain’s future was looking uncertain in 2021 after two lockdowns in the UK, and it was given a finite window to figure out a rescue plan, or else it faced administration.

It was announced on 29 January that year that 70% of their stores would be saved, after it was bought out by Aspen Phoenix NewCo.

The window notice explained that Mark Robert Fry, Kirstie Jane Provan and Gary Paul Shankland of Begbies Traynor are handling the administration process. 

“The affairs, business and property of the Company are managed by the Adminstrators who act as the Company’s agents and without personal liability,” it read.

“The Administrators are licensed in the United Kingdom to act as Insolvency Practitioners by the Insolvency Practioners Association.

“Enquiries concerning the Administrators’ appointment may be made by email to aspennewco@btguk.com”.