North London writer’s book shows trouble in store for BHS
Added: (Thu Mar 24 2022)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
A retired government committee chair and high-ranking accountant has lifted the lid on the downfall of some more of Britain’s best known retail names.
In 2018 Jeffrey Smith from North London produced a chart-topping book into the ups and downs of Ladbrokes during its 120-year history as an independent bookmaker.
The warts and all insight into one of the world’s best known betting shop chains also attracted a string of five-star reviews.
Jeffrey, who was chairing committee meetings in Westminster by the age of 31, has now returned with another deeply insightful account of retail highs and lows.
The former Top-100 company’s chief accountant has delved deep into the commercial strategies and finances behind British Home Stores, Storehouse and Mothercare in his fascinating new book, High Street to Carey Street.
Jeffrey said: “High Street to Carey Street is the story of British Home Stores from its creation by the Neisner Brothers of New York until its final closure.
“It includes many characters - apart from Sir Philip Green - who played a part in the final outcome.
“The story includes Mothercare from its creation by Selim Zilkha until it too was forced to close all its UK stores.
“Also involved is Sir Terence Conran and his ill-conceived Storehouse plan to combine both BHS and Mothercare into one, together with his existing Habitat and Conran businesses.”
British Home Stores entered administration in 2016, leading to the loss of around 11,000 jobs.
Just three years later Mothercare suffered a similar fate with more than 2,000 employees losing their livelihoods.
Although the collapse of the former high street giants has been well charted by the mainstream media, Jeffrey shines a fascinatingly fresh spotlight on the companies’ finances.
And he doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to attributing blame for the thousands of jobs which were lost through mistakes at the top.
The father of two added: “High Street to Carey Street concentrates on the financial and commercial aspects of the story, while at the same time acknowledging the surroundings in which it is taking place.
“It is also a story of the people involved.
“It may lead to a reassessment of those protagonists who the reader may think that he or she already knows.”
For more information visit Amazon and search for Jeffrey Smith, where the Kindle and paperback versions of High Street to Carey Street are available.