R.H. Smith & Sons (Wigmakers) Limited- in administration

Jane Steer and Sarah O'Toole of PwC have been appointed as joint administrators of R.H. Smith & Sons (Wigmakers) Limited which trades as Smiffy’s (“the Company”). The appointment was made on 28th June 2024.

On appointment, the joint administrators completed a sale of the business and assets of the Company to Ad Populum LLC (“the Buyer”), with the acquiring entity being NAI Bidco Limited. Employees will transfer to the purchasers alongside all five stores across the UK.

Smiffy’s is a much-loved fancy dress retailer that has been operating for over 100 years. It is headquartered in Leeds and has stores in Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Oxford. The financial performance of the Company was significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic which saw a huge drop in demand for costume and party products. Alongside this the business was negatively impacted by global supply chain disruption and high inflation which further challenged the financial performance of the Company. 

The Buyer owns several brands, such as NECA (an industry leader in pop culture action figures and collectibles), Wizkids (a producer of miniatures and award-winning tabletop games worldwide), Kidrobot (a premier creator of limited-edition art toys and lifestyle accessories), and Rubies II, LLC (a US costumes company).

Jane Steer, joint administrator and partner, PwC, said:

“We are pleased that this transaction will preserve the jobs of all of Smiffy’s employees, as well as transfer all five stores to its new owners. Smiffy’s is a popular brand that has been operating in one form or another since 1894, but sadly, like many other retailers, it was impacted by the after effects of the pandemic. The buyers, Ad Populum, will add Smiffy’s to their comprehensive range of brands which includes extensive experience of the fancy dress and toy markets.”

Jane Steer and Sarah O'Toole have been appointed as Joint Administrators of R.H. Smith & Sons (Wigmakers) Limited to manage its affairs, business and property, and act without personal liability. Both are licensed in the United Kingdom to act as insolvency practitioners by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The Joint Administrators are bound by the Insolvency Code of Ethics which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/insolvency-practitioner-code-of-ethics

The Joint Administrators may act as controllers of personal data as defined by UK data protection law depending upon the specific processing activities undertaken. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP may act as a processor on the instructions of the Joint Administrators. Personal data will be kept secure and processed only for matters relating to the Joint Administrators’ appointment. Further details are available in the privacy statement on the PwC.co.uk website or by contacting the Joint Administrators.