Rapid Discount Outlet
Coordinates: 53°24′28.1″N 2°59′21.3″W / 53.407806°N 2.989250°W
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded |
1971 Liverpool Renshaw Street |
| Headquarters | Liverpool, Basnett Street |
Number of locations | Liverpool |
Key people | Kim-Marie Doherty, Daniel Doherty and Martin Doherty, Father Christmas and Mick the Hippy |
| Products |
Home improvement tools |
Number of employees | 100 |
| Parent | Rapid Group Holdings |
| Website | http://www.rapiddiscountonline.co.uk/ |
Rapid Discount Outlet, formally known as Rapid Hardware, is a Liverpool local DIY and home improvement retailing company. The company was run by Martin Doherty and Daniel Doherty (directors) since it opened; since the company went into administration it is now wholly run by Kim-Marie Doherty (director).[1]
Rapid has only one store but he has been re-located a number of times since the original store in 1971. The store has featured on the BBC TV seriesThe Apprentice.
History
1971 to 2010
Rapid Hardware was opened in 1971 on Renshaw Street by its founder Hugh Doherty. In 2009 the Rapid featured on the BBC TV Series The Apprentice the candidates from the series had to pitch their ideas to store manager John Courtman, and director of operations Liz Jenkins.[2]
In 2010 the retailer relocated to the former George Henry Lee store in Liverpool City Centre, this was due to extensive growth of the company. In the new building Rapid expanded its product range to include home and garden, kitchens, lighting, bathrooms,indoor and outdoor furniture and hardware products, The building also has a café so customers can take and break whilst shopping.[3][4]
2013 Closure
In February 2013 Rapid hardware went into administration, the administration was handled by "Duff & Phelps" who sent a letter to employees 9 February 2013 informing them about their redundancy.[5] When the company went into administration it owed £2.97m[6]
2013 Reopen and restructure
Rapid Hardware re-opened its shop on Basnett Street after it recovered from administration and renamed the company to Rapid Discount Outlet in May 2013. The company gave some of its former employees their jobs back.[7]
References
- ↑ "The return of Rapid?". diyweek.net. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ↑ "Liverpool's Rapid Hardware to feature on The Apprentice with Sir Alan Sugar". liverpoolecho.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ↑ Hodgson, Neil (8 April 2013). "600 customers out of pocket after Rapid Hardware collapse". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ↑ "Welcome to Rapid". Rapid Hardware. Archived from the original on date=20 November 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2013. Check date values in:
|archive-date=(help) - ↑ Johnson, Daniel (11 February 2013). "100 staff at Liverpool store Rapid Hardware made redundant". Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ↑ "Liverpool firm Rapid Hardware collapsed owing £3m". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ↑ Hughes, Lorna (11 May 2013). "Rapid Hardware re-opens as Rapid Discount Outlet in Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 May 2013.