The receiver to A-wear has reopened four stores and plans to open another five or six stores by next week.

The lights are on. The crowds are on the move. Wallets are being prised open. It is make or break time for large retailers.

Hundreds of jobs are likely to be lost at women’s fashion retailer A-Wear in the wake of a receiver being appointed to its holding company after the search for fresh investment proved fruitless.

Global pharmaceutical firm MSD’s announcement that it is to close its Swords plant with the potential loss of 570 jobs comes less than nine months after it confirmed 280 people were to be let go with the closure of its Wicklow facility.

Some 570 jobs at a pharmaceutical giant are being axed and scores of others are under threat at a major fashion retailer.

Almost 900 jobs are hanging in the balance this afternoon.

A receiver has been appointed to the fashion chain A-wear after the examinership process failed.

An interim examiner has been appointed to fashion retailer A-Wear which has 30 outlets. The chain, which employs more than 350 people, is blaming its difficulties on high rents and increased competition.

Is it a coat, is it a cardigan? The coatigan is coming to a shop near you this autumn.

Management at one of the country's largest haulage companies has confirmed reports that it is to cease trading, with the loss of almost 400 jobs.

Up to 400 people look set to lose their jobs as Ireland’s largest transport company College Freight told staff yesterday the company had ceased trading.

A buyer has been found for Irish fashion retailer, A-Wear, less than 24 hours after the company went into receivership.

FASHION retailer, A-wear has been sold to retail restructuring experts Hilco for an undisclosed fee.

BROWN Thomas saw its pre-tax profits plunge from €81 million to almost €22m in the year to February 2009.

Marks & Spencer is to become the anchor tenant for the proposed extension of the Swords Pavilions in north Dublin, opening its biggest store in the Republic.

Spanish fashion retailer Mango is to create up to 10 jobs with a new store in Dublin.

IT looks like this year’s sales could be some of the best ever — as all the top stores are set to slash prices even lower than before Christmas.

FEMALE fashion retailer A-wear has been bought by its managers from Brown Thomas in a deal believed to be worth €100 million.

Emily Beament

Ireland's richest person is Hilary Weston, the wife of Canadian Galen Weston, who owns Brown Thomas, A-Wear and BT2 in Ireland.

MORE than 2,000 jobs will be created early next year when phase one of Ireland’s largest mixed use commercial developments outside Dublin opens in Cork.

PROFITS at Brown Thomas, the country’s largest department store group, grew by 4% in the year to the beginning of February.