0:00:02 > 0:00:04'This programme contains some strong language.'
0:00:04 > 0:00:07- I'm always drawn to black.- Why? - I don't know. I think it's a bit of a gypsy in me, a witch in me.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11- It's not quite colour but at least it's not black.- No.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13- You don't like it.- No.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16It makes me look fat.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19- No, it doesn't.- Yes, it do!
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Years ago most towns had their own independent department stores,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27but now many are closing down.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30These charming old emporiums
0:00:30 > 0:00:34can no longer compete with big out-of-town retail parks.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35I think that's sad.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39For a nation obsessed with shopping, where has our choice gone?
0:00:39 > 0:00:42So I set out to visit three of the stores
0:00:42 > 0:00:44that are refusing to shut up shop.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47I wanted to know if they could still survive
0:00:47 > 0:00:50in the cut-throat world of modern retailing.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05I've come to Swansea, to visit the oldest and most famous
0:01:05 > 0:01:08department store in Wales, JT Morgan's.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12It was founded in 1918 by Mr Morgan himself
0:01:12 > 0:01:16and this year should be celebrating its 90th birthday.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19JT Morgan's is a strange old establishment.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22It doesn't have any windows
0:01:22 > 0:01:25and is part warehouse and part department store.
0:01:25 > 0:01:31It's a cavernous building with eight departments spread over four floors.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33In the basement is menswear and electricals.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36On the ground floor, it's jewellery, shoes and toys.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38On the first floor,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42ladieswear and lingerie, and on the top floor, it's homewares.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48TANNOY: Welcome to JT Morgan, ladies and gentlemen.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Don't forget you can buy now and pay in January.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53That's throughout the store. Thank you.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59Today, the managing director of JT Morgan is John Coles.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02His job is the day-to-day running of the shop.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05He joined six years ago as a manager,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08having worked in retail all his life.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12What is it that excites you about the job most?
0:02:12 > 0:02:14I just think it's making the store look good
0:02:14 > 0:02:18and getting a customer comment like I had on the phone this morning,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21that they love coming to JT's to shop, and everybody is so friendly
0:02:21 > 0:02:25and the store's nice to shop and the product's good
0:02:25 > 0:02:26and that just makes it.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29I suppose it's like Lewis Hamilton winning a Grand Prix.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31The same thing.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35JT's had been losing business for many years
0:02:35 > 0:02:38and four years ago faced closure.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40But, rather than be laid off,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43John Coles used every penny he had to buy the shop.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47In doing so he saved over 80 jobs
0:02:47 > 0:02:51and the staff now see him as a bit of a saviour.
0:02:51 > 0:02:52Oh, John!
0:02:56 > 0:02:59John bought the shop with a colleague at JT's,
0:02:59 > 0:03:04called Denise Road. She's the financial director and, like John,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07she sank all her savings into the business to buy it.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Do you take the whole business to heart a lot?
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Yes, very much so. You have to
0:03:11 > 0:03:15because we live, eat and sleep in it and also, everything's on the line.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18We're going to be a bag lady or a rich bitch. There's nothing there.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Our home and everything, everything else is just a job.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23The worst that can happen is you'll get the sack.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26If this goes down, we're bankrupt,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30John and I will lose everything. Our homes and everything.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33We're the wrong side of 50, too blasted late to start again now.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37John and Denise have kept the family tradition in JT Morgan's going
0:03:37 > 0:03:41by bringing their own other halves into the business too.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Denise's partner Nigel left a job in engineering to join JT's.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Now he's in charge of shop security.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- Trying to get him to sleep? - He's not going to go.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58He's too stubborn.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03He also looks after their two adopted children
0:04:03 > 0:04:05while Denise is at work.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11- They're nice, aren't they? - Are they your colour?
0:04:11 > 0:04:16John persuaded his wife, Nadine, to come on board with the shop
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and she's now in charge of ladies' fashions.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22At the end of the day, what counts is my relationship with John.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25If we lose everything, we lose everything, but we'll have
0:04:25 > 0:04:28each other so if we're in a tent on a beach, well, fine,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31but if we make it and have millions, even better!
0:04:35 > 0:04:38When these four directors took over four years ago,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41they managed to increase sales by 15%.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44The shop's future was looking rosy.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48But then, two years ago, disaster struck.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50A new shopping centre was built
0:04:50 > 0:04:53which moved customers further away from JT's.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Then massive roadworks just outside the old shop
0:04:57 > 0:05:00meant nearly all passing trade disappeared.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05Now, only the most loyal customer bothered to make
0:05:05 > 0:05:07the trek to JT Morgan's.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10So when I arrived at the shop in November,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14it was facing the most crucial two months in its history.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Only a brilliant Christmas would mean the 80-strong workforce
0:05:18 > 0:05:21and the four directors would keep their jobs.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Anything less would almost certainly mean
0:05:24 > 0:05:26the loss of a national treasure.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32MOBILE PHONE RINGS Oh, I'm not talking to you at all.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35- Who's that? - Denise, our finance director.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- What do you want now?- Sales, John. I've just gone over the figures.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41I've got no chance of making these bloody payments.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44You're saying you've got priority customers. I can't pay any of them.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47We've got to do something and we can't survive on this.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49But if I reduce prices...
0:05:49 > 0:05:52You told me last week, slash prices, get rid of stock.
0:05:52 > 0:05:53I'm not asking you to slash them,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56that was knocking stuff down from £30 to a fiver.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59If we carry on and we have the same shit weekend that we've had
0:05:59 > 0:06:02in the week, I'm not going to have the money for the payroll
0:06:02 > 0:06:06and then we're all buggered cos no-one's going to work without pay.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09I'm trying not to spend money, I'm trying not to advertise.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11We're just concentrating on our existing customers.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15We're at the stage where it don't matter, you need to do something.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19I really don't care. Thursday, Friday and Saturday to be decent.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23- You want me to magic something up in hours to try and do it?- Yes.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26You should try doing my job sometimes, I'm really telling.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- I'm really telling. What? - On the other end as well,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32we're both doing an impossible job at the moment, aren't we?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36You can't just magic up in retail, you've got to advertise...
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- I'll try and do something. I'll come back to you.- Yeah.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42You've gone into business as two couples, haven't you?
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- Yeah.- Do you think that's a sensible thing?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48No. There's nothing we've done in the last four years
0:06:48 > 0:06:49that's been sensible. If we were,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52we'd never have bought it in the first place.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57It's not sensible to put everything you've owned on the line in your 50s
0:06:57 > 0:07:01because you're not going to have the chance to pull it back again.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04It wasn't sensible to do anything, really.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08We should have just taken our redundancy and gone and got jobs elsewhere
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and we could have cruised through and all the rest of it.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Why did you do that?
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Because I've always regretted in life more the things I haven't done
0:07:17 > 0:07:21than the things I have done and I didn't want it to be an "if only".
0:07:22 > 0:07:24It struck me that Denise and John
0:07:24 > 0:07:27had a huge task on their hands with this shop.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31My overwhelming first impression was one of empty departments.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Often the only people in them were the staff.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40John Coles would do the rounds in the afternoon to keep the morale up.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42This was Geraint in menswear.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- He takes the photographs at the staff dos.- I do, yes.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47There are a few notorious ones.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50There are a few which have had a few to drink as well.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Ones of people in compromising positions?
0:07:52 > 0:07:54- Yes.- Are they still here, the staff in question?
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I'm afraid she's not here today.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00- Is she happy to be photographed by you?- Oh, yes.- Is she?- Yes. Yeah!
0:08:00 > 0:08:04What sort of positions have you photographed her in?
0:08:04 > 0:08:08No comment! No comment! No comment!
0:08:08 > 0:08:12No, I didn't mean that to sound like that! What I meant was...
0:08:12 > 0:08:14No comment, no, no, not that bad, no!
0:08:14 > 0:08:19'Over half the workforce had been at JT's for more than 20 years,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22'like the staff manager, Margaret.'
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Yes, because I've started from the bottom like us all
0:08:25 > 0:08:28and I ask people in a nice way.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30I don't say do this and do that.
0:08:30 > 0:08:31At the end of the day,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35we're all here to work for a living and we're all here as a family.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37I think it's like a family affair here.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41At the end of my first day, as the staff clocked off, the overriding
0:08:41 > 0:08:46impression I had was of a unique shop with a very loyal workforce
0:08:46 > 0:08:49but in real danger of extinction.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR SINGS
0:08:58 > 0:09:02A week later, and the shop was preparing itself
0:09:02 > 0:09:05for the festive period.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07..Underneath the till...
0:09:07 > 0:09:09I found John Coles in menswear
0:09:09 > 0:09:13making preparations for what he hoped would be the Christmas rush.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15You want to go out and meet your wife.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19As that first week unfolded, I hung out on the shop floor.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23I wanted to get to know some of the customers
0:09:23 > 0:09:26who could determine JT's fate.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Beautiful place, the shop.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Very, very quiet,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34everybody's helpful and I've got to say, it's been like that for years.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36That's nice, isn't it? Are you going to buy that?
0:09:36 > 0:09:41- Huh?- Are you going to buy that? - Yes.- It's nice, isn't it?- Hmm.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- You're on television, Madge! - Are you?
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Are you looking for anything in particular?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- A wedding outfit.- Oh, are you?- Yeah. - Who's getting married?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- My son.- Ahh.- Eldest son, yeah.
0:09:55 > 0:09:56What are you two shopping for?
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- We're just browsing for bargains. It's what we normally do.- Browsing.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03My daughter's getting married next year
0:10:03 > 0:10:06so we've got lots of shopping to do at the beginning of next year.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- Are you, getting married? - Yes, end of next summer.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12- Oh?- On a cruise.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- Have you found your dress? - Yes, I have my dress. Yes.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- OK, I'll show you my jeans and top. - OK.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22There you go.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- They look great.- I think the jeans are a little bit big,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- I don't know. - I don't know if they're too big.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31They're big around the front, I think.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- They're big. - They're a bit big, yeah.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41The only problem with coming in now is parking.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45It's a very wonderful store but now it's off the beaten track,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48that's a problem for walking.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52I had to walk quite a way to get here today from the High Street,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54not many people want to do that.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59This is where we're going to be moving to.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04The roadworks had defeated all but the most loyal customers,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08but Denise had a plan to resurrect JT's in the heart of the new,
0:11:08 > 0:11:10and much busier, shopping district.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13More than that, for the first time,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17- JT's would have its own shop windows.- This is JT's future.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21This is where we're going to be, all down this side,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24first two floors will be JT's new building.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26This is going to be all-glass,
0:11:26 > 0:11:31so it should, when it's finished, it should be quite impressive.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33This will be where we will have passing trade
0:11:33 > 0:11:35and people coming through.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38We've just got to find the money to go on for the next 12 months
0:11:38 > 0:11:42and then hopefully this will sort us all out from then on in.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47In eight months' time, this construction site
0:11:47 > 0:11:49would be a state-of-the-art shopping mall.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52It's going to be one or two units...
0:11:52 > 0:11:58Afterwards, back in the office, Denise and her partner and fellow director Nigel
0:11:58 > 0:12:00showed me what the new JT's would look like.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03In this business if you're not moving forward,
0:12:03 > 0:12:04you're going backwards.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08We can't continue trading in the place we're at now.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12It's dying a death, this particular area of Swansea.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15If we don't move there, we're going to have to move elsewhere,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17but we can't continue where we are.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22There's a great affection in Swansea for the store,
0:12:22 > 0:12:27for the original JT Morgan and both his wives.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29There's a lot of genuine affection.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33He did a lot of good work and in some ways it would be nice to see
0:12:33 > 0:12:37a little bit of the heritage carry on and if we can be the people
0:12:37 > 0:12:41responsible for JT's having another 90 years of trading,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45then I'll be very proud of it, personally. I really will.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Only if they survive this Christmas
0:12:48 > 0:12:51would they make it to this new beginning.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02- Are you. erm...- Browsing.- Browsing. - My wife is trying...- Oh, right.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05How long have you been in here? All day, is it?
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Yeah. Since this morning.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- A long day then.- Hmm.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13What's your wife looking for, can I ask you?
0:13:13 > 0:13:14Goodness knows.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- Do you like that?- Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30If I was getting married - for the second time!
0:13:30 > 0:13:33- If you were getting married for the second time?- Yeah, well,
0:13:33 > 0:13:40if I was say, 50, and I didn't have my husband, my dear husband,
0:13:40 > 0:13:45and I was getting married again, that's an ideal outfit.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- Just make it clear that you still love your husband?!- I do, yes, yes!
0:13:51 > 0:13:53By the middle of November,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57sales were still running at about 20% below break-even.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02If JT Morgan's was going to make it to its new home and take its
0:14:02 > 0:14:0480-strong workforce with it,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07something was going to have to improve fast.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14So John, the MD, got together with his wife and fellow director Nadine
0:14:14 > 0:14:16and his operations manager Mark
0:14:16 > 0:14:19to brainstorm a sales-boosting promotion.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24No, twice...
0:14:24 > 0:14:27We need a head-banging session, to come up with a promotion
0:14:27 > 0:14:30that we can run to try and get some more turnover. We need the three
0:14:30 > 0:14:33of us put our heads together and come up with something that,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35if feasible, will drag them in.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Why don't you go 15% off furniture?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Somebody's wanting a new table for Christmas.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43That's the only thing we've had any success with over the last...
0:14:43 > 0:14:45I don't think furniture is enough.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49Is furniture going to bring them in on their own?
0:14:49 > 0:14:52I don't think so. So let's try and start it for a couple of weeks
0:14:52 > 0:14:54and give 15% off all clothing.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Clothing, it's bad out there, they're all doing it.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01What we could... 15% off jewellery?
0:15:01 > 0:15:07Why don't we go just 15% off everything between now and...?
0:15:07 > 0:15:08The first.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13They decided to take 15% off everything for 10 days.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17This was a drastic measure just before the busiest time of year.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22But John told his managers he had no alternative.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Sales is getting better, but it's still not enough.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27I'm loath to give away margin, but I've got to do it.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31We've been there before but we're still here. We'll do it again.
0:15:35 > 0:15:403,000 letters were posted out to the most loyal customers.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to JT Morgan.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Today we start our 15% off all JT's bought goods.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54You now get 15% off. Thank you.
0:16:00 > 0:16:07But the first day of the 15%-off promotion was quiet...
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- It's the first day of sales today, isn't it?- It's our first sales day.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- It's not busy.- Quiet. - It's very quiet.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- It's very quiet, isn't it? - Yes, it's very quiet today.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- Dead.- Where are the others?
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- It's the cold that's keeping customers away, isn't it?- Is it?
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- But not you.- Sorry?- But not you.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33I tell you what, I'm going to catch my bus in 10 minutes
0:16:33 > 0:16:38and I thought rather than freeze to death at the bus-stop,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42I'll make use of JT Morgan's facilities, have a look around.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46So you've come in here just because you were waiting for a bus?
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- Right.- Oh!
0:16:54 > 0:16:56It's been really quiet.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02The next nine days followed in similar fashion.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07On day two, I waited with the staff in ladieswear
0:17:07 > 0:17:10as they waited for customers to serve.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12But with nothing to do,
0:17:12 > 0:17:16we just ended up chatting about women's problems.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19We're all roughly the same age, I think.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21You must have quite a lot of camaraderie?
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Oh, yes. We all get on.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26That's why they employed us.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- We do get on in this department. - We do get on in this department.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33The thing is, this department, we're all menopausal!
0:17:33 > 0:17:37So we all get it wrong!
0:17:37 > 0:17:39We all get hot flushes,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42we've all got memory loss, we all get our words wrong.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49What is it about being menopausal? What sort of state of mind...
0:17:49 > 0:17:51You haven't got a mind!
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Do you think we're senile?!
0:17:55 > 0:17:57No, it's just that you said you...
0:17:57 > 0:18:00He thinks we're senile, working in this department!
0:18:05 > 0:18:07It's all a comedy act!
0:18:10 > 0:18:13On the 4th day, I did get to film one customer, who Margaret,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17the staff manager, was dealing with.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20But they were only returning a jumper.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23- Can I ask you if it's been worn?- No.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25To me, this looks like it's been worn.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I know he's not worn it - it doesn't fit him.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30He's large and it doesn't fit him.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Why was the label taken off?
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- I've no idea.- It wasn't sold with the label off.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Yeah, it's been sitting in the bag for the last three weeks
0:18:39 > 0:18:41to wait for the statement to come through.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43We checked it upstairs and it's been worn.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- I know it's not been. - We can't do anything about this.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- Is that your bag? - I put it in that to bring it.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55- There we are.- Thank you.- OK.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to JT Morgan.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07You now get 15% off.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11This offer does exclude concessions, wines and spirits...
0:19:15 > 0:19:18By the time we got to the 10th day, things were so quiet,
0:19:18 > 0:19:23Geraint in menswear even began to see me as a potential customer.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- I think you're a casual sort of person.- Right.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28A casual sort of person.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32I think the only time you'd wear a tie would be... Maybe a wedding?
0:19:32 > 0:19:34- A funeral? Possibly, yes?- Yes.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- Am I right?- Absolutely.- Exactly.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41How about something funny and noisy?
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- Noisy?- Funny and noisy? Would you like to follow me.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46Something like this.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50- DALEK VOICE: - You are an enemy of the Daleks...
0:19:50 > 0:19:52You want me to wear that?
0:19:52 > 0:19:53Yes!
0:19:53 > 0:19:58Do you think I could carry something like that off?
0:19:58 > 0:19:59Yes, I think so. Definitely.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03If you were interviewing anybody and didn't like them,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05you could press that and exterminate somebody!
0:20:07 > 0:20:12Surely you'd only buy that for someone you really didn't like?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15'I could have bought the Dalek tie,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18'but I really didn't think it would make a difference.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23'At the beginning of December, the 15% off sale came to an end.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27'And I wanted to know how the shop had done.'
0:20:29 > 0:20:32But when I caught up with John and Nadine in her office,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35it was clear from their mood it hadn't gone well.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37We must have been bad in our last lives.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Yes, somebody clearly don't like me up there.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43- Do the staff ask you about the situation?- What situation?
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- The situation with the shop?- No. - No, nobody has approached us.- No.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Nope.
0:20:54 > 0:21:00Do you anticipate the staff will be...worried about the situation?
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- I don't know.- If staff care, then they probably are worried.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07They probably do worry but...
0:21:07 > 0:21:11I suppose there's ones that just don't care and...
0:21:11 > 0:21:15just think that we'll pull it out of the bag again.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17That's probably a good analogy, that.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Yes, we'll do it again for them(!) They just turn up.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26John was right - out on the shop floor, the staff were optimistic
0:21:26 > 0:21:28JT Morgan's would survive.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35Do you think Mr Coles and Denise can pull it round?
0:21:35 > 0:21:36Yes, I think so. Yes.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Yes, I hope they can.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44I've got faith in them anyway.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50'I could see that John was no quitter.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55'But after the failure of the 15% off sale,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58'John knew that time was running out.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02'So with just three weeks to go before Christmas,
0:22:02 > 0:22:06'he held a second event aimed at boosting sales.'
0:22:06 > 0:22:09The whisky is in the middle to pick up more profit.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Gin, vodka and whatever.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16It was an event he'd run many times in the past and it had never failed.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19BELL RINGING It's Santa Claus!
0:22:19 > 0:22:22The Christmas VIP night.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Loyal customers were invited
0:22:24 > 0:22:27to two evenings of private shopping once the store had closed.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Would you like a glass of wine and a mince pie?
0:22:31 > 0:22:34They were offered mince pies.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37In past years, the Christmas VIP night
0:22:37 > 0:22:41had taken over £50,000 in just a few hours.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Some years we do fashion shows,
0:22:43 > 0:22:49sometimes we get caricature artists in and face painting for their kids.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51We've had Barbie and Shrek and all these sorts of ideas.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53It's grown from there that
0:22:53 > 0:22:55you have to keep giving them something different.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04To make a difference this year, JT Morgan's was offering customers
0:23:04 > 0:23:08a variety of Welsh alcoholic beverages.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12The range included a Welsh Chardonnay,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14a Welsh toffee vodka...
0:23:16 > 0:23:19..and a Welsh whisky called Penderyn.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28TANNOY RINGS
0:23:28 > 0:23:32'Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to JT Morgan's VIP evening.'
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Why not go upstairs to the top floor
0:23:34 > 0:23:38and see our new range of wines and spirits from Welsh companies?
0:23:38 > 0:23:42That's upstairs on the top floor and we're giving free tastings also.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Thank you.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Do you want to try one?
0:23:47 > 0:23:49They're genuinely all local.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Try that. That'll refresh you.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Hmm, very refreshing.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00They used to call me the vodka queen.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Try that, then.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Oh, that's nice.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10The free tastings were proving popular
0:24:10 > 0:24:13and elsewhere in the store business was brisk.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17At one point the tills were taking over £80 a minute.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22Brilliant. As long as Mr Coles smiles, he's all right.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24When we're down, he doesn't speak.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26We know he's in a good mood.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Everybody is happy now. As long as he's happy,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- we are, isn't that right, Becs? - Yes, definitely.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35But would that be enough?
0:24:38 > 0:24:40I'd prefer it to be vodka.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Work on the new home of JT Morgan's
0:24:51 > 0:24:54was gaining momentum in the centre of Swansea.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58But despite the good sales figures for the second VIP night,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01the shop's future there was far from guaranteed.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04People were taking their life in their own hands to come down there.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07So Denise had decided there was another way of raising the cash
0:25:07 > 0:25:12needed to save the 89-year-old business. She'd sue the council.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14That's the view from down the shops.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18We have these lorries up and down outside all of our stores.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Two years ago, the roads outside JT Morgan's
0:25:21 > 0:25:26were dug up by Swansea Council, killing off passing trade.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30We were completely and utterly cut off. There was no...
0:25:30 > 0:25:35no way that anybody could get through to us.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Road closed everywhere.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40You can see in here, all these shops are occupied.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42They're all closed now.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46It just took so many people out and brought others to the stage
0:25:46 > 0:25:51where they're certainly on life support at the moment.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52I want them to put me back
0:25:52 > 0:25:55in the position that we'd have been had we traded normally.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59So it's a significant amount of money.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Denise and the owners of two other shops
0:26:02 > 0:26:04met with a solicitor in Cardiff.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07They instructed him to start proceedings for compensation
0:26:07 > 0:26:09against the council in the hope
0:26:09 > 0:26:12it would make an out-of-court payout before Christmas.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Your instructions are that this must now go ahead.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17We've got no real choice. But what we don't want
0:26:17 > 0:26:19is any wriggle room for them.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22We don't want any room left for them to give us another delay.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27This won't be a short exercise if this case is defended
0:26:27 > 0:26:31and it'll take your time and your money, I'm afraid.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35I know, but if you could give us an indication.
0:26:35 > 0:26:36Well, that'd be one of the tasks...
0:26:36 > 0:26:41It looked like it could be a lengthy process.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46I joined Denise and Nigel in a cafe after the meeting.
0:26:46 > 0:26:47They seemed defiant.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51We're caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53We can't get out,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55we just have to push it all the way.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57We've no other option really.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01I'm damned if I'll lose it to the bloody council. Yeah, I really am.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05I'm damned if I'm going to allow somebody else
0:27:05 > 0:27:08to take the business away from me.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10- If we go down, we'll go down fighting.- Yeah.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It's not over until the fat lady sings and I'm not singing yet!
0:27:13 > 0:27:18Back at JT Morgan's there were hopes a last-minute Christmas rush
0:27:18 > 0:27:21could still secure the shop's future.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26At Christmas, all retailers do two-thirds of their annual turnover.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30But at JT Morgan's it seemed Christmas had been cancelled.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Minus...
0:27:34 > 0:27:3630? No...
0:27:38 > 0:27:42Do you really want me to tell you how much we've taken?
0:27:42 > 0:27:44£8.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Surely the one place at this time of year
0:27:48 > 0:27:53you could absolutely guarantee being busy was the toy department?
0:27:53 > 0:27:55But it wasn't.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57I don't like it when it's quiet.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- We'd rather be busy.- How quiet is it?
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Quite quiet this week, yes.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Is it as dead as a doornail?
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Oh, my God, no!
0:28:12 > 0:28:13I'm not telling you this.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19OK.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21It's really not good.
0:28:21 > 0:28:28We've only done 695 and we're supposed to have done 1,695. Hmm...
0:28:28 > 0:28:32MUSICAL TOY SINGS
0:28:32 > 0:28:37It gets on your nerves after a while. He's stuck now.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41- TOY:- # Merry...merry...merry... me-me-me.... #
0:28:41 > 0:28:43What else have we got to do?
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Not a lot, is there?
0:28:45 > 0:28:47I can do it around my neck.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50THEY CHUCKLE
0:28:50 > 0:28:51Despite the deserted shop,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55the staff still seemed unconcerned about their future.
0:28:55 > 0:28:56I was getting worried
0:28:56 > 0:28:59the shop might not be taking enough money to survive.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01Go, go, go, go, go!
0:29:06 > 0:29:09The VIP night had been a success,
0:29:09 > 0:29:13but would that be enough to make up for this bad week?
0:29:17 > 0:29:22I thought Denise's dream of moving to a new home for JT Morgan's
0:29:22 > 0:29:24was a little uncertain.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39A week before Christmas Eve, as John locked up
0:29:39 > 0:29:43at the end of another bad day, he seemed a bit deflated.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49I mean, I'm a bit flat at the moment so, at the end of the day,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52you look at the store and this floor's probably as good
0:29:52 > 0:29:57as any independent department store would want it to look, you know.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02Instead of a 90-year celebration it could be a 90-year ruin,
0:30:02 > 0:30:04which is not nice.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18The next day Denise invited me to her office to go through
0:30:18 > 0:30:20the sales figures for the last few days.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22How are we doing today?
0:30:22 > 0:30:24Crap, when I looked last time.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Not very well. 27% down on the day at the moment.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30Her worst fears were confirmed.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33The week's the one that's more depressing to me because we are now
0:30:33 > 0:30:3520% down, which is disastrous.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Because of the time of year we do most of our trading in December -
0:30:39 > 0:30:41in October, November, December -
0:30:41 > 0:30:44so it's the equivalent of being 50% down in January.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51Whilst I was filming, things suddenly took a dramatic turn.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54With worse to come.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Denise had been considering asking the bank for an extension
0:31:01 > 0:31:05to the shop's overdraft so they could continue trading into January.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09But she got a message from the bank manager.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Looks like the bank's taken the choice off us.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14They're going to send someone in to talk to us.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16- Is that what the message just said? - Yeah.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22So I'm going to have to talk to John and Nadine
0:31:22 > 0:31:25but the bank have made it clear that they're not willing to see
0:31:25 > 0:31:28the overdraft go up any higher than it already is.
0:31:30 > 0:31:35Because the bank manager had frozen the overdraft, the shop was starved of cash
0:31:35 > 0:31:38and there was still the Christmas wage bill to pay.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Welsh vodka?
0:31:41 > 0:31:45The next morning something happened that I'd never seen before.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Everybody in favour of Nigel taking the minutes.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50All four directors got together in John's office.
0:31:50 > 0:31:57They had to find a way of saving 84 jobs, including their own.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00We've got to look at everything. Everything possible.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Do we close for the first three months of next year
0:32:03 > 0:32:06and then we know our losses will only be £15 a month?
0:32:06 > 0:32:09There's a million and one permutations we'll have to look at.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Don't open till 10 in the morning?
0:32:11 > 0:32:15- Go on to a five-day week instead of a six-day week?- Yes.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Everybody has Thursday off.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20Halfway through the meeting it became clear
0:32:20 > 0:32:23that a few people would have to be laid off.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28Presumably it would mean some sort of staff cuts.
0:32:28 > 0:32:33Er, yeah. And that is what the four-to-five day week would give us,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35instead of the six day week.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38Everybody would, er...
0:32:38 > 0:32:40sort of...
0:32:40 > 0:32:42We would need less people to run it
0:32:42 > 0:32:45because there would be one day a week less.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48I don't think we can get out of staff cuts, as much as I hate it.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52It's not good, is it? But at the end of the day we have to try to survive.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55We have to try to survive, don't we, as well?
0:32:55 > 0:32:57So we've got to get rid of people.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00It's better to have 70 people in work
0:33:00 > 0:33:03rather than 80 people out of work.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05If you want to put it as a real cruel scenario.
0:33:05 > 0:33:10what do they say in the wars? Better to sacrifice a hundred for the sake of a million.
0:33:10 > 0:33:16The meeting ended with a decision to make 10 people redundant in January.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Then, on 21st December,
0:33:25 > 0:33:30whilst most businesses were winding down for the Christmas break,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34the four directors set off to Cardiff for an emergency meeting
0:33:34 > 0:33:36with some venture capitalists.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47They were going to put their cost-saving plan
0:33:47 > 0:33:50of making a few redundancies before the financiers,
0:33:50 > 0:33:53in the hope they might support the shop in the next few months.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58The four directors didn't want me to film the meeting.
0:34:00 > 0:34:01But when they came out,
0:34:01 > 0:34:06John, Nadine, Denise and Nigel seemed happy and relieved.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Very, very positive meeting.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12Still a lot of detail to sort out but in principle
0:34:12 > 0:34:16we think we've got a good solution going forward.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Still got a lot of work to do on figures, sales and costs
0:34:19 > 0:34:23but, in principle, it's quite satisfying at this stage anyway.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27They seemed pleased that we were talking to them at this stage
0:34:27 > 0:34:28rather than in six months' time
0:34:28 > 0:34:31when certain options wouldn't be available to us.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36So, all in all, much happier today than we were yesterday.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40TOY SANTA: Merry Christmas! Whoo!
0:34:40 > 0:34:43A deal to save the shop had been struck.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47For the first time since I'd arrived at JT's
0:34:47 > 0:34:49there was something to feel good about.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55The staff had no idea about the emergency meeting
0:34:55 > 0:35:00but spirits were high on the shop floor in the run up to Christmas.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02My back end's better than my front.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04THEY CHUCKLE
0:35:04 > 0:35:07- # Start spreading the news... # - That's better!
0:35:08 > 0:35:11# ..I'm leaving today. #
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Oh, you're not filming me, are you? Oh, bloody heck!
0:35:14 > 0:35:18The shop closed on Christmas Eve with everyone happy
0:35:18 > 0:35:21and excited about a few days off.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40After the Christmas holiday, I returned to Swansea expecting to find JT's open for business
0:35:40 > 0:35:42but I was in for a surprise.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46The shop was closed.
0:35:46 > 0:35:52Instead an emergency stock-take had been ordered by John.
0:35:52 > 0:35:53When was it decided?
0:35:53 > 0:35:58I only found out this morning - when I came in this morning.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01I was in the dark as much as you. None of us knew
0:36:01 > 0:36:05until we came in this morning. I thought we were just opened.
0:36:05 > 0:36:10Because we're normally preparing for the week leading up to stocktaking.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23It was decided late last night and John texted the senior managers
0:36:23 > 0:36:28just to pre-warn them that they'd be closed today and doing stocktaking.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33Every item for sale was logged to establish how much
0:36:33 > 0:36:35the shop's total stock was worth.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41She normally tells us about a fortnight before
0:36:41 > 0:36:47and we get ready for things, we make sure everything's got tickets on
0:36:47 > 0:36:49and go through our stockrooms
0:36:49 > 0:36:54but this has, well, it has been thrown at us, really.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- Hasn't it, Jo?- We were very surprised
0:36:57 > 0:36:59when we came in...
0:36:59 > 0:37:02that the shop was shut because normally...
0:37:02 > 0:37:06we'd be quite busy, really, after New Year.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09For the first time since I'd been at JT Morgan's,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12the staff seemed nervous about their future.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15As I said, we've always been prepared before.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18So you're bound to think, "What's happening?"
0:37:18 > 0:37:23We are concerned, aren't we, really, because nobody knows what's going
0:37:23 > 0:37:27to happen next or if they're going to start cutting hours or...
0:37:30 > 0:37:36I was confused. Hadn't a deal been done in Cardiff to save the shop?
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Something didn't seem right.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43I would have asked Denise or John exactly what was going on
0:37:43 > 0:37:45but they were nowhere to be found.
0:37:45 > 0:37:50Even the operations manager, Mark, had no idea what was going on.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Are you worried about the shop?
0:37:52 > 0:37:56Yeah. But I couldn't honestly tell you any more than that
0:37:56 > 0:38:01because the directors have kept it to themselves at the moment.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05- I couldn't tell you how bad a state we're in.- Right.- I don't know.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09But I can tell you from gut feeling that we're in a pickle,
0:38:09 > 0:38:12a rather large pickle, but actually how bad it is...
0:38:14 > 0:38:15..I wouldn't know.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20I've been told next to nothing... in the last week.
0:38:22 > 0:38:27They've been constantly in meetings with banks and...God knows what.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31We had to do to a stock-take at a 24-hour notice,
0:38:31 > 0:38:33which we've never done before.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36- And they are in a meeting right now? - Yep. Couldn't tell you who with.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Don't know where.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42Are you worried about your job?
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Yeah. Because my wife works here as well.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49So...
0:38:49 > 0:38:52if it went, it wouldn't be good for my household.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59The next day, the shop was open to customers again
0:38:59 > 0:39:01but there was still a strange atmosphere.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04Even the customers sensed it.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09Excuse me, hello.
0:39:09 > 0:39:10I just wanted to ask you.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Have you shopped at JT Morgan's for long?
0:39:13 > 0:39:15- Yes, many years.- Many years?
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Do you like it?
0:39:17 > 0:39:21Yes, very much, but I don't know what's happening at the moment.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25- No, because it has an uncertain future, doesn't it?- Yes, yes.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27But I've shopped here quite a lot.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35It's been a very good store.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37Has it, yes? Hmm.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42It has over the years but it's been deteriorating
0:39:42 > 0:39:43over the last couple of years.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47Has it? Yeah? But you still shop here?
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Yes.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54- But it doesn't have the stock that they used to, by any means.- No.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57I needed to speak to one of the directors,
0:39:57 > 0:40:00but I could never catch Denise in.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09I did find John in a meeting with Mark,
0:40:09 > 0:40:11but he wasn't happy to talk to me.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- Hi.- Hi.- Is this a meeting that we can film?
0:40:14 > 0:40:17It's only me and him just talking, that's all.
0:40:17 > 0:40:18Is it of interest?
0:40:18 > 0:40:21No, unless you want to talk about Everton and Norwich. Seriously.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24All right, OK. Cheers.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27- All right.- All right?- Cheers.- OK.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32I didn't believe they were just talking about football.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37Then, towards the end of the second week in January,
0:40:37 > 0:40:41I finally caught up with Denise upstairs by the cash office.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43- Morning.- How are you?
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Er...
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Knackered. Brain-dead. Physically dead.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57And I've got shitloads to do still.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00So, no further forward than I was on Monday.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02But we're getting there.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06- Can I just ask you what the current situation is?- Not here, no.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Can I just ask you what the latest is?
0:41:24 > 0:41:26Give us two secs, will you?
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Er...
0:41:29 > 0:41:32The company's going to have to go into administration.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33It can't continue trading as it is.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35There's no way we can do it.
0:41:35 > 0:41:41What I'm trying to do at the moment is sort out the where, when and how.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43Will there have to be job losses?
0:41:43 > 0:41:46Yes. The bloody company's ceasing trading.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Everybody's going to lose their job.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52- I really do need some space now, Richard, please.- All right.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54My fears were confirmed.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58The deal that was struck in Cardiff must have gone wrong.
0:41:58 > 0:42:04Going into administration was a worst-case scenario for JT Morgan's.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10It meant that the company was no longer owned by Denise, Nigel,
0:42:10 > 0:42:11John and Nadine.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16First thing in the morning,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19a group of administrators were going to come into the shop
0:42:19 > 0:42:20and seize control of it.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24Everything in the store, from the fittings and the stock
0:42:24 > 0:42:29to the loyal workforce would now be in the hands of the administrators.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34It was a strange feeling watching the staff going home that night.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37I felt awkward, knowing what they didn't.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42A lot of the stuff I was working on...
0:42:42 > 0:42:48Denise told John and Nadine what to expect the next day.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51When he arrives here, he'll be running the company.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54And then we'll find out if we've got jobs tomorrow.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57He doesn't have to keep any of us on.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01So we will find out the same time as the staff does
0:43:01 > 0:43:05who they want to keep and who they don't. It's completely up to them.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10If they don't want to keep us, we get redundancy,
0:43:10 > 0:43:13and if they do want to keep us, then we don't.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17They need to keep us. It all revolves around the four of us.
0:43:17 > 0:43:23Well, you say that, but at the end of the day, they will do whatever...
0:43:23 > 0:43:24Yeah, I know, but...
0:43:24 > 0:43:26the way this business is run,
0:43:26 > 0:43:29nobody will move unless they've cleared it with us,
0:43:29 > 0:43:33so how the hell they think this lot's going to sort it...
0:43:33 > 0:43:34Not being disrespectful...
0:43:34 > 0:43:38They can do whatever they want, John. They can do what they want.
0:43:38 > 0:43:39They will run the company.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42- What's your feelings for the staff tomorrow?- Gutted.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44That's the worst single thing.
0:43:44 > 0:43:46With virtually no exceptions,
0:43:46 > 0:43:50I think, they've all worked really, really hard for us
0:43:50 > 0:43:53in what has been a horrendous four years.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56The only thing we haven't had thrown at us
0:43:56 > 0:43:59is a plague of bleedin' locusts, isn't it?
0:43:59 > 0:44:01Yeah, they'll be in tomorrow.
0:44:01 > 0:44:05And then Denise had some advice for me.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08Seriously, whether you stay here or not tomorrow,
0:44:08 > 0:44:09will not be our decision.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12If they arrive,
0:44:12 > 0:44:15they're perfectly within their rights to say,
0:44:15 > 0:44:17- "We want you to leave."- Right.
0:44:17 > 0:44:20Irrespective of any agreement we've had with you.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23That will be gone.
0:44:23 > 0:44:25So, er, I would suggest to yourself,
0:44:25 > 0:44:29because they're going to be very busy, a low profile.
0:44:29 > 0:44:34Swansea Council had not offered any compensation for the roadworks,
0:44:34 > 0:44:38but now, even if it did, it would be too late.
0:44:43 > 0:44:47John felt angry his shop had been killed off
0:44:47 > 0:44:49by forces outside his control.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52I feel like putting my fist through that wall,
0:44:52 > 0:44:57and going out there and digging the road up outside the council offices,
0:44:57 > 0:45:00because I feel that, deep down,
0:45:00 > 0:45:02it's probably torn me in two, because I love JT's.
0:45:05 > 0:45:06I love what we've done,
0:45:06 > 0:45:11and this was supposed to give me and Nadine the icing on the cake,
0:45:11 > 0:45:14and it hasn't. It's gone in role reverse.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17So I feel like shit. I feel like kicking something.
0:45:17 > 0:45:20It'd be better than kicking somebody's head in.
0:45:20 > 0:45:21Probably the biggest major mistake
0:45:21 > 0:45:24was buying the bloody thing in the first place.
0:45:25 > 0:45:30But we don't regret doing it, because we thought we could save it,
0:45:30 > 0:45:34and we THOUGHT, with an open playing field, we would have succeeded.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37But you can't succeed when no customers can get to your store
0:45:37 > 0:45:40because there's bollards in the way and bloody dust everywhere
0:45:40 > 0:45:42because they're digging up the bloody road
0:45:42 > 0:45:45and there's a Portaloo outside the fucking door.
0:45:45 > 0:45:46You're winding me up now.
0:45:46 > 0:45:51If you don't take a chance, then what's the point of life, you know?
0:45:51 > 0:45:55- Yeah.- If you've got an opportunity, take it. What's the point?
0:45:55 > 0:45:58I'd do it again tomorrow.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00What will be, will be.
0:46:00 > 0:46:04She's right, actually. Nadine's policy of life is great.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06You live for today, and what happens tomorrow happens.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09The worst thing tomorrow is telling the staff out there.
0:46:11 > 0:46:14I'll start crying in a minute, cos that is hard.
0:46:14 > 0:46:18- How do you think you'll deal with that?- Not very well.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21I suppose you must have thought about what their reactions
0:46:21 > 0:46:25- are going to be like.- Yes. Some of them have been here 30, 40 years.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27It's been their life.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35So they're bound to get upset.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39I'm getting upset now, so stop filming me like this.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44They haven't got a clue. They've gone home tonight,
0:46:44 > 0:46:47- and they haven't got a clue. - See you tomorrow. Bye!
0:46:54 > 0:46:57- Night!- Good night!
0:47:03 > 0:47:07The next morning, I followed Denise's advice,
0:47:07 > 0:47:10and kept a low profile.
0:47:10 > 0:47:15From the CCTV room, I could see people arriving.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21The directors...
0:47:23 > 0:47:24The staff...
0:47:27 > 0:47:30..who were told not to go to their usual departments,
0:47:30 > 0:47:33but instead, were assembled in the staffroom.
0:47:39 > 0:47:43Then, after half an hour, the administrators arrived.
0:47:44 > 0:47:48I went to where the staff were waiting.
0:47:56 > 0:48:00- The meeting's on the shop floor, is it?- Yes.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03Do you know what it's about?
0:48:03 > 0:48:05No, not really.
0:48:05 > 0:48:11We're all expecting the worst, because it's been so quiet.
0:48:11 > 0:48:15It's hard to try and think positive at this stage.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24Could everybody go to the restaurant?
0:49:09 > 0:49:13Once all the staff were assembled in the restaurant,
0:49:13 > 0:49:18John Coles arrived with a list he'd been given by the administrator.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22He started to pick people out, and send them to another department.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27- What's happening now? - We've been asked to go to Lingerie.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35Then John and Nadine and two administrators
0:49:35 > 0:49:39went into the restaurant, where most of the staff were waiting.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42I wasn't allowed in the meeting.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45The administrator told those staff
0:49:45 > 0:49:48they had all been made redundant with immediate effect.
0:49:52 > 0:49:56Then John was allowed to speak to them, one final time.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00It's a sad day. I'm very sorry.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05You're a family to us.
0:50:05 > 0:50:08I didn't think I'd do this now, but I am.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11We personally want to thank you for everything you've done.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15We did our best to try and keep it going.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17It's time to leave.
0:50:17 > 0:50:19Hopefully, one day we'll work again together.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23Genuinely, from all of us, thank you.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26APPLAUSE
0:50:36 > 0:50:3960 people were made redundant.
0:50:39 > 0:50:44The remaining 20 were kept on by the administrators to run the shop
0:50:44 > 0:50:46while it was put up for sale.
0:50:46 > 0:50:48- Devastated.- Are you?
0:50:48 > 0:50:53Really devastated. It's not me that's going to suffer.
0:50:53 > 0:50:57- It's my grandchildren, cos I spoil 'em.- Aww...
0:50:57 > 0:51:02I thought it might happen, so I was a bit prepared, I think.
0:51:02 > 0:51:03- I'm so sorry.- Never mind.
0:51:03 > 0:51:07We've got to look at it as a new beginning. Do something else.
0:51:07 > 0:51:11- Are you without a job? - Yep, second time now.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13I'm sorry.
0:51:13 > 0:51:19Well, the writing was on the wall, really, wasn't it?
0:51:19 > 0:51:23I've been here nearly 25 years. It would have been 25 years in April,
0:51:23 > 0:51:24and I'm absolutely devastated.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26I'm so sorry.
0:51:26 > 0:51:30We were just all good friends as well, like family.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34- Got on so well.- That's one of the hardest things, isn't it?
0:51:34 > 0:51:37- One big family. - Are you all right, love?
0:51:37 > 0:51:38I'm so upset, I can't talk.
0:51:43 > 0:51:49I made some great friends here, and there's nothing you can do about it.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Very sad.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53Not a very nice day at all.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03The four directors also lost their jobs.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06Technically, the four of us are up the creek without a paddle.
0:52:06 > 0:52:10It's bad. I feel empty at the moment.
0:52:10 > 0:52:14You got a spontaneous applause.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Yes, because I think they know we're genuine people.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19We wouldn't have done this.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22If there was some way that we could have pulled a rabbit out of the hat,
0:52:22 > 0:52:25and we've all worked damn hard to try and do it,
0:52:25 > 0:52:28we wouldn't have done this. Yeah, the staff clapped me, but...
0:52:28 > 0:52:32It don't mean fuck all, because I've made them all redundant.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35It's fucking shit. It really is.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37We feel we've let them down.
0:52:44 > 0:52:48..everything has been tried...
0:52:48 > 0:52:53A lot of these people have families, you know?
0:52:53 > 0:52:54What can you do?
0:52:56 > 0:52:58We've got kids, as well, but...
0:53:00 > 0:53:04- It's hard.- No matter what you do, you still feel guilty.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07It feels like a death.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09It really does feel like a death.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11Margaret had been here years as well, hadn't you?
0:53:11 > 0:53:15- Yes, she'll have been here for 25. - 22, 23.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22- Is it much worse than you'd imagined, Margaret?- Oh, yeah.
0:53:22 > 0:53:26Definitely. It's worse than what I imagined.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30- I'll go and tell Jean we're going on, all right?- Take care.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41Sorry, Bev. I really am.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47I'm sorry.
0:54:04 > 0:54:09For several weeks, JT Morgan's was run by the administrators
0:54:09 > 0:54:12and a skeleton staff while a buyer was sought.
0:54:21 > 0:54:26Gradually, departments were shut down as the stock was sold off.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33After two months, I found the place almost unrecognisable.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36Vast areas lay empty.
0:54:36 > 0:54:37How sad it was, I thought,
0:54:37 > 0:54:41that this lovely old shop should meet its end in this way.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48It was looking as if it would never sell.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51But then, after three months,
0:54:51 > 0:54:55a consortium of four people put in a successful bid.
0:54:55 > 0:55:00Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen and welcome back to your JT Morgan.
0:55:00 > 0:55:02On offer today in our fashions department,
0:55:02 > 0:55:06we're giving 50% off in your JT's, and it's nice to be back.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08I was shocked.
0:55:13 > 0:55:18John, Denise, Nadine and Nigel had bought JT Morgan's back.
0:55:18 > 0:55:23- Hello there. Did you know JT Morgan's would be open?- No.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26- We bought it back last week. - Did you?- Yes.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28So we're having a big sale now with 50% off.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31- How long is it lasting? - A couple of weeks,
0:55:31 > 0:55:34and then we'll reopen the store again with the new departments.
0:55:34 > 0:55:36- I'll be around.- Good, good.
0:55:36 > 0:55:40We've taken JT's back and it's gonna go onwards and upwards,
0:55:40 > 0:55:43and soon we'll be moving over to the new store.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46It's nice to see you back in the store.
0:55:46 > 0:55:48I'm very pleased about that, because I like JT's.
0:55:48 > 0:55:52We're back. What don't kill you makes you stronger, hopefully.
0:55:52 > 0:55:56They'd only just managed to secure a refinancing deal
0:55:56 > 0:55:57to get the company back.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00They exchanged on the Wednesday.
0:56:00 > 0:56:03- We were told on Monday that the backers had pulled out.- Really?
0:56:03 > 0:56:06Tuesday afternoon, they were talking to us again,
0:56:06 > 0:56:09and it wasn't until the following Wednesday
0:56:09 > 0:56:11before we actually finalised it.
0:56:11 > 0:56:16So there wasn't a point when we... It's not over till it's over, is it?
0:56:17 > 0:56:21The 60 staff who were made redundant weren't being re-employed.
0:56:21 > 0:56:26But those who were working at JT's now had customers to serve.
0:56:26 > 0:56:28One of Nadine's comments on the first day back
0:56:28 > 0:56:29was that the staff were smiling
0:56:29 > 0:56:31because there were customers coming back in,
0:56:31 > 0:56:33cos they'd heard we'd got the store back.
0:56:33 > 0:56:35It was good. All the staff were smiling because it was busy.
0:56:35 > 0:56:39And we were busy. Even I was on the till last Friday.
0:56:41 > 0:56:46I'd not seen John and the others looking so happy and relaxed before.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49I admired their determination.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53After all they'd been through, I thought they deserved to succeed.
0:56:53 > 0:56:58What odds do you give yourselves for success in this new venture?
0:57:02 > 0:57:03Less than 50-50.
0:57:03 > 0:57:05- Really?- Yeah.- Seriously?
0:57:05 > 0:57:08Less than 50-50?
0:57:08 > 0:57:09Retail's shite at the moment.
0:57:13 > 0:57:15It's the most crazy thing in the entire world
0:57:15 > 0:57:18to start a retail business at the moment.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21What will you do if it all goes belly up again?
0:57:21 > 0:57:23- Go bankrupt.- Go bankrupt!
0:57:23 > 0:57:26It's down to them bastards now.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28I'm off to the Maldives.
0:57:55 > 0:57:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:57:58 > 0:58:01E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk