A POPULAR homeware store boss admits “I failed big time” after all sites were forced to shut, leaving thousands out of pocket.
Every branch was axed, leaving horrified customers without a kitchen or a refund.
Kitchen Love, a popular bespoke kitchen showroom chain, shut down all showrooms last year despite rave reviewers from loyal customers.
However, this shock closure left families who had paid for their dream kitchen in homeware hell as Kitchen Love refused to refund unfinished orders.
Company owner Graham Griffiths acknowledged the business blunder and admitted he made a mistake to furious customers.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “I ran the company – and I ran it wrong.
“I failed big time.”
He blamed the company’s downfall on “personnel problems” and “landlords moving the goalposts,” claiming he’d lost half a million pounds himself.
Amongst dismayed shoppers who Griffiths had “failed” are pensioners Colin and Liz Halliday, from Skelmersdale, who lost £6,000 in the company downfall.
After changing their mind and asking for a refund during the two-week cooling off period, they said their request was rejected.
Colin, 68, said: “It’s left me frightened of dealing with anyone else.
“My wife is devastated by it – she’s desperate for a new kitchen.
“We’re of pension age and we can’t afford to lose £6,000.”
Other customers were left without a refund and even without a kitchen.
Wendy and Gary Charlton, from Lancashire, paid £16,000 upfront to revamp their home.
Their old kitchen was removed last September, but to their horror, the new one never arrived.
The pair faced a plethora of “excuses” before realising the company had cash flow issues and simply couldn’t afford to supply them.
A distraught Gary said: “We had to pay another company to fit it. We paid for the whole thing twice.
“We had no means of claiming back because it was done by bank transfer.
“It’s a life lesson, I suppose. I’m still learning at 60.”
A few lucky Kitchen Love customers were able to claim the money back via their credit card issuer but not before they faced a long struggle.
Louise and Michael Twist were counting pennies for years to save up for their new Kitchen and even did credit checks on the firm to check it was legitimate.
They agreed to pay most of the sum, £30,000, in installments before any of the construction began.
After the existing kitchen was removed, forcing the family to cook meals with their outside barbecue, issues arose and there were severe delays with the new fittings.
When Kitchen Love builders arrived with what was said to be unboxed ex-display appliances, the pair refused them and sought a refund from their bank after the company stonewalled them.
Victims left feeling betrayed by the failed business came together on a WhatsApp group attempting to take legal action.
Those who were short-changed were furious and demanded Kitchen Love face consequences.
Unfortunately, cops said the company’s failure was a civil matter and those affected were told to speak to their bank for a refund or directed to Citizens Advice.
The Sun has reached out to Kitchen Love for a comment.
