Rapid Discount Outlet
{{Short description|Former DIY retailer in Liverpool, England}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Coord|53.4025|N|2.9761|W|display=title}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Rapid Hardware Ltd
| image_caption = St Luke's Place showing the original location of Rapid Hardware, September 2008
| former_name = Rapid Discount then later on Rapid Hardware Ltd
| logo =
| image = St Luke's Place at the junction of Berry Street , Renshaw Street and Leece Street - geograph.org.uk - 1208358.jpg
| type = DIY Retailer
| foundation = 1971
Renshaw Street, Liverpool
| founder = Hugh Doherty
| defunct = 30 May 2017
| fate = Administration
| location = Basnett Street, Liverpool
| key_people =
| num_employees = 100
| parent = Rapid Group Holdings
| industry = Retail
| products = DIY{{-}}Home improvement tools{{-}}Gardening supplies and plants
| revenue =
| net_income =
| locations = 1
}}
Rapid Discount Outlet, formerly known as Rapid Hardware, was a Liverpool local DIY and home improvement retailing company. The company was run by Martin Doherty and Daniel Doherty between 2008 - 2017.{{cite web|title=The return of Rapid?|url=http://www.diyweek.net/news/news.asp?id=16586&title=The+return+of+Rapid%3F|publisher=diyweek.net|accessdate=14 May 2013|date=2 May 2013}}
History
Rapid Hardware was opened by its founder Hugh Doherty in 1971, with one small store on Renshaw Street. It grew to over 200,000 sq ft of retail selling space employing over 300 people. In 2009 Rapid featured in the BBC TV series The Apprentice, in which all the candidates from the series had to pitch their ideas to store managers.{{cite web|title=Liverpool's Rapid Hardware to feature on The Apprentice with Sir Alan Sugar|date=2 May 2009 |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-rapid-hardware-feature-apprentice-3453738|publisher=liverpoolecho.co.uk|accessdate=1 July 2013}}
In 2009, the retailer relocated to the former George Henry Lee store, as the company grew. In the new building, Rapid expanded its product range to include home and garden, kitchens, lighting, bathrooms, indoor and outdoor furniture and homeware and hardware products.
File:Christmas display inside Rapid Hardware, Liverpool (3).JPG
In February 2013, Rapid Hardware went into administration. The administration was handled by Duff & Phelps.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Daniel|title=100 staff at Liverpool store Rapid Hardware made redundant|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2013/02/11/100-staff-at-liverpool-store-rapid-hardware-made-redundant-100252-32787135/|accessdate=14 May 2013|date=11 February 2013}} When the company went into administration it owed £2.97m.{{cite web|title=Liverpool firm Rapid Hardware collapsed owing £3m|date=March 2013 |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2013/03/01/liverpool-firm-rapid-hardware-collapsed-owing-3m-100252-32902888/|publisher=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=14 May 2013}}
The store re-opened in the same premises, with the name Rapid Discount Outlet, in May 2013.{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=Lorna|title=Rapid Hardware re-opens as Rapid Discount Outlet in Liverpool|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2013/05/11/rapid-hardware-re-opens-as-rapid-discount-outlet-in-liverpool-100252-33315110/|publisher=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=14 May 2013|date=11 May 2013}} The company then went into administration for the second time in May 2017 with the store closing on 30 May.{{cite web|last=Houghton|first=Alistair|title=Closing date for Rapid hardware store revealed|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/closing-date-rapid-hardware-store-13094189|publisher=Liverpool Echo|date=26 May 2017}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.rapiddiscountonline.co.uk/}} (link no longer works)
Category:Home improvement companies of the United Kingdom
Category:British companies established in 1971
Category:Retail companies established in 1971
Category:Companies based in Liverpool
Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom