Shoppers flock to closure of Sportsgirl

By JOSIE CLARKE

Sportsgirl shop floors were strewn with clothes, shoeboxes and broken coat-hangers yesterday as thousands of Aucklanders took advantage of the chain's closing-down sale.

Staff at seven city stores said it turned into a "day of chaos."

Joint liquidator Michael Stiassny, of Ferrier Hodgson, said he was satisfied with the sale's success to date and hoped it would continue for the rest of the week.

Once the sale is over, the liquidators will sell shop fittings and find a new tenant, or the shops will stand empty.

Rival clothing chain Sussan bought 104 Sportsgirl stores in Australia in December, but the deal did not include any outlets in New Zealand.

Sportsgirl employs up to 80 mainly part-time staff in stores throughout the country.

The chain, with debts of $A80 million ($96.38 million), was placed in voluntary administration last November.

This allowed the business to continue operating while imposing a freeze on action by creditors.