Rapid Discount Outlet

53°24′28.1″N 2°59′21.3″W

Rapid Discount Outlet
FormerlyRapid Hardware
IndustryRetail
Founded1971
Renshaw Street, Liverpool
FounderHugh Doherty
Defunct30 May 2017
FateAdministration
HeadquartersBasnett Street, Liverpool
Number of locations
1
Key people
Kim-Marie Doherty, Daniel Doherty and Martin Doherty
ProductsDIY
Home improvement tools
Gardening supplies and plants
Number of employees
100
ParentRapid Group Holdings

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 (directors) since it opened.[1]

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.[2]

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.

Christmas display inside Rapid Hardware, Liverpool (2012).

In February 2013, Rapid Hardware went into administration. The administration was handled by Duff & Phelps.[3] When the company went into administration it owed £2.97m.[4]

The store re-opened in the same premises, with the name Rapid Discount Outlet, in May 2013.[5] The company then went into administration for the second time in May 2017 with the store closing on 30 May.[6]

References
  1. "The return of Rapid?". diyweek.net. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  2. "Liverpool's Rapid Hardware to feature on The Apprentice with Sir Alan Sugar". liverpoolecho.co.uk. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  3. Johnson, Daniel (11 February 2013). "100 staff at Liverpool store Rapid Hardware made redundant". Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  4. "Liverpool firm Rapid Hardware collapsed owing £3m". Liverpool Echo. March 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  5. Hughes, Lorna (11 May 2013). "Rapid Hardware re-opens as Rapid Discount Outlet in Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  6. Houghton, Alistair (26 May 2017). "Closing date for Rapid hardware store revealed". Liverpool Echo.
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