The administrators of North West retail chain Stationery Box have put the business up for sale. Less than two months into their new ownership under Hilco, and after an additional £1m of working capital to boost the chain in the run- up to Christmas, the company blames competition from supermarkets and the internet for its “difficult” trading period.

One of the largest independent specialist retail stationery chains in the UK, Stationery Box is based in Warrington, Cheshire, with more than 100 outlets nationwide. It began as a family business in 1989 and sold to its management in the late 1990s. The company posted sales of £46.9m in the year to June 2006. 

Its entry into administration has sparked fears for some 500 jobs. 

Neil Bennett and Andrew Poxon of corporate recovery firm DTE Leonard Curtis were appointed joint administrators on Monday. Mr Bennet said “This is a well established business which in previous years had been successful, although more recently it had suffered under difficult trading conditions and competition from supermarkets and the internet.

“We are conducting an appraisal of the business, with a view to establishing the level of interest in the stores.

It’s early days, but we have already received several expressions of interest, and we are continuing to trade the shops in the short term. We are hopeful that we will be able to save very many of the jobs concerned, and produce a good return for the creditors.”