Selfridges to trim head office staff “for the long-term sustainability of the business”

Selfridges has revealed plans to trim down its head office staff as part of its "efficiency restructure" and "121 Strategy".

In an email reportedly seen by This is Money, Selfridges Managing Director Andrew Keith told staff that some teams will be "resized and reshaped" to ensure the retailer is "fit for the future" and is "working in the most efficient way".

The letter to staff continued:

"We've been reviewing how head office, including some small teams in retail who support our stores, are organised to best deliver for our customers.

"To do this involves looking at our structures, our costs, our revenue lines, and our ways of working, from top to bottom.

"Regrettably this is likely to mean some of our head office teams, including some small teams in retail who support our stores, will be resized and reshaped."

Keith added that the decision had not been an easy one to take, but it is "right for the long-term sustainability of the business",

The letter concluded: "There is never a good time to make these sorts of changes. The coming weeks will be difficult for some of our team members.

"I know we will do our very best to support each other and I want to thank you in advance for your strength, empathy, and professionalism.”

Responding to the news piece in This is Money, a Communications Officer at Selfridges today offered this:

"We are in the process of reviewing how best to structure our head office to best deliver for customers. We will work through the details of this with our teams through the consultation process. Please be aware that there is an inaccuracy in the This is Money article.

"Specifically, we’ve been reviewing how head office, including some small teams in retail who support our stores are organised to best deliver for our customers. Our store and restaurant team members are not part of this review."