Laura Ashley faces an uncertain future in Australia after the women's clothing and homewares retailer, famed for its pastels and prints, called in the administrators.
The Australian arm of the British-based retailer entered voluntary administration on Thursday. However, no details have been revealed about the extent of the company's problems.
Ross Olde and John Park of FTI Consulting have been appointed as administrators of the company, which has operated in Australia and New Zealand under licence from its UK parent since 1971.
Each of the retailer's 38 Australian stores will continue to operate while FTI assess its books and outlets.
"It is the administrators' intention to continue to trade business as usual while an urgent assessment of the company's financial position is conducted," a statement from FTI said.
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The company's four stores in NZ are not affected.
The news comes just days after fellow retailer and electronics giant Dick Smith was placed in receivership.
Laura Ashley's UK-based parent, Laura Ashley Holdings, reported a flat first half pre-tax profit of STG8.4 million ($A17.39 million) last September.
The UK company has about 300 franchised stores around the world.
Franchise and licensing revenue from those businesses fell by nearly a third in the first half.
At the time, the company blamed the slump on problems with its businesses in Japan and Russia but made no mention of its Australian arm.
However it did flag plans for expansion in Asia.
