Purple - RIP?

I would suggest that your first paragraph is right and that when Purple are ready to disclose what is happening they will issue a statement to the sailing media.

Whilst Purple maybe the first to admit it, the whole marine retail industry (including the manufacturers) are feeling the crunch.  They won't be the last

http://www.boatingbusiness.com/archive101/2008/october/news/ purple_marine_in_voluntary_liquidation

the chandlers at Rutland has been closed,

half the reason for this 'lack of trade' is due to hardware and clothing being "made to last" so people are not having to go out and buy new bits for their boat very often, resulting in this lack of trade, doesn't help having the credit crunch as well.

I'm 46 and I also prefer a website to a dead tree....and I do tend to only use two sites: P&B and Sailboats.  I've used the latter ever since I first got my own dinghy and things had to be ordered from a catalogue, so I still go there out of loyalty and also because they have always offered an excellent service.  Lately I've also used P&B when they are competitive on price or when they have an item Sailboats does n't stock.

I never bought anything from Purple - I wasn't impressed by their shop when I was at Rutland and never found them that good on price.  That being said, I think it would be a bad thing all round if the chandlery marketplace shrinks any further and I know that if I were a Rutland member I would miss having a chandlery on site.  We had one at Chew (is it still there - used to be run by Dave Hall's Dad) and I know that when I join Grafham after our move one of the plus points will be a chandler on site.

It's a shame.  I hope nobody involved lost too much money.

Hmmm...I'd heard that all of Purple was gone, including Team Purple...