Yikes! Looks like I got out of FPC just in time. I could tell the company was going into murky waters, but never expected Chapter 11! The company was doing really poorly, with the new designer lines and move upscale failing horribly. Also, I never understood what exactly their relationship was with LID, and why they couldn't get better prices on merchandise from a supposed mother company. Note that the Only Diamonds nameplate is no longer used (the last store was rebadged as Brendan, all other ODs were closed before that), and they were in the process of trying to rebadge JC Keepsake as Brendan as well. Is it just me, or is it weird that a fine jewelry retail corporation in obvious trouble has 24 Hour Fitness as a creditor? Please keep us updated on this!

I am sorry to hear this news as it will affect the lives of many families while Four Points redirects its future. A recruiter arranged an interview for me at LID for a senior position at Four Points about four years ago. The interviewer spent an hour trying to impress me, letting me know He was genius and that he had a brilliant idea for a new business model that would make all the other jewellers obsolete. I thought the idea would never fly; the interviewer had limited retail jewellery experience. It was the only time in my long career that I politely disagreed with an interviewer. I have never forgotten that interview and I am glad I trusted my instinct.

Trusted my instinct: I still know many good people at FPC that put a lot of hard work into the company, and I hope they will be okay. I think I know who this interviewer you are talking about is too. He's probably the same person who was instrumental in the new merchandising strategy which resulted in all of the Open to Buy being used up on extremely overpriced 18k diamond micropave fashion pieces (from LID, of course) that never ever sold. Changing a discounting mall jeweler into a high-end luxury jeweler did not work.

It's amazing that a company that's owned by a DTC sightholder, that's a manufacturer,can't get it together in the retail business, but they hire good people, then won't let them do the jobs they're hired to do. They need to get out of the retail business and quit negatively impacting peoples lives.

Oh, and Former Brendan: WHAT open to buy??

They had the luxury of having one CEO with retail jewelry experience. The others were a lawyer, a banker, a teacher and now an architect. I am sure the architect can "build" them back up.

The former brendan employees that have posted need to get on with their lives. Sure hope your current jobs are getting the attention that four points is getting from you. Get over it already.

Jeez, been there too, you are entitled to your opinion, but I think the discussion so far has been informative and respectful. This is an important story that impacts people lives. I should add that I have been trying to interview someone from FPC since last week. If I do get some comment, I'll post it here (as well as put it in the magazine.) I do think it's important they let JCK readers know what is going on with their company.

They've had more than one CEo with jewelry experience, but have gone through 6 since FPC's first acquisition in 1998. This probably means that leading this company can't be easy....but wouldn't one wonder WHY?

FPC is now down to 15 retail locations, and have even closed their newest location (Northfield Stapleton, CO), which was opened in 2006. From my research, there has been a lot of management upheaval as well. Stores closed were underperforming and often functioning as clearance outlets. Two of the remaining 15 are "freestanding" non-mall locations, being former "Only Diamonds" stores (Nathan Light's diamond-centric Jared-like concept). Only one store remains in the Kentucky, where the company has its headquarters.

Over this past weekend I now see "Everything must go" and "40% to 70% off entire store" signs at 1 Brendans and 1 JC Keepsake in the Denver area. Is THE END near?

Hi, Justleft ... Just checked on this, and the news doesn't look good, sorry to say, but I'm trying to see what else I can find out ...

Looks like the company is in liquidation. Samuel's/Gitanjali buying them up is the only hope. Notice the signs match Whitehall's almost exactly, and everything is price ticketed? Rob, is there going to be an official word on this?

So this is what I know ... I spoke to one of the people who was VERY involved in the case who says the remaining 15 stores will liquidate. It was a little hard to tell from the court papers, so they weren't conclusive, which is why I didn't put a story up, but barring any contrary information, I think we can assume that is what's going on.

They're done...shutting down the stores after Christmas. Headquarters is shutting down mid-January.

I have to say that there was definitely a series of poor leadership choices made by the owner of FPC. I was at the main office for three years, and I saw so much turnover that there should have been revolving doors on the Big Office. Most of them seemed more interested in getting free furniture than they did in salvaging that company! My sympathies go to those who are still embroiled in the loss of their paychecks and insurance in this awful economy. I still have friends there, and I completely blame this whole meltdown on the poor business acumen of the owner.