Staff at discount retailer Poundworld have been told "closing down" sales will start on Thursday.es.
Poundworld, which went into administration earlier this month, has 355 stores and employs 5,100 people.
In a notice to staff posted on Wednesday, Deloitte said Poundworld's trading had been "difficult for a substantial period of time".
But while administrators had decided "closing down sales would commence" it added: "For clarity this does not mean that stores will definitely close."
"The administrators' strategy remains the same; to continue to trade the business in order to realise the stock whilst seeking to secure a sale of the business either in whole or part."
