[SIZE=4]Jessops to live on but probably only in name as an online retailer[/SIZE]

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Reports in the last 24 hours indicate that Dragons' Den entrepreneur Peter Jones has acquired the Jessops brand and selected other assets from the failed photography chain's administrator, PwC.

Details remain unclear but none of the 187 Jessops stores are apparently included in the deal, although there are some rumours that a number of the stores may be acquired by Jones' co-Dragon, Theo Paphitis, who runs the Ryman stationery chain.

Undisputably, Jessops is a well-known photography retail brand name and Jones could well be seeking to exploit the brand exclusively online. Jessops had already developed an online retail infrastructure which may require minimal modification to kick-start a Jessops 2 business.

Jones also has a long history from his time selling mobile phones - one of the industries attributed to the demise of Jessops, so don't be surprised if the re-born Jessops also sells smartphones and tablets.