Comet is coming back 14 years after collapse, this time as an online shop

Remember Comet? The electricals chain that vanished from British high streets in 2012 is about to return. This time, you will find it on your phone rather than on your local retail park.

The brand is being relaunched as an online marketplace selling electrical goods from thousands of retailers.

What happened?

Entrepreneur Cas Paton, 42, has bought the rights to the Comet name. The new site launches with more than one million products from 2,500 sellers.

Think TVs, washing machines, mobile phones, computers and the latest gadgets. Comet will not buy or hold its own stock. Every purchase goes to one of the retailers on the platform.

"We're a friend of the retailers," Paton said. "We're here to attract customers, build trust and give customers choice."

Why the nostalgia?

Comet was founded in 1933 and became one of Britain's best-known electrical retailers. It went into liquidation in 2012 after severe financial losses. Shortly before that, in early November 2012, it had entered administration, putting around 6,600 jobs at risk.

Paton says he remembers visiting Comet's Trafford Park store in Manchester as a child with his late dad, Nigel. "These were things you aspired to own," he said.

That is why the relaunch brings back the classic black and orange branding. Paton believes a later version of the logo lost its connection with customers. "It was non-negotiable that we went live with the brand everyone actually remembered," he said.

What's next?

The business starts online only, but Paton is exploring click-and-collect partnerships. These could eventually put the Comet name back on a few buildings. "I want Comet to be able to connect to stores again," he said.

He has already invested £10million in the launch. He believes the business could one day be worth between £250million and £500million.

He also knows the timing is tricky, with household budgets under pressure. "The market is really tough. Money is really tight," he said. "But people still need a kettle. They still need a toaster. They still want a TV."

His pitch is simple: a trusted, long-standing name that helps people save money by offering more choice.