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MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 03/08/2023 14:28

FatOaf · 03/08/2023 14:26

if Wilkos goes your town might get one of the others moving in.

Plenty of B&Ms and Poundstretchers closing down, too. If your Wilko closes it's much more likely a few takeaways and/or Turkish barbers will move in.

I think where I live is at capacity with barbers now. There's a road a mile or so way that has three hairdressers, as well. How they all survive I've no idea.

FloydPepper · 03/08/2023 14:29

missbunnyrabbit · 03/08/2023 14:08

I think there is a consensus here that Wilko is in town centres whereas other similar shops are not, so there will be a gap in the market for a local, accessible DIY/garden type shop.

Town centre locations were part of their challenge though. Much lower footfall, lack of parking etc. they had a very large, expense, poorly located set of stores before Covid, so I’m not surprised they struggled to make it post Covid.

I agree it’s a shame for those who use local stores, and for the staff.

SauronsArsehole · 03/08/2023 14:29

Tbh most of the stuff sold in these places, are owned by a handful of companies.

wilko, the range, b&m all stock the same brands (owned by 5/6 companies tops) with their own ranges of homeware. It’s the homeware that sets them apart but it’s all very samey.

the only thing I’ll miss from wilko is the end of summer seed sale.

PuffyShirt · 03/08/2023 14:30

Is it just me that hates that grotty shop? I won’t be sorry to see it go.

User165753 · 03/08/2023 14:31

In our town, Wilko is one of the reasons people go to the high street, it's the reason I walk down there, some of the other shops might be concerned about less footfall, Argos went which was another shop I used. We are also near a very popular shopping mall which obviously means less people use the high street.

FatOaf · 03/08/2023 14:31

I think where I live is at capacity with barbers now. There's a road a mile or so way that has three hairdressers, as well. How they all survive I've no idea.

I live on the edge of a town centre. There are three barbers and three hairdressers within 100 metres of my front door.

NowNumber5 · 03/08/2023 14:31

itsmylife7 · 03/08/2023 14:09

Oh no they are the only shop that sale the stick up paper blinds .

Dunelm and IKEA both sell these.

I did not see this news coming at all.
Our wilko is in the town centre and is one of my DC’s favourite shops!
I find their goods much better quality than b&m and The Range.
Will be gutted if the closures go ahead.
We love a good mooch in there, and will pop in without fail if we are in town.

User165753 · 03/08/2023 14:32

SauronsArsehole · 03/08/2023 14:29

Tbh most of the stuff sold in these places, are owned by a handful of companies.

wilko, the range, b&m all stock the same brands (owned by 5/6 companies tops) with their own ranges of homeware. It’s the homeware that sets them apart but it’s all very samey.

the only thing I’ll miss from wilko is the end of summer seed sale.

I was in there this morning buying lots of seeds, all half price or less with good long best before dates on.

Clutterbugsmum · 03/08/2023 14:33

I can't say I'm surprised and they won't be the last.

The Government and the Bank of England don't seem to understand that it is not only people are not the only ones with Mortgages and bank loans.

The more the interest rates go up the more that companies are going to struggle to stay afloat. We are all heading for a recession and more unemployment.

MadisonAvenue · 03/08/2023 14:36

FatOaf · 03/08/2023 14:26

if Wilkos goes your town might get one of the others moving in.

Plenty of B&Ms and Poundstretchers closing down, too. If your Wilko closes it's much more likely a few takeaways and/or Turkish barbers will move in.

We must be bucking the trend in this area as two new Poundstretchers have opened in the last six months.

Wilko would be missed around here, it always seems busy whenever I go in and not just with people browsing but with queues at the till. Plus they allow dogs in and mine thinks it’s great that he doesn’t have to stand outside with one of us.

CandyflossKaren · 03/08/2023 14:37

B&m have moved into our town centre into an empty old m&s unit

Your wilkos will become a b&m!

FatOaf · 03/08/2023 14:37

I'm very reluctant to shop at The Range because they refuse to display prices on so many items, and often display incorrect prices for the ones that do have prices displayed. And they have a ridiculous queuing system at the check-out where you have to snake around a long barrier, only to find quite often that none of the check-outs are open and you have to go to the customer information desk to pay (which is right at the start of the section where you have to queue). Oh, and they have those televisions running the same adverts over and over again all day so you can't concentrate on finding the bits you need for a DIY job. And their staff are incredibly unhelpful and unpleasant. The staff at our Wilkos are (were) brilliant, to the extent that I more than once e-mailed the head office to commend individuals.

Needmorelego · 03/08/2023 14:38

@watersprites there’s a One Below in Peckham. Near Peckham Rye station and Mcdonald’s.

dahliadazed · 03/08/2023 14:39

That’s a real shame, it’s my go to for flower bulbs, bird food and multi purpose wipes but I don’t get much else from there.

Needmorelego · 03/08/2023 14:40

@watersprites there’s also a Range in Surrey Quays.

FatOaf · 03/08/2023 14:40

Oh no they are the only shop that sale the stick up paper blinds .

As someone else posted, Dunelm sell these, too. I bought one there a couple of months ago.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 03/08/2023 14:40

I went into a Wliko last week. It was pretty empty of customers and stock, it was very eerie and I did wonder if something was going on. Very sad for the staff.

BarbaraofSeville · 03/08/2023 14:41

dahliadazed · 03/08/2023 14:39

That’s a real shame, it’s my go to for flower bulbs, bird food and multi purpose wipes but I don’t get much else from there.

But surely one of the many other similar shops mentioned on this thread will sell those things for a similar price?

I'd look in Home Bargains or B&M first for those things.

User165753 · 03/08/2023 14:45

Well, it hasn't gone yet but I don't know who would buy it, it's not the type of shop that places like Next hoover up.

Diddykong · 03/08/2023 14:45

Our one is in town in a pedestrianised area. We once found they did the paint we wanted for half the price of b&q but after hauling cans of paint across the whole of town on foot to get to the car we never went back again.

CFornot · 03/08/2023 14:46

I’m not surprised. Stock has been lacking, clearly they’ve been struggling to get credit with suppliers and huge discounts.

I am disappointed. They have a good range and low prices.

Needmorelego · 03/08/2023 14:46

Poundstretchers and Wilko bought up a lot of stock intended for Woolies when they went bust. For a while there was stock that basically had a sticker over the word “Woolworths”.
If Wilkos do go I expect a similar thing will happen. Stock will go to another retailer or a new “discount” retailer will emerge. The stock exists already. It will need to be sold somewhere.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 03/08/2023 14:49

Wilko replaced the gap left by Woolworths , but I think home bargains have taken their customers Particularly as home bargains are often on retail parks with free parking
Also supermarkets all sell " budget ranges" now

itsmylife7 · 03/08/2023 14:59

@NowNumber5 I don't have any of these near me at all .

Popworld · 03/08/2023 15:02

Biggest problem with wilkos is when they started having cash problems suppliers didnt want to supply incase they didnt get the money . Which led to empty shelves and loss of revenue