Wilko alternative shop? 😢

[MorningHood]

I’m still in mourning for the loss of our local Wilko😭 I live somewhere where there aren’t many ‘big’ discount type shops so Wilko was my ‘go-to’ for so many household things as well as Halloween, Xmas, garden stuff..

Looking for alternative shop recommendations? I need to get some Halloween bits and not sure where to go (resent giving Tesco / Asda any more of my money - which is probably a bit irrational I realise).

B&M? We have a two-storey one near us and it has EVERYTHING!

The Range?

Home bargains is generally cheaper than B and M. But both sell similar items to wilko.

B and M is probably more similar.

Also The Range. Pound Stretcher. Poundland.

TWO STOREY'S ! Our B&M is OK I prefer home bargains.

I don't like the Range ours is just random bits of crap lying around!

Home Bargains is the best. The one near us is so big they need to put a cafe half way round. By aisle 21 everyone's leaning against the walls.

Depends what shops you have but basically -
B+M
The Range
Poundstretchers/Bargain Buys (same shop - different names)
Home Bargains
One Below
Poundland

😆

Home Bargains
B&M
The Range
They're the closest I think.

But Dunelm also sells a lot of bits and bobs like storage and bulbs and kitchen ware etc.

I'd even suggest Homebase dependant on branch. They sell all sorts, not just DIY bits like Wikes etc.

I liked Wilko, I used to go there with me dad way back when, it was Wilkinsons back then.

But I don't think they sold anything particularly unique? Most of their wares can be bought at a big Tesco or Asda, probably anyway.

Thanks everyone, I’m Google map searching, nearest if any of these are 30 mins drive (aside from Asda/Tesco), bummer!

I'd treat myself to a day out and go and have a mooch 😄 maybe your wilkos has been taken over by poundland and wil be open soon.

I am mourning Wilkos too and their kibbled peanuts for wild birds.

I go to Home Bargains. Nearby is a B&M, Poundland, Poundstretcher but I prefer Home Bargains.

Depends on what you need.

B&M and Range are good for odd bits and bobs / food etc. They’re both too expensive for toys and stationary and cleaning supplies.

Works / Card Factory is the best for cheap stationary (if you can’t wait for a WH Smith sale), cards, books, toys and wrapping paper if you have kids.

Supermarkets for cleaning supplies

The Range treat their staff badly, the reviews on Glassdoor are terrible, Wilko treated their staff well, they had a low staff turnover for retail and the average time there was 10 years which is unusual for retail. The Range also seem expensive for some things at the same time as the stock looking tacky, I was looking on their website and some of the prices were expensive for what they were.

I'm mourning Wilko as well, I got so much from there, it was always good quality and cheap for what it was. I don't want to pay Next, John Lewis prices when I can get it for less elsewhere. And it had everything, great gardening section, stationary, DIY stuff was great, paint and houseware was also good. Poundland/B&M may be cheaper but the stuff isn't as good quality so you can end up needing to buy twice. They are ok for beauty/cleaning products/food as you don't need them to last but check pricing as the packs can be smaller. I buy beauty products from Superdrug/Boots when they are on offer.

I've started going to Argos for the bigger things like towels as the quality is pretty good, similar to Wilko and they have quite a lot of house stuff and some DIY stuff. Toolstation and Screwfix, B&Q, Homebase for DIY. M&S is sometimes cheaper than you expect for some house stuff. Try Dunelm for house stuff too. The Works have cheap stationary and crafting items, it doesn't look as good quality but it's reasonably priced. Not sure where I'm going to get my gardening things, I haven't solved that issue yet, nowhere compares to Wilko for range and price, garden centres can be more expensive.

You probably don't have one near you (unless you are in Wales), but Charlies has some similar stock and they are online: www.charlies.co.uk/

This is very similar to when everyone was mourning Woolworth's. I like Wilko too. We have Home Bargains & the Range which are ok.

Home Bargains is my favourite shop, I should probably buy shares in it. I used to be a Wilko girl, up until about 2 years ago when it started to go downhill and get more expensive (in my opinion). I go to Home Bargains once a week without fail.

None of the stores suggested (apart from Poundland) are found on high streets. I have to drive to go to a B&M, Home Bargains or the Range. Wilko covered a lot of bases for me without having to get in a car

Oh, we have a Home Bargains on our high street! It's smaller than the out of town one, but high street shops are physically smaller anyways so never gonna be massive stores.

Look for your local hardware stores and small businesses too. We might be more expensive on some things but we’re cheaper than others and you aren’t lining the pockets of some big shot CEO, you’ll be putting food on the table of a family.

I know some of the shops mentioned are convenient but please support local where you can.

Wilkins treated their staff well...... until they made 12,500 redundant through mismanagement.

Oh and here's a tip to remember the spelling (not having a go, genuine tip!)
Stationary means not moving
Stationery is what people mean here, and it has E for envelope in it!

@TheYearOfSmallThings Poundland, Poundstretchers and One Below are all "High Street" retailers.
Smaller branches of B+M and Home Bargains are also on many High Streets or within shopping centres.
The Range can be found in town centres and shopping centres.
You obviously just live in a bad luck area.

@JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam I went to a Wilkos on it's last day and the only stock that they had (and had loads of) and clearly couldn't sell even when reduced was all hardware products. It's ironic really that they started life as a hardware store but in its final few years that was clearly what wasn't selling.

I must do! Poundland is the only one I see on high streets in London (occasionally Poundstretcher, but that is rubbish). I would have to go to a retail park further out for the others.

'Wilko covered a lot of bases for me without having to get in a car ' that was part of their downfall @TheYearOfSmallThings . Town centre footfall was falling before the pandemic, and fell more steeply during and post pandemic. Very few people walk into town to buy, say a ladder, and walk back home with it in their hands. And so sadly we all just nipped into Wilko for small purchases like hair/ kitchen items/ stationary, where the margins are very tight for the shop.

But yes, I agree, like Woolies, we got quite used to having Wilkos on the high street, but it wasn't a destination shop, like TK Maxx, Next or M&S, which have moved to an out of town model.

stationery  @sadaboutmycat* I blame my iPhone