To wonder how Matalan are still in business?

[JustGettingStarted]

I have gone in to a few of them and they're always sort of empty and dreary, with rather grim clothing. I suppose they're OK, but how is it that BHS went under and M&S are in trouble, when Matalan is no nicer?

Thanks ParkheadParadise, an App sounds easier. I haven't still got my card with photo on as I haven't shopped there for years, mainly because it is not that local to me. When it first opened ( in the 80s) it was quite exclusive and you could only shop there if you worked at certain places but then they started charging a pound and any old bod could join, thats when I did. It used to be a bit like a mixture of TKMaxx and BHS iirc

Thier Xmas stuff has been on the money these last few years. Only time I go there, far better than marks, ikea, John Lewis etc

I quite like Matalan. :)

The skirt and top I'm wearing today came from Matalan. As did my winter coat, 2 years ago and still looking great.

I always go in with high hopes but come out with nothing.

Then once in a blue moon there will be something I like.

We've got a new matalan that's 6 months or so old and it's great, bright, fresh and always busy.

Nice homeware, cheap, some nice clothes. I’d find 100 things to buy in Matalan over bhs!

I absolutely love Matalan, can buy an entire summer of clothes there easily. Cheap, fit well, wash well and wear well. their kids stuff and uniform is great too, our local one is always busy

I like Matalan. I still have my card, but have never had a photo one ;wasn't that Costco?). It's good for holiday clothes, Xmas stuff and homeware. The quality has got worse though, but then it has everywhere else too.

Maybe they need to start charging £1 for exclusive membership again, to keep out the riff-raff
I haven't been in one for years. It isn't on my radar at all. My nan liked their towels ('as good as BHS...').

Matalan used to take your photo in store when you joined, must have been late 80s, they had a small photo machine you looked into then photo was transferred to a card, it was definitely Matalan as I have never been to Costco

‘‘Twas back in the day when Matalan was exclusive, Next was the good quality place with an expensive directory with actual fabric samples in and M&S was where quite well off ladies (not my mum, she used C&A) shopped

It would be a shame if any of these shops disappeared though

I went a couple of times. Came out completely puzzled as to who would shop there, all kind of bland and plain. Primark without the Pzazz!

My DM still has the very first Next Directiry with swatches in

With Denise Van Outen at the helm what’s not to love

I’m sure she has a wardrobe full of Matalan staples

When people say Mataland though...

Just leaving that there.

Matalan sell the most comfortable big knickers!

Gawd I totally blocked Denise & chums out

Teen clothing is fab

Some of the homeware stuff is decent. Never liked an item of clothes in there though, it just all looks like a sea of cheap tat.

I bought most of my summer clothes from Matalan this year - all cotton. The gym clothes are really good too. The one in my town is always packed, and you don't need a card to shop there anymore either.

I have a Matalan not far from me. It’s quite convenient to get to. It’s always hot and sweaty in there though, like a greenhouse.
Some of the clothes on the rails are the same size so I’ll see a jacket I like, and they’re all a size 12, all 10 of them. How does that happen?
My other gripe is the pricing of some stuff. I see some bits and they’re reasonably priced, then look at other bits and it’s like ‘how much?’
I really hope Matalan can pull their socks up as eats dog eat dog out there.

Matalan clothes never seem to fit me! Their tops are too short in the body and nothing is cut right for big boobs. Even their clingy vest tops are flappy and not clingy and are odd on me. Bottoms are always too big round the waist once the bottom and length is right.

DH can never find any thing which fits him right either. He's got big arms and broad shoulders but slim hips and everything either hangs flappy round him or the seams fall wrong.

Near me there's an old Matalan, the look and layout of which hasn't changed a jot in 18 years (same as the clothes they're selling tbh) and a new Matalan, which looks more like M&S used to, but still doesn't have anything which grabs me.

Big new primark (Banbury) knocks spots off both Matalan stores. I've bought loads in there recently. Their clothes fit us fine. It's weird.

Mataland

I saw a new one open in the middle east recently.