- Have you visited a B&Q store recently? If so, which one did you visit and what did you think? If you haven't visited recently, what would convince you to go along?
Like justshootmenow I visit either the Bradford Thornbury store or the big store in Leeds.
Bradford Thornbury seems a bit tired and neglected. The parent and child parking outside is never available as it either has trolleys piled on it or rude 'white van men' take the spot. I've reported this to the staff, but they never care.
The Leeds store is better, but it's huge and I always get hopelessly lost. A layout map near the entrance or better signs would help. Some of the aisles are very narrow, making it difficult for two trolleys to pass one another. I still haven't found if there's a lift to get to the upstairs section with a trolley, so I've never ventured up there!
- If you have been to a B&Q store recently, were the staff helpful? What did you think about the product range and presentation?
Bradford is a bit hit and miss. I've had excellent help from very knowledgable members of staff on occasion. But quite often it's hard to find a staff member, at which point they look at you blankly and go to find someone else. By the time they've found them and the answer, I've generally solved the query by myself or gotten fed up and moved on! (Maybe that's part of their plan?)
A plus for Bradford is that it's nicely laid out and easy to find what you need. You can walk along the central aisle and clearly see signs on both sides to highlight the area you're looking for, with products set out sensibly. Product selection is good, I can usually find what I'm looking for.
Leeds seems to be flooded with friendly staff. There is always someone waiting by the entrance with a smile and there are lots of staff hovering around the self service area for when the machines inevitably misweigh or don't have your item on the system.
Once you find the section you're looking for, the products are laid out well and there's a good selection - though I often find they've sold out of the item I want.
- What, if anything, do you think B&Q could do better to get more people in store?
Could do with some better facilities for families. I have no idea whether they have toilets available or not - if there are then they're not well sign posted! Getting a trolley is pot luck and there's usually only one type with one toddler seat, nothing for babies.
To be honest, running a creche section like they do in Ikea would be fantastic, as it's hard to make DIY decisions and lift heavy things into trolleys with a small child hanging on your arm, declaring they're bored, pulling things off shelves and touching every dangerous thing they can find.
Alternatively, maybe there could even be something available at the entrance to entertain kids, like a leaflet designed for them with a puzzle to do, or a map on which they have to mark where the mascot is hiding this week? A small prize could be then given by the exit for the right answer, or a box to put their entry from which a winner is chosen once a week.
Or, smaller pull along trolleys that they can use which are not going to attack other peoples ankles quite so badly. Then, special displays around the store of "Secret Tokens" in different colours at child height. The kids have to find them and put one of the tokens in their special basket while the parents do the real shopping. When they get to the exit, the tokens are collected in and the kids get kudos/a prize.
- Have you or your DCs attended a You Can Do It workshop or Kids Can Do It class? If so, which one did you attend and what did you think of it?
No, there are no adult classes available at Bradford or Leeds (why?!), and DD is too young for the Kids Can Do It classes at Leeds.