Discount retailer Wilkinson is fitting out the former Woolworth store in Northbrook Street for a grand opening in late July/early August - newbury.net can reveal.
The move ends speculation that discount clothier Primark was lined up to take on the large Woollies store, which went into administration and closed at the end of 2008.
Wilkinson focuses on decorating, tools and household cleaning items, but also sells clothing, pet products, DVDs and electrical goods, toys and games, and furniture.
The Leicester-based chain operates 322 stores across the UK, with the nearest store in Basingstoke. Wilkinson says it wants to grow to 500 stores in the next three years by capitalising on the consumer trend for trading down from premium brands.
The arrival of Wilkinson adds competition for a host of Newbury retailers, from Barry Forkin to Robert Dyas, and from Cargo to Millets.
Well, I guess they've got one over on Newbury then. Apart from the fact that you can park for free on Saturday in Newbury. Oh, and there is the small matter of having to drive to Didcot to get your free parking. But other than that, they've got us!
Such snobbery! What retailer is there that supplies similar items to Wilkinson would you prefer?
This is the sort of shop one would expect in somewhere like Scunthorpe or Swansea, not in a supposedly 'affluent' ex-market town.
Wilkinsons are for people who don't have cars and can't get to the B&Qs at retail parks, and generally those without cars are the poor and idle.
I'd like to see Borders swap from the retail park. Otherwise a decent musical instrument shop, Furniture Village, or children's clothing superstore would present less of a chav magnet.
Wilkinsons are for people who don't have cars and can't get to the B&Qs at retail parks
Wilkinsons is nothing like B&Q. And I really don't see any need for the snobby comments. It is a general household goods store, really not unlike Woolworths in its heyday, selling everyday things we all need from time to time. Cleaning products, toiletries, pet supplies, stationery, kitchenware, bathroom accessories, hardware, electrical accessories (bulbs, flex, batteries, fittings etc), gardening supplies. Seasonal items like Christmas decorations. All at competitive prices and good special offers.
Yes and with a much wider range. I go to Basingstoke for business once a month or so; wandering round seeing what bits they have on offer - even do 'home brewing' equipment! Managed to get a picnic basket last year - with real china crockery and metal cutlery - really looks the part and only £12, Of course, didn't tell other half where it came from so got the usual ear bashing for spending a lot of money - can't win! Anyway, I'd say a result for Newbury.
For those who get a little bit too sniffy about Wilkinson, saying it's the lower end of the market.... there's an element of truth in it, but like Lidl and Aldi they do ATTRACT people to shop. People are watching their pennies and whether there's an embarrassment about being seen shopping there by your workmates or friends, EVERYONE loves a bargain.....
Hopefully good for the town while we have all the disruption .....and while the high end users (whose idea of 'shopping' is coming into a town and having a latte) avoid the place.......
For those who get a little bit too sniffy about Wilkinson, saying it's the lower end of the market.... there's an element of truth in it, but like Lidl and Aldi they do ATTRACT people to shop. People are watching their pennies and whether there's an embarrassment about being seen shopping there by your workmates or friends, EVERYONE loves a bargain.....
Hopefully good for the town while we have all the disruption .....and while the high end users (whose idea of 'shopping' is coming into a town and having a latte) avoid the place.......
Agree with much here, but against the socio economic model; think you'll often find 'top draw' getting stuff from such places - you'd be surprised at who gets what from Argos (who've made adverts about it!). So its the middle ones who get sniffy, as so wonderfully illustrated in TVs 'Keeping up Appearences'
A report on Newbury Today has poured cold water on these rumours.
Interesting. The Newbury Today article is very definate, although I wonder if the agents dont want to been seen to have leaked the info, so are saying that there is no deal. We'll see I guess. I won't be crushed if Wilkinson dont take up the unit, but it's better that someone is in there rather than it being empty.
Just to sidetrack this posting a little bit, you may have wondered how travelling events like a circus or a fairground manage to get their posters into empty shops. (See picture at the start of this thread).
They sellotape several posters together and then lever the top of the door outwards, and then they thread the strip of posters down the inside. Another piece of tape at the top, and hey presto.
This form of advertising makes poor old Bill Posters redundant.
A contact has told me that Wilkinson are the frontrunners, subject to asbestos and other building checks. Looks like admin may have jumped the gun, but is on the right track.
Interesting. The Newbury Today article is very definate, although I wonder if the agents dont want to been seen to have leaked the info, so are saying that there is no deal. We'll see I guess. I won't be crushed if Wilkinson dont take up the unit, but it's better that someone is in there rather than it being empty.
It's quite easy to find out the truth....Wilkinson are moving in as soon as the lease is signed. It's just a formality....
This is the sort of shop one would expect in somewhere like Scunthorpe or Swansea, not in a supposedly 'affluent' ex-market town.
Wilkinsons are for people who don't have cars and can't get to the B&Qs at retail parks, and generally those without cars are the poor and idle.
I'd like to see Borders swap from the retail park. Otherwise a decent musical instrument shop, Furniture Village, or children's clothing superstore would present less of a chav magnet.
Not everyone has a car (and this does not mean that they are poor and idle) and besides B & Q dont sell everything that Wilkinsons do.
I seem to remember in the previous history of this site that you said that "Chavs" were mainly young unemployed mothers etc so if there was a childrens clothing superstore this would be a magnet as you state.
Why are you so snobbish about some things i do not know, however i dont suppose you will be visisting Wilkinsons so i doubt if it matters to you.
This is the sort of shop one would expect in somewhere like Scunthorpe or Swansea, not in a supposedly 'affluent' ex-market town.
Wilkinsons are for people who don't have cars and can't get to the B&Qs at retail parks, and generally those without cars are the poor and idle.
I'd like to see Borders swap from the retail park. Otherwise a decent musical instrument shop, Furniture Village, or children's clothing superstore would present less of a chav magnet.
What a ridiculous thing to say! How are people without cars poor and idle? Surely someone who chooses not to have a car and rides a bike because it is seen as the green thing to do is far from idle!
Wilkinsons is a great store and you can pick up lots of things you'd find in B&Q and Tesco etc for much cheaper prices.
If you don't like it and wish to spend more money on the same things elsewhere then go for it. I know where i'll be.
Wilkinson seem to be taking an age to move in. When is this happening?
No "official" release from Wilkinson saying that they are taking the unit, and Newbury isn't listed in the "New Store Openings" section of their website either. I would think, after all this time, that it isn't happening for whatever reason.
Excellent. Care to tell us what you've heard and from where? I don't know whether it's happening or not. I suspect that, probably, only Wilkinsons and the property agent know for sure. However, people like to think that they are in the know, and so begins the speculation from those that have only rumour to go on.
If it is happening any time soon then I would have thought that Wilkinson would have it in the new stores section of their website, as that seems to be where they advertise for staff from.
Even if they signed today it would take many weeks to fit out the shop, employ staff and stock the place. Whatever happens, I doubt it will be soon.
But then, it looks like FF is about to give us the official line. Over to you...
Excellent. Care to tell us what you've heard and from where? I don't know whether it's happening or not. I suspect that, probably, only Wilkinsons and the property agent know for sure. However, people like to think that they are in the know, and so begins the speculation from those that have only rumour to go on.
If it is happening any time soon then I would have thought that Wilkinson would have it in the new stores section of their website, as that seems to be where they advertise for staff from.
Even if they signed today it would take many weeks to fit out the shop, employ staff and stock the place. Whatever happens, I doubt it will be soon.
But then, it looks like FF is about to give us the official line. Over to you...
I hope you don't mind me saying so, but I'd like to get this straight first, I'm not one of those people 'who like to think they are in the know'. No I don't care to tell you exactly what I've heard or from where but you've made your mind up that that it isn't happening and I suggested that that may not be the case. The 'official line' is down to whoever occupies the premises and until they make an announcement we won't know for sure
I'm not one of those people 'who like to think they are in the know'.
I didn't mean you in particular, although, simply saying "That's not what I've heard" without giving us any more info does kind of make it look like that.
Quoted from 133
...you've made your mind up that that it isn't happening...
Hardly. I think I said in the previous post, "I dont know whether it's happening or not".
Quoted from 133
The 'official line' is down to whoever occupies the premises and until they make an announcement we won't know for sure
Good old admin doesn't need to wait to be fobbed off with 'official announcements'. I understand the lease has been signed, now the asbestos tests have been done, so it's ready for fit out.
It's a great shame it's been empty for so long, as it's a cracking unit.
You couldn't make it up! Well, admin was right all along.
Hardly. When admin "broke" the story months ago it was only speculation. And it still is, with Wlkinson themselves refusing to confirm their plans. In fact in a previous NWN article they had a quote from someone at Wlkinson saying that they had no plans to come to Newbury. Why would they say that if they did have plans to come here?
I think they'd be a good addition to the town, but this story is just rumor, not fact. And there's certainly nothing new since the article was originally posted.
I think they'd be a good addition to the town, but this story is just rumor, not fact. And there's certainly nothing new since the article was originally posted.
If the spokespeople deny something, does that make it a rumour?
I think they'd be a good addition to the town, but this story is just rumor, not fact. And there's certainly nothing new since the article was originally posted.
If the spokespeople deny something, does that make it a rumour?
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