Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Poundland is finalising plans to open stores at up to 20 large former Poundworld sites.
The move follows the collapse of the Poundworld chain over the summer. Poundland expects to reopen the doors at most of the locations in October. It anticipates the move will create over 400 jobs – and has urged all former Poundworld staff to get in touch for guaranteed interviews.
Initial openings in the first phase include Edinburgh (Cameron Toll), Killingworth (Tyne & Wear), East Kilbride and Ayr.
Aongside core general merchandise and food ranges, the discount retailer’s fashion brand PEP&CO will be offered in eight of the new locations.
Poundland UK & Ireland managing director Barry Williams said: “We’re trading strongly and stores with a PEP&CO fashion store are a hit with customers. That’s why we’re keen to find larger sites that enable us to bring our widest ranges to more high streets across the country. However, we can only do this if landlords really change their expectations about the total cost of occupation to reflect the new realities of UK retail.”
Poundland attracts seven million shoppers each week to its stores. Since opening in Burton-upon-Trent in 1990, the chain has built a network of around 850 branches in the UK and the Republic of Ireland offering private-label products and over 1,000 brands in 17 categories including household, gardening, DIY, food and drink, health and beauty, pet, stationery, books, DVDs and toys.
