WILKO is set to open new stores before Easter and bargain hunters will be thrilled.
The beloved discounter is continuing its return to the UK high street after collapsing into administration last summer.
1
Two shops are set to open before Easter, cutting the ribbon in days.
Brits were heartbroken when Wilko announced all of its 400 shops would be closing.
But since December 2023, the Wilko name has officially been back on the high street after new stores opened their doors to customers.
CDS Superstores, now trading as The Range and Wilko, revealed late last year that it was relaunching the chain across high streets.
READ MORE IN RETAIL
Three former Wilko sites have since reopened, welcoming customers for the first time in December.
Now, two further stores will open on March 29 at 9am.
The shops are located in St Albans, (The Maltings) and Rotherham (Parkgate Shopping Park).
When the chain first announced the openings, Wilko said: “The new stores will offer shoppers everything they need to get all their home and garden jobs done.”
Most read in Money
Inside a brand new Wilko store open in time for Christmas with decorations that look just like expensive John Lewis ones
It comes as the retailer has also revealed that its next store will be Poole, Dorset.
Work is expected to begin soon at the Dolphin Centre site and the store opening date will be announced shortly after.
The announcement in Poole follows successful concept store launches in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton.
Wilko is also set to be “bigger and better” than before and popular features like next-day delivery and flexible payment terms will be re-enabled.
Chief Executive Officer of Wilko, Alex Simpkin said: “The initial reaction to the new concept stores has been even better than we’d hoped, we’ve seen queues of both returning and new customers at the store launches and the feedback is giving us the confidence we need to continue with our store opening plans.
“We’re in advanced negotiations with a number of landlords and are continuing to review all options as a part of our roll-out plan. Any interested agents or landlords should get in touch.
“We’ll continue to endeavour to give ex-wilko employees priority as a part of the recruitment process for the new stores.”
Wilko announced the news it would be closing all of its shops in September 2023, devastating loyal customers.
The retailer collapsed after being hit hard by inflationary pressures, competition from rivals and supply chain challenges.
Administrators PwC were called in but talks with interested firms failed to secure a rescue deal for the whole company with a potential takeover by HMV owner Doug Putman collapsing.
Following its collapse shoppers were relieved to hear the brand had been scooped up by The Range in a £5million deal – meaning the name would live on.
The discounter later revealed it would be selling Wilko products in its stores, before then announcing the return of brick-and-mortar shops.
A number of rivals swooped in to buy out some of Wilko’s store portfolio though, including Poundland, which purchased 71 stores.
These sites have now all opened the sites.
B&M also agreed to buy up to 51 locations as part of a £13million deal and has since opened several.
What other chains are making a comeback?
M&Co fell into administration for the second time in two years in December 2022.
M&Co’s brand and intellectual property were sold to Yours Clothing.
In June last year, the brand announced that it is planning to open 50 physical M&Co stores over the next two years in a surprise turnaround.
The stores were set to open in autumn but this has been delayed so far.
It’s not yet clear where the stores will be located or when they will open their doors but we’ll keep you updated.
Elsewhere, Made.com has also made a comeback after it was rescued from administration by fashion giant Next.
Made, which employed around 600 people, sold its brand, website, and intellectual property to the clothing and homewares retailer.
It stopped taking online orders and shut its high street showroom in London.
Now, Made.com has opened its first brick-and-mortar store since being acquired.
The new 4,000 sq ft store opened last week on Vulcan Road, Sheffield, with products having previously only been available to buy online.
Here are the next sites to get Made concessions:
- Croydon Purley Way (Next Home)
- Carlisle (Next Home)
- Camberley
- York Vangarde Retail Park
- Leicester Fosse Park West
- Nottingham Giltbrook
- Leeds Birstall Retail Park
- Thurrock (Next Home)
- Ipswich Martlesham Heath
- Maidstone Eclipse
Paperchase has also returned to shops after closing all 134 stores earlier this year.
Plus, iconic British fashion chain Top Shop could return to the high street if it’s acquired by Ted Baker and Reebok’s owner.
It comes after it was reported that ASOS is exploring the potential to sell off its ownership of Topshop two years after it bought the brand.
Retailers closing stores in 2024
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Here’s a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:
- Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
- B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
- Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
- Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
- Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
- Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
- Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
- M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
- Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
- WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.
What else is happening on the high street?
Retailers have also been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year and more are on their way.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Paperchase and The Body Shop.
Most recently, fashion giant Ted Baker has fallen into administration, putting dozens of stores and hundreds of jobs at risk.
The retailer, who currently runs 86 stores across the UK and employs 975 people, filed a Notice of Intention just days ago.
Many high street retailers have been struggling to get by, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and have no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Several big-name chains are pulling down the shutters for the final time this month.
A Marks and Spencer store that has served customers for 10O years is at risk of closing for good.
The retailer has announced a proposal to close its Walworth store in South London leaving shoppers “devastated.”
Boots is set to shut another 10 shops in the coming weeks.
The move by health and beauty retailer Boots forms part of plans to close 300 sites.
Joules, known for its wellies and raincoats, pulled down the shutters on another of its stores in Stratford.
Matalan closed down one of its branches in Leeds on February 24.
High street designer brand Kurt Geiger has pulled down the shutters on its shop in Brighton.
Department store Fenwick also shut its flagship London store in Bond Street on February 3.
High-street fashion chain Peacocks closed one of its branches in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Peacocks is also pulling down the shutters on its store in Camborne, Cornwall, on April 3, with “a really heavy heart”.
Entertainment retailer HMV also shuttered its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire, in January.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.
