Little-known high street retailer opening another ex-Wilko site TOMORROW – and it’s not B&M, Poundland or The Range
A LITTLE-known high street retailer is opening up in an ex-Wilko site tomorrow.
One Beyond will open up a new store in Waterlooville, Havant, on Friday, December 15.
The budget retail chain launched just four years ago and currently has 107 stores nationwide.
The company sells 4,000 different products for £1, with thousands more offers costing more.
A spokesperson for the company told The Sun that the new store on Dukes Walk in Waterlooville will open on December 15, at 10am.
The discounter has already opened up two former Wilko branches, in Chelmsford and Boston, in November.
It could take on up to 10 Wilko locations as part of its plans to increase its portfolio of stores to 125 by spring next year.
Chris Edwards, chief executive officer, previously told The Sun: “We’re looking forward to bringing One Beyond’s incredible value to even more shoppers across the UK.”
It comes after Wilko fell into administration in August leaving 400 stores and 12,000 jobs hanging in the balance.
The much-loved retailer was unable to find a buyer for the whole business meaning the stores closed and thousands of jobs were lost.
The chain, founded by James Kemsey Wilkinson in 1930, had been facing issues for several months.
The company borrowed £40million in 2022 from Hilco as well as cutting jobs and restructuring the leadership of the business.
Administrators PwC were brought in in August to salvage a deal among interested firms and in a bid to save jobs and stores but failed.
However since then, several retailers have snapped up some of the ex-Wilko premises, and the name itself has also been saved.
Poundland owners Pepco have bought up to 71 locations and set to work opening up the stores under the Poundland name.
B&M has also purchased 51 stores, although the retailer is yet to confirm which branches are included in the deal.
Meanwhile, The Range has snapped up the Wilko name and website, as part of a £5million deal.
Since re-launching the website, The Range has also opened up some new Wilko stores, in a surprise move.
It opened up new concept stores in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton and has plans for more.
Other store closures and openings
The cost of living crisis, high inflation and energy costs are all taking their toll on businesses.
Retailers including Poundland, New Look and Homebase are among those pulling the shutters down on locations for the final time this month.
Many shoppers have taken to doing their shopping online and a lot of households just do not have the spare cash to splash on a shopping spree.
Bank branches are also being affected and just last week banking group Lloyds announced that it would be closing 45 branches next year.
This comes as more banks look to move their services online.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for retailers as some are managing to thrive, despite the difficult trading conditions.
The Sun recently revealed discount retailer Costco is expanding in the UK and is planning to open 14 more warehouses over the next two years.
Bonmarche is opening at least seven new stores after filing for administration in 2019, while The White Company is also opening up new locations.