The new Poundland store in Southport is one of 64 former Wilko outlets that the value retailer has transformed in just 70 days.
Poundland moved fast to open the unit inside the Southport Train Station concourse on Saturday 30th September 2023 – among the first 10 to be converted. It adds to the existing Poundland store at Central 12 retail park on Derby Road in Southport.
Since then, Poundland has recruited 962 former Wilko colleagues over 10 weeks.
There are more planned for 2024.
The openings – Poundland’s biggest-ever single quarterly opening programme – has added around 1 million square feet of new retail space as it opened and relocated stores into bigger premises.
Last week Poundland completed the opening of 87 new stores in just 70 days.
In addition to new Poundland stores at 64 former Wilko locations, Poundland has also opened new stores in flagship locations such as Birmingham Fort and Watford where it has begun trading from a former John Lewis store.
Staff at the new Poundland store in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Arena PR
All new Poundland stores – both Wilko and non-Wilko units –feature the very latest Pepco family clothing that is now in over 600 of Poundland’s existing UK and Ireland stores.
In the 64 Wilko locations it has re-opened, 826 former Wilko colleagues have now joined Poundland on hourly paid contracts, with a further 122 becoming Poundland store managers or assistant store managers.
A further 14 former Wilko colleagues have begun working at Poundland’s main customer support centre in Walsall.
Poundland will be able to extend further opportunities to former Wilko colleagues as it secures leases on more Wilko stores.
In 2024 Poundland expects to be able to open other new Poundlands in former Wilko units, moving well beyond the 71 lease options it obtained from its administrator on 12th September.
All the recruitment of former Wilko people has been done via word-of-mouth and social media through regular online posts outlining the opportunities available.
And while all the new Poundland stores at former Wilko locations will be given additional makeovers where needed in 2024, Poundland has already begun to develop the offer in those it has recently launched.
The former Wilko store on London Street in Southport will become a new Poundland. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
It has now added chilled and frozen food to 18 former Wilko stores in Barnsley (Wombwell), Brentwood, Barking, Scunthorpe Broadway, Sale, Thornaby, Hitchin, Bishop Stortford, South Shields, Nelson, Melton Mowbray, Worcester, Seaham, Maidenhead, West Ealing, Brigg, Peterborough and Leicester.
Over the last two months Poundland has also recruited 1,200 temporary colleagues to work in stores across the UK and Ireland in the run-up to Christmas.
While the majority of these shop floor roles will end on Christmas Eve, some will also be extended until early January.
Poundland will be making sure its colleagues get a well-deserved rest by closing its stores on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this holiday.
Simon Wells, people director at Poundland said:
“I really want to thank the Poundland team for their extraordinary efforts in making so many roles available, so quickly, to those affected by the administration of Wilko.
“We know by keeping our promise to re-open former Wilko stores in such numbers, and at such pace, we’ve made a big difference to hundreds of people.
“We’re incredibly proud that so many former Wilko team members have now chosen to continue their careers here at Poundland.”
All new Poundland stores feature the very latest Pepco family clothing that is now in over 600 of Poundland’s existing UK and Ireland stores.
The clothing ranges feature new ranges from lifestyle and athleisure brands such as Cardio Bunny and Bekkin and a significant increase in the space dedicated to baby and kidswear.
Poundland opens former Wilko stores
- The 64 former Wilko stores that have opened as a Poundland since September 30 are: Saturday 30 September (10) Stafford, Nelson, Stockport, Eccles, Southport, Leigh, Barking, Maidenhead, Jarrow, Scunthorpe.
Saturday 7 October (10) Melton Mowbray, Matlock, Chepstow, Nottingham, Worcester, Ellesmere Port, Brigg, Redruth, Ferndown, Pontypool.
Saturday 14 October (8) Ripley, Bolton, Gateshead, Bicester, Peterborough, Sheffield Hillsborough, Cramlington, Rugeley.
Saturday 21 October (9) Brentwood, Altrincham, Worksop, West Ealing, Wembley, Sale, Seaham, Selly Oak, Bishops Stortford.
Saturday 28 October (10) Ammanford, Alfreton, Thornaby, South Shields, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Killingworth), Shrewsbury, Droitwich, Redhill, Leicester, Hitchen
Saturday 4 November 2023 (9) Alnwick, Headingley, Grimsby, Hull, Lichfield, Wombwell, Edmonton Green, Greenock, Peterlee Saturday
25 November 2023 (5) Stevenage, Camberley, Barnstable, Long Eaton, Retford
Saturday 9 December 2023 (3) Chester, Swindon, Fareham
- Additionally, as part of its organic store opening programme, Poundland has opened a destination store at Birmingham Fort in a former Wilko unit.
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