Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[underbank]

Both around since the late 1970s but both had most of their growth around 2005-2015 mostly following the closures of Kwik Save and Woolworths stores - both chains took over numerous Woolworths stores and B&M took over some Kwik Save sites too.

 

[Kite159]

When did Home Bargains and B&M come onto the scene? I can only recall them going back a decade

According to Wikipedia:
Home Bargains - 1976
B&M - 1978

 

[AlterEgo]

According to Wikipedia:
Home Bargains - 1976
B&M - 1978

It was also branded as Bargain Madness for a while too.

 

[krus_aragon]

Both around since the late 1970s but both had most of their growth around 2005-2015 mostly following the closures of Kwik Save and Woolworths stores - both chains took over numerous Woolworths stores and B&M took over some Kwik Save sites too.

In Bangor, Home Bargains have ended up in the old Kwik Save, whereas B&M took over a larger ex-PC World site nearby.

The old Woolworth sites I can think of in this neck of the woods were all taken over by other companies (or in some instances remain empty). I suppose neither of the two planned on expanding in this direction in the aftermath of Woolworth's demise. (B&M are a very recent arrival in the area, Home Bargains less so.)

 

[richw]

Let's not forget that many 'out of town' supermarkets are actually in suburban areas, surrounded by housing and quite possibly within walking distance of more customers than 'town centre' ones.

Spot on, very few people live in town centres compared to the suburbs where supermarkets and retail parks appear. I’ve got a Morrison’s, Aldi, and a retail park with Argos B&M and pets at home within 1/4 mile walk, yet town is a couple of miles away.

 

[richw]

According to Wikipedia:
Home Bargains - 1976
B&M - 1978

Both have only really expanded nationally in the last decade really though! I’m sure they were both localised to their founding areas. The Range is another of that type

 

[radamfi]

There are very few Home Bargains in much of southern England. There are none in East Sussex. There is only one in West Sussex (Bognor Regis) and only one in Surrey (Byfleet).

 

[Typhoon]

There are very few Home Bargains in much of southern England. There are none in East Sussex. There is only one in West Sussex (Bognor Regis) and only one in Surrey (Byfleet).

Interesting that as Kent has eight, the majority in the east, all appear to be in retail parks. The branches near me seem to be pretty busy.

I notice their geography is pretty rubbish, they reckon Brierley Hill is in Birmingham!

 

[route101]

Yeah in Scotland only last decade we have seen Home Bargains and B and M

 

[cactustwirly]

There are very few Home Bargains in much of southern England. There are none in East Sussex. There is only one in West Sussex (Bognor Regis) and only one in Surrey (Byfleet).

There's also one in Reading.
Not hugely fond of it, it's basically an overpriced Poundland, most of it is cheap Chinese that anyway

 

[radamfi]

There's also one in Reading.
Not hugely fond of it, it's basically an overpriced Poundland, most of it is cheap Chinese that anyway

But where else can you get Golden Wonder crisps?

 

[Typhoon]

Not hugely fond of it, it's basically an overpriced Poundland, most of it is cheap Chinese that anyway

Its an overpriced and underpriced Poundland because it doesn't stick to the 'pound' mantra. The last time I went in Home Bargains amongst the items I bought were two at 89p, one is available at Poundland at £1, the other (Flora) I don't know but I would be surprised if it was cheaper. Yes, there is tat (Chinese and non-Chinese) but I walk straight past that. There are enough branded goods on sale. In any case one persons tat, is another persons treasure! And our local ones are busy.
(Before anyone writes that it says something about where I live, maybe but it also shows they have identified a market and are serving it.)

 

[pemma]

Its an overpriced and underpriced Poundland because it doesn't stick to the 'pound' mantra. The last time I went in Home Bargains amongst the items I bought were two at 89p, one is available at Poundland at £1, the other (Flora) I don't know but I would be surprised if it was cheaper. Yes, there is tat (Chinese and non-Chinese) but I walk straight past that. There are enough branded goods on sale. In any case one persons tat, is another persons treasure! And our local ones are busy.
(Before anyone writes that it says something about where I live, maybe but it also shows they have identified a market and are serving it.)

I've seen Mr Kipling products on sale in Home Bargains for around 1/3rd of what they'd normally cost in a supermarket. I've also seen products which have been manufactured around 30 miles from the store site on sale - I don't know if that's just because they use a Cheshire based manufacturer for all their stores or because the brands sold in stores vary between areas.

Similar to Home Bargains, I've seen Wykes Cheddar cheese on sale in Quality Save - the same cheese you can buy in supermarkets like Waitrose and Booths.

 

[LOL The Irony]

I don't know if that's just because they use a Cheshire based manufacturer for all their stores or because the brands sold in stores vary between areas.

I mainly see manufactures from Oldham.

 

[pemma]

I mainly see manufactures from Oldham.

One of the cheap Bakery brands makes products near Chester.

 

[underbank]

But where else can you get Golden Wonder crisps?

Lots of other things too that the main supermarkets don't stock. Eg you can't get the full range of Mr Kipling cakes in neither Asda nor Tesco - they stock a very small range. Also, fizzy drinks, sweets & chocolates and crisps - the main supermarkets have a really poor choice - if you want anything other than the main top sellers, then B&M and HB probably sell them. I have a long list of things that I can buy from one or the other that the main supermarkets don't stock.

Also, they sell single items at reasonable prices whereas in the main supermarkets, it's all about multipacks and bulk buying to get sensible prices as they massively hike up the prices of single items. B&M and HB are just concentrating on the things that the main supermarkets do badly. They're also consistent, i.e. I buy a particular brand of butter spread - always the same price in Home Bargains and they nearly always have it in stock, but always up & down at Morrisons, Asda and Tesco and a bit of a lottery whether they have it at all.

 

[Kite159]

All I know is there be a large Home Bargains distribution centre on the outskirts of Amesbury and the shop attached to it does a good trade.

 

[johntea]

Home Bargains does have a good business model - you go in intending to spend a fiver and walk out fifty quid later a lot of the time I find!

 

[Typhoon]

Home Bargains does have a good business model - you go in intending to spend a fiver and walk out fifty quid later a lot of the time I find!

I'm not convinced they are that good. I go in intending to spend a fiver and walk out six quid later.

Still, from what has been reported in the postings above, Home Bargains is not a company that we expect to disappear soon.

 

[DarloRich]

Ships like B&M and Home Bargins will flourish if times are hard. They do a decent trade and i Was very annoyed when the one over the way form me closed down to move to a bigger unit that i cant get to!

There are very few Home Bargains in much of southern England. There are none in East Sussex. There is only one in West Sussex (Bognor Regis) and only one in Surrey (Byfleet).

not much point opening a bargin warehouse in places people have lots of cash and will shop elsewhere..................

 

[LOL The Irony]

Ships like B&M and Home Bargins will flourish if times are hard. They do a decent trade and i Was very annoyed when the one over the way form me closed down to move to a bigger unit that i cant get to!

They'll be the most likely candidates to survive a financial crash as people will flock to them.

 

[Typhoon]

Ships like B&M and Home Bargins will flourish if times are hard.

Which isn't going to change any time soon (although, apparently, austerity has ended)

not much point opening a bargin warehouse in places people have lots of cash and will shop elsewhere..................

Which is why the ones in Kent are in places like Folkestone, Sittingbourne and Thanet.​

 

[DarloRich]

They'll be the most likely candidates to survive a financial crash as people will flock to them.

Exactly. Same as porn brokers. Same as Poundland/World/Planet/Bonaza type shops.

Which is why the ones in Kent are in places like Folkestone, Sittingbourne and Thanet.

you don't say.......................

 

[Dai Corner]

I just did a search for Home Bargains within 20 miles of here (Newport).

Loads in South Wales, just two in prosperous North Somerset across the Bristol Channel

 

[DarloRich]

Loads in South Wales, just two in prosperous North Somerset across the Bristol Channel

anyone would think they knew their target audience

 

[Dai Corner]

anyone would think they knew their target audience

Interestingly, my nearest one is right next door to a large Tesco. Aldi or Lidl (cant remember which) are also opening nearby and already have shops very close to another Tesco and a Morrison's.

 

[Typhoon]

anyone would think they knew their target audience

Another one in Kent is in Canterbury (2 Universities - another target audience). Reason why they are here for the long term.

 

[tbtc]

B&M/ Home Bargains look prime candidates for one of the big supermarket chains to take over IMHO.

Exactly. Same as porn brokers. Same as Poundland/World/Planet/Bonaza type shops

Either you meant to type "pawn" or they have very different shops in Milton Keynes

More seriously though, re Pawn Brokers, we've had a few close down in Sheffield in the last couple of years - at first I thought "good - those kind of places are a blight" but now I'm coming round to the view that people who had anything to pawn have already pawned it - we've had almost a decade of austerity so anyone with a gold ring has flogged it by now - which is a depressing thought (given that there may well be more shocks to come, post-Brexit)

 

[DarloRich]

More seriously though, re Pawn Brokers, we've had a few close down in Sheffield in the last couple of years - at first I thought "good - those kind of places are a blight" but now I'm coming round to the view that people who had anything to pawn have already pawned it - we've had almost a decade of austerity so anyone with a gold ring has flogged it by now - which is a depressing thought (given that there may well be more shocks to come, post-Brexit)

The older style pawn shops ( thanks!) are few and far between these days but people like Ramsdens or Cash Converters will always survive. I am torn over them. I don't like the concept but I have been in a place where using their services was the least harmful option available. it is easy to criticise from a place of comfort.

 

[Kite159]

The older style pawn shops ( thanks!) are few and far between these days but people like Ramsdens or Cash Converters will always survive. I am torn over them. I don't like the concept but I have been in a place where using their services was the least harmful option available. it is easy to criticise from a place of comfort.

Isn't Cash Converters more of a franchise system?

I know the one in Andover has closed down (after jumping around the town centre), and the one in Salisbury has roughly halved in size in the last few years.