Wilko's goes into Administration

[johntea]

It sounds like some retailers (a front runner being The Range) are interested in buying the ‘brand’ so maybe Wilkos branded products will continue in that way

 

[ChrisC]

Doff sell a lot of stuff in Poundland and B&M, although both of these retailers sell them as Doff branded items, and the range is a lot smaller. I wonder if it cost Wilkinson anything to have the items in their own branding rather than that of Doff.

I always try to buy Doff stuff whenever I see them, mainly because then I am supporting a firm which is relatively local to me.

Going back many years, and I‘m sure it’s even worse now than then, my dad used to get really annoyed with Wilkinson’s removing all garden products from their stores this time of the year to make way for Halloween and Christmas stock. Just at the very time of year when you want products like Growmore and weed killers etc Wilkinsons stopped selling them.

 

[Silver Cobra]

The GMB union have confirmed that all 400 Wilko stores will now close by early October, with the next batch of closures being announced tomorrow.

All Wilko shops to shut with 12,500 jobs likely to go

The Wilko name will disappear from UK High Streets as a rescue deal for the chain falls through.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Wilko name will disappear from UK High Streets as a rescue deal for the chain fell through.
All of its 400 stores across the UK will close by early October, the GMB union has said.
It means redundancies now look likely for all 12,500 staff at the family-owned business.
It is understood no bidders are interested in running shops under the Wilko name, although some parties are interested in rebranding their stores.
The billionaire owner of HMV, Doug Putman, hoped to keep up to 300 Wilko shops open, but his bid failed as rising costs complicated the deal.
This week will see the first Wilko stores close, after administrators PwC previously announced 52 shops across the country would cease trading on Tuesday and Thursday.
The BBC understands the next round of closures will be announced on Tuesday.
The company has struggled with strong competition from rival chains like B&M, Poundland, The Range and Home Bargains, as the high cost of living has pushed shoppers to seek out bargains.
B&M has said it will take on up to 51 of Wilko's 400 shops in a deal worth £13m. The BBC understands that the stores will be rebranded as B&M shops, although it is not clear yet whether any jobs will be saved or if Wilko workers will be given preference if they apply for roles at the B&M shops.
Many Wilko shops are in High Street locations in traditional town centres. While these locations are convenient for shoppers without cars, since the pandemic there has been a shift to bigger retail parks and out-of-town options with more space, benefiting its rivals like B&M.
Poundland is also understood to be interested in buying up to 70 stores as a way of boosting its own portfolio.
The Wilko brand is also still up for grabs, with retailers including The Range proposing bids for the name specifically.

 

[Snow1964]

Next phases of closures now announced

These 38 Wilko stores will close on Sunday 17 September:

• Accrington, Lancashire
• Ashington, Northumberland
• Blackwood, Wales
• Bognor Regis, West Sussex
• Bradford, West Yorkshire
• Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
• Coalville, Leicestershire
• Crawley, West Sussex
• Droylsden, Greater Manchester
• Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
• Falkirk, Stirlingshire
• Ferndown, Dorset
• Hanley, Staffordshire
• Humberstone, Leicestershire
• Huyton, Merseyside
• Kensington High Street, London
• Kings Heath, Birmingham
• Lakeside, Essex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Letchworth, Hertfordshire
• Maidenhead, Berkshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire
• Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
• Newport, Wales
• Orpington, Greater London
• Pontefract, West Yorkshire
• Pontypool, Wales
• Redruth, Cornwall
• Rugeley, Staffordshire
• Shirley, Birmingham
• Southport, Lancashire
• Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne
• Torquay, Devon
• Wimbledon, Greater London
• Wombwell, South Yorkshire
• Woodhouse Lane, Leeds
• Worcester, Worcestershire
• Workington, Cumbria

These 38 Wilko shops will close on Tuesday 19 September:

• Aberdare
• Alfreton
• Ashby
• Barnstaple
• Belper
• Beverley
• Blackheath
• Brigg
• Byker
• Chepstow
• Clifton Nottingham
• Colindale
• Devizes
• Didcot
• Earlestown
• East Ham
• Great Bridge
• Greenbridge
• Grimsby
• Hessle Road - Hull
• Jarrow
• Kimberley
• Leighton Buzzard
• Long Eaton
• Maesteg
• Matlock
• Middleton
• Newton Abbot
• Redcar
• Ripley
• Seaham
• Sherwood
• Stamford
• Stevenage
• Swanley
• Tamworth
• Wrexham
• Wythenshawe

These 48 Wilko shops will close on Thursday 21 September:

• Allestree
• Andover
• Bedford
• Beeston
• Bicester
• Bloxwich
• Bolton
• Bordon
• Bransholme
• Bridgend
• Bury
• Carlton
• Clacton on Sea
• Cramlington
• Crewe
• Cwmbran
• Cyfarthfa
• Denton
• Driffield
• Droitwich
• Edmonton Green
• Farnborough
• Fort Kinnaird
• Fulham
• Gateshead
• Gorleston
• Grays
• Greenock
• Havant
• Hereford
• Hillsborough
• Holyhead
• Newton Aycliffe
• Northampton
• Orton
• Parc Trostre Llanelli
• Penge
• Peterlee
• Pwllheli
• Shrewsbury
• Slough
• Swindon
• Tamworth Retail Park
• Taunton
• Walton on Thames
• Wheatley Retail Park
• Wigan
• Wolverhampton

All Wilko shops to shut with 12,500 jobs likely to go

The Wilko name will disappear from UK High Streets as a rescue deal for the chain falls through.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[NorwichRailFan]

Such a sad day for the British high street. RIP old friend.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What is happening to the large Wilko stores in Altrincham and Manchester Arndale Centre.?

 

[david1212]

A real shame. I remember saying a few years ago when they first experienced troubles that I don't know what I'd do without Wilkinsons. Went into my shed the other day and pretty much everything in there for my house and garden I have bought from them. Whilst many of the things are sold branded from another company (e.g. most of their gardening stuff is made by Doff), much of it is simply not sold, or if it is, it is often significantly more expensive, in other shops.

It is the gardening items I will miss the most. Unless in Poundland e.g. ready mixed weedkiller spray but not lawn weed & feed or fence preservative ( I thought their wax enriched one was as good as Ducksback ) first got to make a trip to somewhere out of town, nearest is Homebase, and second probably pay more. For toiletries and household cleaning items there is Savers.

For small & light items the easy option is eBay or, particularly for those who subscribe to Prime, Amazon. I wonder how much this contributed to Wilko's failure?

.....
Doff, which hopefully will not be affected too much by the closure of Wilkos, is another firm with headquarters in a Nottinghamshire ex mining location. Doff are based in Hucknall and their buildings are located on the site of an old coal mine.

I always try to buy Doff stuff whenever I see them, mainly because then I am supporting a firm which is relatively local to me.

I did not know this but another reason to choose their products.

Going back many years, and I‘m sure it’s even worse now than then, my dad used to get really annoyed with Wilkinson’s removing all garden products from their stores this time of the year to make way for Halloween and Christmas stock. Just at the very time of year when you want products like Growmore and weed killers etc Wilkinsons stopped selling them.

At my nearest store the gardening disappeared early August to be replaced by items for students like bedding, budget kitchen equipment, storage boxes.

Four miles away and the gardening items were still on the shelf then reduced late September before the shelves totally cleared for Christmas toys & gifts.

... I wonder if it cost Wilkinson anything to have the items in their own branding rather than that of Doff.

Given the volume I doubt so but if so very little as ultimately Doff were still making the bulk sale. All Doff had to do was load the packing / filling lines with Wilko printed boxes and bottles instead of Doff.

It sounds like some retailers (a front runner being The Range) are interested in buying the ‘brand’ so maybe Wilkos branded products will continue in that way

If the brand does continue the actual product could be from a different source though.

For my two local stores I do hope someone takes either the unit or another empty one as there is no local The Range, Home Bargains or B&M. The Range would be my first choice. For the nearest if they wanted somewhere larger the two floor unit M&S were in is still empty.
In reality though would any of them be successful given the decline in High Street footfall?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There used to be a very large Wilko store next to Blackpool North Railway Station that had its site used for a hotel project and the tram extension to the railway station. Did they ever open a replacement store?

 

[Ianigsy]

Not a regular patron, but I occasionally used the Leeds city centre shop if I was after a combination of things I couldn’t easily get in one shop elsewhere, like a packet of tissues and a lightbulb.

It probably says everything that my Dad became a regular customer for things like gardening bits and pieces and bird food - but he’s 78 years of age and doesn’t have a car, so retail parks may as well be on Mars for all the use they are to him.

 

[david1212]

There used to be a very large Wilko store next to Blackpool North Railway Station that had its site used for a hotel project and the tram extension to the railway station. Did they ever open a replacement store?

The planned store in the Houndshill centre, which the council bought and are redeveloping, is not ready. The council now have the problem of trying to find another tenant. Unless relocation rather than additional unlikely to be B&M, Home Bargains or Poundland.

There is now uncertainty over whether Wilko will take over space in the Houndshill Shopping Centre

A major blow has been dealt to the £21million extension of the Houndshill Shopping Centre in Blackpool with the announcement that retailer Wilko is on the brink of collapse.

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Published 4th Aug 2023

Blackpool Council statement on Wilko problems and impact on Houndshill Shopping Centre scheme.

A major blow has been dealt to the £21million extension of the Houndshill Shopping Centre in Blackpool with the announcement that retailer Wilko is on the brink of collapse. The homeware chain was due to take over a large unit on the ground floor of the building which is nearing completion, and will also include a nine-screen cinema. Wilko agreed a 15-year lease with Blackpool Council, which owns the Houndshill Centre, in February 2021 on a purpose-built 22,500 sq ft unit on the site of the formerTower Street car park.

 

[1D54]

Poundland are taking on the leases of up to 71 stores and Wilko staff will have priority when applying for new jobs at the Poundland stores.

 

[jfollows]

Poundland are taking on the leases of up to 71 stores and Wilko staff will have priority when applying for new jobs at the Poundland stores.

The BBC reports (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66789546)

The deal will see the sites added to its 800 existing shops in the UK. The 71 store locations are:
Aberdare, Alfreton, Alnwick, Altrincham, Ammanford, Ashby, Barking, Bedminster, Beeston, Bicester, Bishop Stortford, Bletchley, Bolton, Brentwood, Brigg, Cambridge, Chepstow, Coalville, Cramlington, Droitwich, Eccles, Edmonton Green, Ellesmere Port, Ferndown, Gateshead, Grays, Greenock, Grimsby, Havant, Hayes, Headingley, Hessle Road - Hull, Hillsborough, Hitchin, Jarrow, Killingworth, Kimberley, Lee Circle, Leek, Leigh, Lichfield, Maidenhead, Matlock, Melton Mowbray, Nelson, Northallerton, Orton, Pembroke Dock, Peterlee, Pontefract, Pontypool, Redhill, Redruth, Ripley, Rugeley, Sale, Seaham, Selly Oak, Shrewsbury Darwin Centre, South Shields, Southport, Stafford, Stamford, Stockport, Thornaby, Wellington, Wembley, West Ealing, Wombwell, Worcester and Worksop, where Wilko's head office is located.

What is happening to the large Wilko stores in Altrincham and Manchester Arndale Centre.?

See my post for Altrincham

For small & light items the easy option is eBay or, particularly for those who subscribe to Prime, Amazon. I wonder how much this contributed to Wilko's failure?

For just about everything mentioned in this thread that people bought from Wilko, I use Amazon Prime. Maybe it's more expensive, I don't know? All I know is that I realise I need some limescale remover (or whatever), I order it from Amazon and I forget about it until it arrives, usually the next day.
That's the way I shop, obviously not for everyone, but I really only go to a supermarket for food and occasional stores I like when I'm in Manchester. I no longer shop in real shops. It works for me.

 

[Richardr]

Poundland are taking on the leases of up to 71 stores and Wilko staff will have priority when applying for new jobs at the Poundland stores.

The "up to" being explained that they are getting the rights to talk to the landlords of 71 stores. It is possible that they can't do a deal with the landlords, hence the wording.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

See my post for Altrincham

That branch was adjacent to the now-defunct Rackhams House of Fraser department store, which was a store that well reflected Altrincham, but thankfully the Marks and Spencer store is still going strong, unlike Stockport that lost both its Debenhams and Marks and Spencer department stores and now losing its Wilko store.

At least Wilmslow still has its iconic Hoopers department store in the centre of the town last time I was there.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Quick look at the group accounts for Wilkinson Stores Hardware Limited for the 52 weeks ended 31JAN2022 (most recent available) shows turnover of GBP1.3bln, a gross profit of GBP535mln, but a pre-tax operating loss (after administrative expenses) of -GBP37mln.

Operating lease rentals were GBP92mln and staff costs GBP226mln.

They still paid out dividends of ~GBP3mln.

So, insufficiently profitable with respect to the size of their overheads, and the rug pulled from underneath them when their major suppliers decided no longer to provide them with stock on credit terms (after Wilko's accounts were filed)?

 

[WelshBluebird]

For just about everything mentioned in this thread that people bought from Wilko, I use Amazon Prime. Maybe it's more expensive, I don't know? All I know is that I realise I need some limescale remover (or whatever), I order it from Amazon and I forget about it until it arrives, usually the next day.
That's the way I shop, obviously not for everyone, but I really only go to a supermarket for food and occasional stores I like when I'm in Manchester. I no longer shop in real shops. It works for me.

Bit OT, but the issue with Amazon these days is the quality (or lack thereof). At least in a real shop I can try to assess the quality or an item, but on Amazon these days it is basically pot luck. Especially with the the kind of goods stores like Wilko sell. Trying to buy gardening or homeware items from Amazon is basically throwing money away and hoping you get something back in return (this is my experience in the last few months after moving home and needing to buy some of these kind of things).

 

[Swanny200]

Jarrow is listed as closing and getting a Poundland in it's place, funny considering that Poundland shut it's doors there a year or 2 ago and nothing went in it's place

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Bit OT, but the issue with Amazon these days is the quality (or lack thereof). At least in a real shop I can try to assess the quality or an item, but on Amazon these days it is basically pot luck. Especially with the the kind of goods stores like Wilko sell. Trying to buy gardening or homeway items from Amazon is basically throwing money away and hoping you get something back in return (this is my experience in the last few months after moving home and needing to buy some of these kind of things).

One thing that I noticed was that Wilko sold Canon Pixma printer cartridges for both my printers cheaper than anywhere else locally....especially W H Smith who always charge £10.00 more for the same products... .

 

[johntea]

Poundland locations (nicked from the BBC with the original awful formatting!)

Pontefract is a bit bizarre as they had a store in Pontefract at one time (very close to the Wilkos!) but recently closed it down and are just about to open a massive Poundland in the former Poundstretcher at the Pontefract retail park!

The 71 store locations are:
Aberdare, Alfreton, Alnwick, Altrincham, Ammanford, Ashby, Barking, Bedminster, Beeston, Bicester, Bishop Stortford, Bletchley, Bolton, Brentwood, Brigg, Cambridge, Chepstow, Coalville, Cramlington, Droitwich, Eccles, Edmonton Green, Ellesmere Port, Ferndown, Gateshead, Grays, Greenock, Grimsby, Havant, Hayes, Headingley, Hessle Road - Hull, Hillsborough, Hitchin, Jarrow, Killingworth, Kimberley, Lee Circle, Leek, Leigh, Lichfield, Maidenhead, Matlock, Melton Mowbray, Nelson, Northallerton, Orton, Pembroke Dock, Peterlee, Pontefract, Pontypool, Redhill, Redruth, Ripley, Rugeley, Sale, Seaham, Selly Oak, Shrewsbury Darwin Centre, South Shields, Southport, Stafford, Stamford, Stockport, Thornaby, Wellington, Wembley, West Ealing, Wombwell, Worcester and Worksop, where Wilko's head office is located.

 

[skyhigh]

Jarrow is listed as closing and getting a Poundland in it's place, funny considering that Poundland shut it's doors there a year or 2 ago and nothing went in it's place

That sounds more like potential landlord issues than anything else to me.

 

[Trainguy34]

Surprisingly, my local (Canterbury) is still going AFAIK, unlikely to become a pound land as it is a 2 minute walk away.

 

[johnnychips]

I wonder if any of the places Poundland are interested in will just result in the relocation of an existing store, rather than new business. Certainly there is already a Poundland in Hillsborough, but its location is less central than Wilko’s.

 

[dangie]

Our Wilko’s is going to be Poundland. We had a Poundland a few years ago when they took over the closed Lloyd’s Bank on a short term lease. That lease ran out, Poundland left, and a charity shop took over which is still there.

 

[GCH100]

The Purchase of Wilko's in Leigh by Poundland is strange, as Leigh already has a Poundland in a much better location in the former Woolworths shop, to open one in the Former Wilko building that is on a side street, despite being more modern seems odd if anything, and I cannot see them wanting two stores in a small town like Leigh.

Also which Bolton store is it, the Town Centre Branch or the Branch on Middlebrook Retail Park? Both I guess Poundland might like, as they have no presence at Middlebrook where most Boltonians are choosing to shop these days days, and only a small store in the town centre with the Wilko's store being much bigger.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Poundland locations (nicked from the BBC with the original awful formatting!)

Pontefract is a bit bizarre as they had a store in Pontefract at one time (very close to the Wilkos!) but recently closed it down and are just about to open a massive Poundland in the former Poundstretcher at the Pontefract retail park!

The 71 store locations are:
Aberdare, Alfreton, Alnwick, Altrincham, Ammanford, Ashby, Barking, Bedminster, Beeston, Bicester, Bishop Stortford, Bletchley, Bolton, Brentwood, Brigg, Cambridge, Chepstow, Coalville, Cramlington, Droitwich, Eccles, Edmonton Green, Ellesmere Port, Ferndown, Gateshead, Grays, Greenock, Grimsby, Havant, Hayes, Headingley, Hessle Road - Hull, Hillsborough, Hitchin, Jarrow, Killingworth, Kimberley, Lee Circle, Leek, Leigh, Lichfield, Maidenhead, Matlock, Melton Mowbray, Nelson, Northallerton, Orton, Pembroke Dock, Peterlee, Pontefract, Pontypool, Redhill, Redruth, Ripley, Rugeley, Sale, Seaham, Selly Oak, Shrewsbury Darwin Centre, South Shields, Southport, Stafford, Stamford, Stockport, Thornaby, Wellington, Wembley, West Ealing, Wombwell, Worcester and Worksop, where Wilko's head office is located.

I see Coalville is regaining a new Poundland then after closing some time ago. No closure date for Hinckley yet. I hope this gets to be Home Bargains, that do well in the Britannia Centre which had declined in recent years especially as Argos relocated to inside Sainsbury's.

 

[renegademaster]

The Purchase of Wilko's in Leigh by Poundland is strange, as Leigh already has a Poundland in a much better location in the former Woolworths shop, to open one in the Former Wilko building that is on a side street, despite being more modern seems odd if anything, and I cannot see them wanting two stores in a small town like Leigh.

Also which Bolton store is it, the Town Centre Branch or the Branch on Middlebrook Retail Park? Both I guess Poundland might like, as they have no presence at Middlebrook where most Boltonians are choosing to shop these days days, and only a small store in the town centre with the Wilko's store being much bigger.

Poundland don't seem to be that rational in where they put their stores. They have 3 in central Croydon within a 5 minute walk while bigger retail units sit vacant

 

[Swanny200]

That sounds more like potential landlord issues than anything else to me.

Probably, but the landlord is the same throughout the shopping centre and has raised prices, there isn't much left there to be honest so not holding much hope that poundland will be there long

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Who'd want to be a shopping centre / commercial property landlord just now?

 

[Ken X]

Who'd want to be a shopping centre / commercial property landlord just now?

It may have changed but a lot were invested in by Pension Funds. I did some work for our local shopping centre and the contract was with Aviva. It may affect us all in various ways.

 

[Annetts key]

For just about everything mentioned in this thread that people bought from Wilko, I use Amazon Prime. Maybe it's more expensive, I don't know?

Amazon like to give the impression that what they sell is good value, but as a lot of what they sell is from third party traders, they are just an online marketplace. And as such, are not always the cheapest.

Also, items that are reasonably heavy for their size or bulky are often not cheap to buy via ‘mail order’ due to the cost of postage (‘shipping’).

So, if you are using Amazon for convenience and are happy, that’s fine.

In my part of the world, up until the beginning of the week, I had available Wilko, B&M, Poundland, Proper Job, Home Bargains, The Range, Lidl, Aldi, Asda, Tescos, plus various other bargain stores. But Wilko, B&M, Poundland and Proper Job were all walking distance (16 minutes) from where I lived, which for me was very convenient.