Wilko Poundland Transition: Closures and Salvations
Salvation may have been in the air, but it was a sad and sombre morning in what was left of one of the 71 Wilko stores that Poundland will save in a last-minute deal. The move comes amid the ongoing saga of Wilko stores closing, with B&M snapping up its share mere days ago.
Bargain hunters looking for a bottle of shampoo for three pounds, or a lamp for a fiver, had picked the shelves almost clean.
“It is very sad.”
Workers taped off those areas exhausted of goods.
“It is very sad, but it is what it is,” says one of the handful of red uniformed shop assistants on the floor.
The Worcester store will shut down on Sunday ahead of a rebrand under the Poundland banner.
“We are not sure what is happening.”
“They say we can apply for jobs here, which is at least something. We are not sure what is happening ” says another Wilko worker who had been working at the shop for six years.
In a statement, the company said that Wilko staff would have priority when applying for new jobs at the Poundland shops.
More heart-rending scenes played out in other Wilko stores in the throes of closure.
Tears and souvenirs
Staff were in tears at stores. One shopper said on X that she was offered a receipt, even though she had refused, on her last trip to Wilko.
“Keep it as a souvenir,” said the tearful shop assistant.
This was the last painful chapter for Wilko’s 400 stores and 12,000 employees.
The 90-year-old family business collapsed in August amid severe losses.
Weakened supply chain
There were numerous takeover bids for the discount chain. Rivals B&M took over 51 stores, but with no promise of saving jobs.
Analysts claimed Wilko had fallen behind in the technology stakes that had weakened its
supply chain. It struggled to compete with online shopping sites.
Wilko closing down is another blow to the struggling UK High Street, and there are fears that other household names could follow.
The 71 Wilko stores that Poundland saved
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.
