Latest news with #bargainHunting
The Guardian
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Not an attractive place to shop': how Poundland lost its appeal to shoppers
'It's not actually that cheap any more. It's kind of lost its appeal because everything is not a pound.' Samantha, a shopper outside Poundland's Luton retail park outlet who is heading off to B&M to find some better deals, sums up the feelings of many of her fellow bargain hunters and a central problem facing the new owner of the budget retailer. Gordon Brothers, which snapped up Poundland for a pound earlier this month – appears to have got a cheaper deal than is now available on many of the shelves at the chain, where there is a dizzying array of prices – from £14 jackets to £3 boxes of lightbulbs and £1.50 lipgloss. The group, which dived to a pre-tax loss of more than £51m last year despite sales at its outlets in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Isle of Man rising slightly to £1.82bn, according to accounts filed at Companies House, is aiming to close up to 150 of its 800 UK stores and asking landlords to cut rents on many more as it battles for survival. On a busy lunchtime in Luton, shoppers are queueing up for Poundland's largely self-service tills but many are convinced they can find better bargains elsewhere. This area highlights how the competition is breathing down Poundland's neck. The retail park store is just a couple of doors down from B&M, a major competitor, while its nearby outlet in the centre of Luton is squeezed between one of the UK's few remaining Wilkos and The Works – both cut-price rivals. Floretta Pope, 68, who is passing by with her daughter Tia, 32, says she no longer shops very frequently in Poundland. 'Everything in there is not a pound and, even if it is, it can be smaller than normal. It is not really an attractive place to shop.' 'I always find it a bit hectic in Poundland,' adds Katie Duffy, 26. 'I don't tend to go in. B&M has more choice.' Bargain chains are having a particularly tough time due to rising competition from supermarkets, including Tesco, Aldi and Lidl. The expansion of groups such as Savers, The Range, B&M, The Works and Home Bargains as well as online rivals such as Temu and Shein mean the budget market is now very crowded even since the demise of major player Wilko in 2023, which was left with only a few stores after The Range snapped up the brand. There has already been some consolidation. Poundland's rival Poundstretcher was bought last year by Majestic Wine's owner, Fortress, in its latest rescue deal, while another rival, Poundworld, closed its 350 stores in 2018 and Poundland bought its rival 99p Stores in 2015. Despite that, Poundland has been losing ground. Industry research group GlobalData estimates that its market share has fallen 2.3 percentage points (ppts) between 2019 and 2024 while Home Bargains, B&M and The Range's shares increased by 7.2ppts, 6.2ppts and 1.3ppts respectively. It is a dramatic turnaround in the past decade when Poundland grew rapidly amid demand for cheap stores. It rode a wave on which the UK's pound shop estate doubled between 2010 and 2016, according to the retail analyst Local Data Company now known as Green Street. The number continued to climb between 2015 and 2024 when more than 480 were added. Growth has now stalled according to Green Street and 21 shops in the pound-store category have closed this year. Poundland's parent group, Pepco, said it put the group up for sale after the government's increase in national insurance and business rates in April, which it said would 'add further pressure to Poundland's cost base'. But it also admitted it had made mistakes, including putting its Pepco clothing ranges into stores – which had not gone down well with UK shoppers. The budget retailers are under particular pressure from a raft of increases in basic business costs – such as wages, energy and property tax – as their slim profit margins give them little room to absorb additional costs. Meanwhile, the low-wage shoppers that make up the core of their fanbase now have little spare cash for non-essentials and those with more to spare can get what they need with their supermarket shop, where they are increasingly locked in by loyalty-card-linked discounts. The general slowdown in visits to physical stores on high streets and shopping malls has also hit bargain chains whose rock-bottom prices are designed to tempt passersby into impulse purchases. One former Poundland director, said the brand had 'lost its way' by becoming 'far too complicated and confusing for customers' with such an array of different price points. He said its decision in 2019 to drop the focus on £1 items also meant business operations, including running stores and dealing with suppliers had become more costly and complex. Poundland itself said in January it wanted to increase the number of items on sale for a £1 or less from 1,500, less than a third of its core range of 5,000 items, to almost half – 2,400. However, a banner outside the Luton store still only boasted of having the lower number of products at or below the headline price point. Emily Scott, a retail analyst at GlobalData agrees: 'The introduction of multiple price points has confused customers, while still not enabling shoppers to trade up within its ranges as it lacks the additional choice of mid to premium products.' She adds: 'Poundland's weak variety of branded goods at low prices has meant it has struggled to keep pace, damaging its brand perception amongst brand- and budget-conscious shoppers.' Poundland said: 'Despite continuing to serve 20 million shoppers a year, we know we've not met customers' expectations in a number of areas over the last couple of years. 'We've heard them and we're looking forward to having the opportunity to put those missteps right as we put our recovery plan in place.' The former director believes Poundland could still have a place on high streets but might need to shift to something more akin to the US chain Five Below, which sells items for five dollars or less to give more flexibility as costs rise. But, he warns, 'they have to keep it simple'.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oscar Health (OSCR) Rallies 16.51% Anew on New Medicare Proposal
We recently published a list of These 10 Stocks Boast Double-Digit Gains Amid Boring Market. Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) is one of the best-performing stocks on Thursday. Oscar Health extended its winning streak to a third consecutive day on Wednesday, jumping 16.51 percent to finish at $18.77 apiece as investors resorted to bargain-hunting following news that lawmakers are proposing a new measure that would allow individuals and employers to voluntarily enroll in a new version of Medicare. Under the bill, lawmakers are looking to establish a 'Part E,' a self-funded Medicare plan to be offered alongside private insurance across all states and federal marketplaces. While this would heighten competition with private insurers, such as Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR), the voluntary enrollment could potentially delay or prevent Medicare's insolvency. A close up of a patient and a healthcare professional engaging in conversation, showing the company's commitment to patient care. Over the past few days, fears brewed over Medicare getting insolvent sooner than expected, with the cautious sentiment spilling over to stocks of Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) and its counterparts. While we acknowledge the potential of OSCR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Shoppers rush to AliExpress to shop home and garden must-haves with up to 70% OFF in the summer sale - including a £270 BBQ for just £85
Bargain-hunting shoppers on the lookout for affordable homeware deals are racing to AliExpress to shop the brand's unmissable summer sale, with savings of up to 70 per cent to take advantage of. From kitchen appliances and cleaning tools to beauty must-haves and clothing, you'll find it all and more on AliExpress – and all for record low prices. Whether you're hoping to upgrade your most used homeware tools or spruce up your garden in time for the summer months, there's plenty to help you kit out your home at AliExpress – and we've found some of the top deals to grab at unmissably low prices in the sale. Ready to shop? Explore our top homeware picks from the summer sale below.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers run to TK Maxx as solar lights hit shelves from £3.99 & there's a new version of the viral hot air balloon buy
Abigail Wilson, Senior Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, BARGAIN hunters are racing to get to their nearest TK Maxx store, desperate to nab new solar lights that have recently hit shelves. Solar lights have been all the rage over the last few months, with shoppers eagerly flocking to Asda, B&M and Home Bargains to stock up in time for summer. 3 3 3 But now, TK Maxx has cashed in on the incredibly popular trend - and have even released their very own version of the viral hot air balloon lights that sent shoppers wild just days ago. One savvy shopper was recently left gobsmacked when browsing the aisles in her local TK Maxx, when she spotted the brand new affordable finds. Eager to alert others to the purse-friendly products, Catherine Jacinto Dela Cruz took to social media to give a close-up look at the chain's new products, which start from just £3.99. Posting on BARGAIN LOVERS Poundland, Home Bargains, B&M, Primark, The Range & More, a public Facebook group with 835,300 members, Catherine uploaded a picture of the large selection of solar lights and simply penned: 'Solar powered lights at TK Maxx.' Not only can shoppers now get their hands on a pack of 10 Glowworm LED Metal Diamond String Lights for just £3.99, but there's even a Colour Changing LED Solar Crackle Ball on the shelves too. If you really want to add style to your outside space, shoppers are sure to be stunned by the solar powered Spiralight, which is priced at just £7.99 and if you ask us, is the perfect garden feature for balmy nights. As well as this, there's also a pack of 100 Firefly String Lights, that are bound to brighten up your space and leave your guests (and eagle-eyed neighbours) impressed. But that's not all, as there's even a pack of four Fairy Mushroom Stake Lights, that will turn your garden into a lush oasis in a matter of seconds. As part of TK Maxx's £12.99 and under range, shoppers will also find a pack of Triple Starburst String Lights, as well as a Starburst Stake Light. Also in this range, shoppers can nab the Eureka Festoons, which are great for adding colour to a dull space. Beautiful garden pieces in Home Bargains that'll transform your outdoor haven There's also the Eureka Orbs, that are brilliant for those looking to ensure your space feels luxe. And if you thought that was it, prepare to be open-mouthed when you see the SkyRunner String Lights. Not only do they look strikingly similar to the hot air balloon solar lights that sent many wild recently, but they have also been hailed as 'perfect for adding a burst of colour' to your home or garden. How Does TK Maxx Flog Designer for Cheap? TK Maxx follows an off-price business model to get designer products for cheap It buys merchandise from various brands and designers at a discount and then sells it to customers at lower prices than traditional retail stores The selection at its outlets often includes overstocked items, last season's styles and goods from cancelled orders. The Gold Label is a premium collection of designer and luxury products offered by TK Maxx. If you love designer clothes, this is the tag you want to look out for on pieces. The hot air balloon string lights are currently available to buy from B&Q for £18.99, but those on a budget will be pleased to know that they are part of TK Maxx's £12.99 and under range. They are said to provide "decor by day" and "light by night" and are spot on for those looking to create a "unique statement". Not only does the "intelligent technology" ensure the lights automatically switch on at dusk and then off at dawn, but they can be hung from trees or fences for the ultimate, magical effect. But you'll need to move fast if you want to get your hands on these purse-friendly buys, as like everything in TK Maxx, they will be available while stocks last and are sure to sell out fast.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dunelm shoppers rush to pick up ‘stunning' furniture bargains scanning at tills for £345 less in huge clearance
DUNELM shoppers are dashing to stores to bag major furniture deals in a huge clearance sale. One chuffed customer saved an eye-watering £344.60 after picking up two stylish wooden pieces. Sharing their bargain find on Facebook, they told followers that they'd purchased an Olney Storage Coffee Table and Wide Sideboard for just £73.40. The oak sideboard alone originally cost £249, and the coffee table was £169. Other members of Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK flocked to the comment section to congratulate him on the impressive find. "Brilliant," one wrote, while a second added: "Nice find, well done, the coffee table is stunning". It's worth remembering that while this is an incredible deal, it may not be repeated across multiple stores. It's always best to phone ahead to your local store to make sure it has stock in. Stores might discount some items to clear old stock from their shelves, or if the item appears damaged or defective. In some cases, like this one, the item might be dirty but will look good as new after a clean. It's worth noting that usually if you buy something with a known fault, you won't be able to return it for that reason. To find your nearest Dunelm store visit Another savvy shopper revealed a little-known hack to bag trendy items from the store for a massively reduced price. Taking to TikTok, the interiors fan, who posts via the account @maskedreno, shared how anyone can enjoy "up to 75% off" everything from sofas to lamps. The secret? Heading to one of Dunelm's outlet shops. In the viral clip, the bargain hunter said: "I wasn't expecting to find much as when I went I couldn't find anything except for an odd yellow sticker, but then I went upstairs and boy, there was so much. I could've spend ages in there. "I do love a good deal, if anyone's decorating or buying their new home I recommend checking this place out." The sprawling space was stacked with discounted finds, including a trendy wooden side cabinet, originally priced at £499 but reduced to just £125. And another even larger cabinet was slashed from £729 to £182. The shop also had plenty of lighting up for grabs, including a stylish table lamp which was originally priced at £20 but was marked down to £14. The discount shop had other items as well, including a sweet rattan shelf in the shape of a hot air balloon - perfect for kids' bedrooms. The shopper even spotted a kids desk and stool set for just £38.50, reduced from £55. Dunelm frequently has sales and promotions giving you up to 75% off, especially at certain times of the year. Check the clearance page on the Dunelm website for huge discounts and the latest promotions. You may also be able to combine these deals with other money-saving websites. 3
