Shopping

Bargain shop B&M is finally heading to Manchester city centre

It's taking over the old Wilko.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 16th May 2024

Great news coming in for bargain-hunters this morning – B&M is finally opening in Manchester city centre for the first time.

The British retailer is famed for its affordable prices on everything from food to cleaning products to furniture, and has a few locations dotted around Greater Manchester.

B&M has now announced plans to swoop into the unit in Manchester Arndale that was previously home to Wilko.

And not unlike Wilkos, B&M is loved by shoppers for its wild range of items – where else can you buy wallpaper, stationery, KitKats, pick-and-mix, a fluffy rug and a nice new kettle all under one roof?

Think the middle aisle of Lidl, but super-sized.

ADVERTISEMENT

After Wilko collapsed into administration last summer, B&M announced plans to buy up 51 of its stores in reportedly a £13m deal.

Hoardings are up for a new B&M store in the Manchester Arndale
Hoardings are up for a new B&M store in the Manchester Arndale

The discount retailer is due to open later this year on the upper concourse of Manchester Arndale, with its familiar blue and orange B&M branding now plastered outside the space.

ADVERTISEMENT

When it officially opens, there’ll be a comprehensive product range including home goods, groceries, electronics, alongside an array of seasonal items.

Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, said: “We’re delighted to welcome such a strong household name like B&M to Manchester Arndale.

“We place great importance in having a truly mixed offer and its fantastic to be able to bring in a retailer that offers a wide array of products at accessible prices.

ADVERTISEMENT

“From high-end fashion brands to discount retailers, its clear operators across the board have long-term confidence in the centre as Manchester Arndale continues to cement its reputation as the North West’s leading retail destination with a varied line up of exciting retail, F&B and leisure.”

Read more

Featured image: B&M

Shopping

M&S launches pioneering new clothing repair service across the UK

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

M&S has launched a pioneering new clothing repair service across the UK in a bid to give garments “another life”.

After some new research carried out by the retailer found that only 10% of the population would consider themselves to be confident enough to repair clothing on their own, and 60% of consumers are also looking for retailers to offer more services that help them in to lower their carbon footprint, M&S has decided that now is a good time to kick-start a new sustainable initiative.

The company has partnered with clothing repair and alterations experts, SOJO, to launch the new ‘M&S fixed by SOJO’ hub.

Set to launch online nationwide in August, the new clothing repair service will support shoppers in giving their M&S clothes “another life”, all while reduce textile waste at the same time.

M&S is launching a pioneering new clothing repair service across the UK / Credit: Fujiphilm (via Unsplash) | Wallace Chuck (via Pexels)

Through a dedicated online hub, M&S customers will be able to select and book a range of bespoke repair services, with everything from zip replacements to invisible knitwear mending on offer, all through one simple form.

Repairs are expected to start from just £5, according to M&S.

And when it comes to timelines and turnarounds, M&S says that clothing can be sent, repaired by SOJOs in-house repair team, and then returned directly to the customer’s doorstep within seven to 10 days.

The partnership with SOJO will form a crucial part of M&S’s ‘Plan A – Another Life’ scheme – which also includes the retailer’s long-running clothes donation partnership with Oxfam, formerly known as ‘Shwopping’, and the Beauty Takeback Scheme with Handle.

M&S wants the ‘Plan A’ scheme, as a whole, to provide a more “seamless experience” for customers who are looking for ways to support a “shift” to a more “circular economy”.

Read more:

As well as a range of services, the ‘Plan A – Another Life’ platform will also be home to a selection of 60-second ‘how to’ videos created by M&S’ team of in-house technical experts, covering everything from debobbling knitwear, to adjusting hemlines.

Featured Image – M&S

Shopping

Amazon UK is now offering 50% off Prime memberships for anyone aged 18-22

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Amazon is now offering all 18-22-year-olds in the UK 50% off a Prime membership.

In what could be an absolute game-changer for all youngsters battling with the rising cost of living crisis on a daily basis, anyone who is between the ages of 18 and 22 can now sign up for an Amazon Prime membership at half the price.

The new offer means young adults can enjoy the full range of Amazon Prime benefits, all without having to fork-out the usual full membership price.

You may already be aware that half-price Prime has been available to students in the UK through Prime Student since 2014, but this new offer means it’s now available to all 18-22-year-olds in the UK, regardless of whether they’re in university or not.

And it’s just in time for the annual Amazon Prime Day on Tuesday 16 July too.

For just £4.49 per month, or £47.49 per year, all 18-22-year-olds can now get free next-day delivery, exclusive savings and deals, and award-winning entertainment like Prime Video and Amazon Music.

They can also make the most of other Prime membership benefits like free food delivery options on both Deliveroo and HelloFresh, discounted tickets at ODEON cinemas, free games through Prime Gaming, and thousands of free books, magazines, and comics each month.

Alongside this, Amazon has also announced that all 18-22-year-old customers will get to benefit from some exclusive perks that are tailored especially for students and young adults, including discounts on grocery, travel, books, and fashion.  

Amazon UK is now offering 50% off Prime memberships for anyone aged 18-22 / Credit: Marques Thomas (via Unsplash) | Amazon UK

“We’re always looking for ways to provide more value to our customers,” commented John Boumphrey, who is the UK Country Manager at Amazon, as the company announced the new half-price membership this week.

“Offering 18-22-year-olds 50% off Prime membership helps to make the wide range of Prime benefits even more accessible to young people.

“This is a really important time in their lives, so helping them save while enjoying great shopping and entertainment benefits will make a big difference, whether they’re going to university, starting work, or moving out of home for the first time.”

Read more:

Find out more and sign up for 50% off Amazon Prime here.

Featured Image – Amazon UK

More Shopping

Shopping

Aldi to supply lucky couples with FREE wine for their wedding day

Business

Popular online beauty retailer LOOKFANTASTIC to open new ‘concept’ store in Altrincham

Shopping

Shocked shoppers spot new ‘twist’ on classic British biscuit on supermarket shelves

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches