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Belfast's new pound shop takes £10,000 in four hours
Thursday, 15 October 2009
enlargeAs Poundland opens its first NI store, bargain hunter Kerry McKittrick grabs her shopping basket
Confession time: give me a pound shop and I’m quids in. I mean, what’s not to love about these emporiums stacked high with everything from kitsch ornaments to packs of 100 nails, toilet brushes, huge bags of sweets, artificial flowers, rugs, biscuits, lightbulbs, dusters, hand soap ... I could go on and on, just like the very best pound shops.
Oh yes, many a happy lunch-hour I’ve spent, browsing the eclectic merchandise before emerging with several of those very thin blue and white plastic bags heaving under the strain of my purchases. Talk about bargains!
The pound shop is that place where you get the stuff you never knew you needed. I still have my very first tin opener, it cost about 50p from a shop on Botanic Avenue. It wasn't designed by Nigella Lawson and isn't goldplated, but it does exactly what it says on the ... tin.
Now, you might be a little snobbish about this sort of shopping experience, but if so you’re apparently not very trendy.
For in these credit crunch times poundshops have suddenly become the smart place to spend money, a fact evidenced, it would appear, by the arrival of Poundland in Belfast’s CastleCourt.
Poundland, already an established name since 1990 in the rest of the UK, is the, er, Harrods of poundshops.
And within minutes of its doors opening, I was in there. Unsurprisingly, I was not on my own — the store reported £10,000 takings in its opening four hours.
Jolene Dobbs (24), an insurance broker from Belfast, was strolling past on her lunch break when she spotted Poundland and couldn’t resist a quick look round.
She says: “I love pound shops and this one is definitely within the top five. I'm really impressed with all the electrical stuff they're selling — toothbrushes and blank CDs. If I wasn't working today I would bring my car and fill it full of cheap cleaning products. I'm a bit of a Monica.”
Poundland may not be the place for your weekly shop, but there is a surprising amount of perishable goods for sale, including milk and eggs which have been locally sourced. Students Tony Campbell and Anne Rowan are also impressed.
“Pound shops are great for students because everything is so cheap, but I wasn't expecting to see fresh goods,” admits Tony. “This place looks pretty good.”
Pound shops are, of course, the student’s best friend. You can kit out the kitchen of your digs for less than a tenner and if you don't have the inclination to nick your pint glasses from one of the bars you’re frequenting, then you can get them here for, well, a quid.
Security guard Noel Meehan (30) popped in to take advantage of the £2 meal deal, and happened to come across a bit of nostalgia: “I used to collect these robots when I was younger. They would cost me £25 and I've found a collection of them here for £1 each. I wasn't expecting that.”
Personally I'm an opportunistic pound shopper rather than a co-ordinated one. Visits are never planned, but come more as a welcome surprise if I happen to be passing.
Kismet dictates that I will always find something I need. Cleaning products and kitchen roll are my most common purchases, though I'm also a sucker for kitchen gadgets; garlic crushers, corn on the cob holders and even a chopping board specifically for the lemons in gin and tonics have all found their way into my house.
Mind you, there are some things I shy away from, having been caught out in the past. For example, having a pair of ‘value’ rubber gloves dissolve on your hands while they're submersed in scalding water isn't fun.
And Christmas wrapping paper and bin bags that practically melt in your hands aren't much use, either. Also, in many of the traditional pound shops in Northern Ireland, that £1 price tag has become somewhat blurred over the years.
These days finding something that actually costs £1 in a pound shop is something of a challenge. In other pound shops here, prices can start from as little as 20p, but the sky’s the limit, with some goods costing up to £20 or more.
And that’s why Poundland is so special because in Poundland a pound still means a pound.
Also, I couldn’t help noticing that in Poundland many of the brands are recognisable: Colgate, Flash, Timotei, Tetley, Beechams and Toblerone are all in abundance.
Just in case you're a bit more adventurous, the generic brands are all there, too, though.
Such is the excitement on Poundland’s opening day that I’m battling an assault course of pushchairs as I trawl the aisles: word has spread and the place is heaving.
Northern Ireland area manager Damien Scullion delightedly informs me that takings in the first four hours of business have reached £10,000.
He says: “We're having an unbelievable day. It's a soft opening and people are coming in just by word of mouth because they've heard of the value we have on offer.”
Value is certainly the name of the game for Poundland, which, true to pound shop style sells everything you can imagine and several things you can't. The mark downs are unbelievable, with many items, such as giant boxes of cornflakes, two or three times cheaper than they would be in the supermarkets.
Alison Campbell (42), a pound shop devotee, is impressed: “It gets 10 out of 10 for me. I only came down because my sister told me about it. I've got a Silkin hair care set that would normally cost £13. I don't think there are enough pound shops in Belfast so I'm glad to see this one.”
What's noticeable about this new venture is its smooth operation. The queues are snaking round the shop and yet none of the shelves are empty. Staff run around swiftly restocking and answering queries, all with smiles on their faces, a miracle in such a hectic environment.
To celebrate the opening, a DJ and balloon makers have been laid on for the kids. There are no special offers, but that's because the whole shop is on special offer.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to do some serious shopping. I’m on the lookout for a special little device — an electric pepper grinder that also doubles as a torch ...
- Text Size
I think l should open up an online pound shop. does anyone know of any products that these shops have that l can buy direct from the source companies as many of the products in these pound shops are actually out-sourced specially for them...and maybe l could go direct.eg so many of poundland products have the same po box number ,but go under a mass of different trade names,depending on the type of product, from disposable razors to stationery for kids.
Posted by ian | 15.03.10, 08:59 GMT
Some of these comments are so far removed from reality it's laughable, wannabes is right.
Posted by Raz | 04.12.09, 02:08 GMT
ajles - and what isn't decent about doing an honest days work? surely it's better poundland being in castle court employing staff than the building sitting empty? any job that earns a wage is a decent one in my book. surely getting a pay packet each week isn't as demoralising as getting your dole cheque? not everyone can be brain surgeons in this world, so don't be dissing those people who work in a discount store.
Posted by Non Snob | 22.10.09, 23:17 GMT
Decent jobs? 79% of jobs in discount stores will be gone within the first year of trading if firms go bust through lack of demand for their goods. Get over that... and get some sustainable higher value stores into the city
Posted by AJLES | 20.10.09, 09:26 GMT
just reading these posts, who the hell do these people think they are. were you all actually born with a silver spoon in your big mouthes....wannabe snobs more like. decent jobs for decent people that is what's offered. get over it.....
Posted by Non Snob | 19.10.09, 21:40 GMT
Sj, We will be better off because ultimatly, a better quality of service, quality of product and increased GVA for firms means a more prosperus economy for all, in addition to the fact that you do not have to mingle with chav's (as well as not supporting cheap labour) If the chav's wernt there, and were out working, how much would that save public finances? Ulitmatly then we could be public spending our way out of recession rather than cuts left right and centre. Somewhat more cuts than the 250 jobs you speak of which poundland has created
Posted by AJLES | 19.10.09, 16:01 GMT
I find it quite funny at the amount of snobbery from some of the posts. This poundland is creating over 250 jobs in Belfast and the surrounding areas. The same people complaining were crying when the recession was in its prime and jobs where not available, and our economy was poor. Poundland also offers some of the biggest brands available cheaper than Tescos etc. Why would shoppers not want to have the same brands and have a higher disposable income. Do some of you feel good by placing yourselves on a high horse with your moral high ground looking down on people who maybe dont have the same resources as you and find stores like this can essentially give them a better quality of life. When these companies come and source locally and give jobs to local people do you not think this can only do wonders for our economy. So while you have your nose pointed up in victoria square just think to yourself who is better off, you being ripped off or savvy shoppers saving money?
Posted by sj | 17.10.09, 16:06 GMT
£10,000 in four hours. Everything is a quid, so every minute there was 41.6 items sold? Poundland must have some extremly talented cashiers!!!
Posted by AJLES | 16.10.09, 15:53 GMT
It's sad to see Castlecourt being forced downmarket. I don't bother going to Belfast city centre any more, why would you pay a fortune in parking and go to Castlecourt to visit poundstretcher or poundland or whatever. The sooner the Assembly does away with restrictions on the out of town centres with free parking that everyone wants to visit, the better.
Posted by Mark | 16.10.09, 10:06 GMT
Anyone ever stop to take a look at how much of the stuff for sale here is made within the UK or even Europe? Buying from a pound shop only keeps Chinese factories pumping out more and more with the accompanying pollution that goes with it.
What happened to supporting your local businesses and manufacturers so they can continue to employ local people?
Posted by YukYuk | 15.10.09, 18:31 GMT
Wazza,not snobbish just cannot stand chavvy types who tarnish the image of our City.
Self pride appears to be beyond most working class people these days !
Posted by Peter | 15.10.09, 17:35 GMT
FANTASTIC!! I can't wait to go there. There are thousands of families in Northern Ireland on a low budget and shops like these really help. I say we NEED more "POUNDLANDS" across the country.
Posted by James | 15.10.09, 17:19 GMT
This should be marked as 'advertising'. Disgusting.
Posted by Steve Manor | 15.10.09, 17:16 GMT
Wazza, what a wonderful attitude, though, here's the thing.
Next time you buy your £99 shirt in Victoria Square, consider this. The shop paid only £39 for it from their wholesaler. The wholesaler paid around £20 for it from the manufacturer, and the actual cost of materials would have cost around £6/7.
So yep, feel free to splash out on your designer goods, hope it makes you feel real good, and not ripped off one little bit :)
Posted by StephenM | 15.10.09, 17:14 GMT
Look at the snobbery of Peter and Wazza. Typical. Chelsea-tractor driving Malone Road toffs by the sounds of it. Not many of us can afford to shop in Victoria Square (hence many of the businesses aren't doing too well there and are usually empty) - this doesn't mean we all wear shell-suits and are spides. Grow up . You sound like spoilt public school boys. As for the article - it is rubbish. Typical BT nonsense - not news at all just free advertising.
Posted by Michael | 15.10.09, 17:13 GMT
has this not been open for a week already?
Posted by Seatz | 15.10.09, 15:59 GMT
Some people try and better themselves, good education, good job, upwardly mobile lifestyle (not necessarily all about material wealth), and then there are those who ae happy with pile em high, sell em cheap tat.
I know Belfast is not alone, and it is a UK wide 'problem', but self-respect has really gone down the pan. Thank the lord for Victoria Square, quality shopping minus the tracksuit, heavy gold jewellry, and buggy brigade...
Posted by Caoimhe | 15.10.09, 15:23 GMT
Well done Westfield, just what Castlecourt needs (or even Belfast) another ound shop. They do my head in and are like Peter said, full of the 'Shell Suit' brigade....Well, I'm Victoria Square all the way!
Posted by Wazza | 15.10.09, 13:51 GMT
Hopefully we will never get one in our town as all they do is attract the shell suit brigade and damage property prices.
Imagine just opening a new upmarket store and find these merchants setting up on the same street...!
Posted by Peter | 15.10.09, 10:47 GMT
Congratulations BT for such great FREE coverage. I'm sure other retailers would kill for such a news spread!
Pound shops are a fabulous addition to our 'high street', and if anyone has any snobbery left about shopping there, they only expose themselves as uneducated consumers. The 'designer' bubble has finally burst, and I for one applaud that.
Posted by StephenM | 15.10.09, 09:26 GMT