Major discount retailer B&M confirms store closure – but it’s not all bad news
A POPULAR discount retailer has confirmed another store closure but shoppers won’t be without a branch for long.
B&M will be shutting its shop in the Swan Centre today, 25 May as it prepares to relocate to a bigger store.
Locals will have to go just five days without a B&M branch close by as the retailer plans to open its 750th store on May 30.
A B&M spokesperson told Ths Sun: “The current Kidderminster bargain store will shut their tills for the final time on Saturday 25 May 2024, but customers won’t have to wait much longer to get back into store as the new site will open its doors at 8am on Thursday 30 2024 – and it will be their 750th store!”
The store manager at B&M Kidderminster, said: “We wanted a bigger and better store for our customers, giving them even more big, branded products.”
“We hope customers are going to be delighted with their new store, we’re really excited to get the doors open very soon.”
The former Debenhams site is set to be much bigger and better than the B&M old store with over 24,507 sqft. of sales space
The new branch will offer an even bigger selection of great bargains from groceries, toiletries and health & beauty to toys, homeware, and DIY.
The bargain retailer currently has nearly 750 stores but has a long-term target of 950 sites.
Back in May 2023, B&M announced plans to open 30 new stores in the UK over the past year, including some relocations of older sites.
Earlier this year B&M opened 17 stores many of which were former Wilko sites.
B&M agreed to buy up to 51 Wilko locations in a £13million deal in September 2023.
To open some new sites B&M has had to restructure its portfolio and this has meant some stores have closed.
The retailer has closed ten of its stores since February 2023.
B&M has announced two other store closures in recent months.
The first was in Harpurhey, where a 50% sale was launched to get rid of old stock.
Another store in Abergavenny, Wales but the chain announced the store would be relocating to a bigger and better unit in the shopping park.
How can I save money at B&M?
While a closing-down sale offers big discounts on already bargain prices, there are still ways to save at B&M stores
The B&M barcode scanner app allows you to discover discounted items before the staff has even reduced them.
The scanner is located on the B&M Stores mobile app, which can be downloaded for free on your smartphone.
Shoppers can download it on the App Store or Google Play.
Once you’ve got the app, click on the “scan” button at the bottom of your homepage.
This will then bring up the camera on your smartphone, which you’ll need to use to scan barcodes.
When you’ve found a product you want to scan, simply point your smartphone camera toward its barcode.
The app will then automatically bring up the item’s price – this is when you’ll know if it is reduced or not.
Bargain hunters say some items come up as £1, 50p or even 10p through the app.
Shoppers should also keep an eye out for products with a white reduction sticker on.
This means they will have a certain amount slashed off the price shown on the label.
Shop for products at the end of the season.
Get friendly with staff too.
They’ll be able to tell you when the sales will hit, or if there are bargains out the back – so you get the best bits.
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Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.
Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.
Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.
Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.
Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.
Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.
Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.
And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
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