Everything to do with Shops

[SteveH]

Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Sainsburys, and Morrisons Christmas Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Sainsburys, and Morrisons Christmas weekend opening times

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tesco-asda-aldi-sainsburys-morrisons-25807417

[SteveH]

Makeover plans for Llandudno chocolate factory supplying Harrods, Selfridges and Buckingham Palace
Tim Winstanley's chocolate-manufacturing premises in Llandudno will be revamped and his adjoining museum will get a makeover

A North Wales chocolate maker has exciting plans for a mouth-watering 2023. Tim Winstanley's chocolate-manufacturing premises in Llandudno will be revamped and his adjoining museum will get a makeover.

Tim's manufacturing company at the site already makes chocolate products for its own Maisie's Chocolate Shop in the seaside town as well as the Buckingham Palace gift shop through other firms. Some companies sell Tim's products under their own brand names at top London stores like Harrods.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/makeover-plans-llandudno-chocolate-factory-25778329?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

A CARPETS and floors chain has opened a new store in Llandudno, offering a wide collection of flooring options as well as expert advice from their ?floorologists?.

Tapi Carpets & Floors? Llandudno shop is now open at Unit D1, Mostyn Champneys Retail Park, Mostyn Broadway.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23229796.new-tapi-carpets-floors-store-celebrates-opening-llandudno/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Not sure this is a good piece of info...........Trolleys all over the town ? 

We?ve all been there ? we?ve gone shopping without a ?1 coin and have been unable to unlock a trolley. But now there?s a simple way of getting around the problem without having to get a token from inside the store.

No pound coin? No problem. Chained-up supermarket trolleys can be unlocked using a key from a can of spam or corned beef. Can keys even succeed with trolleys where coins or tokens don?t seem to work.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/clever-little-hack-unlocking-supermarket-25907529

[SteveH]

THE OWNERS of a high street business in Llandudno have said they are ?fighting to stay open? amid the cost-of-living crisis and fewer people shopping locally.

Happily Ever After, on Mostyn Street, opened in October 2020 and is owned by husband and wife Jake and Amy Bailey, who moved to the area from Staffordshire to set up the store.

Having survived the return of the Covid-19 lockdown (without receiving grants), the toy shop, which sells Disney, Paddington and Marvel products as well as Peter Rabbit and Guess How Much I Love You and other craft items, started to see their fortunes suffer.

They are now facing an ?ongoing battle? to stay open, with the cost-of-living crisis having a huge impact on their lives.

The couple, who have a child, have even sold their home in order to keep the store going.

?We?re fighting to stay open, we?ve sold our house to keep going,? Amy told the Pioneer.

?We?ve put everything into it now, but we?re at the stage we?re not sure whether we can keep going.?

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23250078.llandudno-couple-risk-losing-everything-bid-keep-shop-open/

[SteveH]

A former Marks and Spencer store will reopen on Monday as a pop-up unit. The old main M&S shop on Mostyn Street in Llandudno will be run by UK Leisure Living for a temporary period.

Mostyn Estates have bought the site and a Levelling-Up bid has been submitted to UK Government for funds to help create a food hall, leisure and business hub. They hope to get underway with the project in late spring/early summer.

They have stocked the site with hot tubs, high end barbecues as well as information about their solar panels. The site will also give the company a chance to trial and show off their new cleaning and serving robots.

Owner Gareth Jones said: "We wanted to make sure we brought a high quality display to the high street - because of the site I was very passionate we put on a good display. Coming here as a kid it was a such a focal point on the high street.

Gareth, who has created four temporary new jobs, added: "We are here until at least April. This will be a good test for us as a business, having something like this on the high street. If it does work then there is the potential for us to have a permanent location at other empty shops.

"It all comes down to how well this store performs. We are here for a short period but let's see what happens.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/former-llandudno-marks-spencer-store-25973591?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

THE owners of a crystal gift shop in Llandudno have opened their second store in the town.

The Crystal Hut, which is owned by partners Kris Meredith and Paul Hales (and pet Westie Burt), have opened a shop at 9 Clonmel Street in the town centre.

Already operating a store on Llandudno Pier, the owners said this will ?be going nowhere? in a post on social media.

The business sells an array of crystal-related products, from necklaces, to kits, to a Pick & Mix and salt lamps, as well as incense and ornaments for the home.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23254803.look-inside-new-crystal-hut-store-llandudno/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

M&S reveals what Llandudno store relocation has done for sales - and how that's impacting UK plans
The retailer moved from Mostyn Street last March after more than 80 years at that site

Chief Executive Stuart Machin said that clothing sales from the new store are up 30% on those at the Mostyn Street site. But the change with food is even more dramatic with an expanded offer and more shopper friendly layout at the retail park - which also comes with parking next to the front door.

This has helped sales rise by a whopping 75%. Similar boosts have been seen at other relocated sites.

The chief exec said: "Strong performances like these are the reason we?re accelerating our store rotation programme into three years instead of five and this week?s ?480million investment will be a catalyst for achieving that."

The retailer is investing around ?500m in its store estate creating 3,400 jobs around the UK.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/ms-reveals-what-llandudno-store-26038004?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

A former M&S building that is now a Poundland store has been put up for auction by a property developer. Marks and Spencer closed the satellite store on Mostyn Street in February 2018.

The site had been left empty for years after a bid by restaurant and bar group Loungers to develop the site fell through. Last July it was announced that developer Rob Lloyd and his wife Maria had snapped up the store through their business, Knightsbridge House Estates.

They said they had plans to turn it into modern retail premises. They then agreed a deal with Poundland to come in as tenants at the 18,000sq ft unit and the new shop opened in December.

Now the site is going up for auction next month with Allsop. The property has a guide price of ?1.4m. Poundland are signed up until 2027. They pay rent of ?110,000 a year.

The building is held on a lease for 150 years from July 2022 at a peppercorn ground rent. The online auction will take place on February 9.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-llandudno-poundland-site-placed-26050644?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Shoppers turn to own-label lines to save money

Shoppers have been switching away from branded sauces, cereals and drinks, and opting for supermarkets' own-brand equivalents to save money at the till, research suggests.

Sales of own-label products have risen 47% over the last year, according to market research firm Kantar.

The trend comes against a backdrop of sharply rising food prices.

In January, grocery prices were up a record 16.7% compared to a year ago, Kantar said.

Households are facing an increase of ?788 to their annual grocery bills "if they don't change their behaviour to cut costs", said Kantar analyst Fraser McKevitt.

People have been turning to more own-label products, and away from brands, "with sales of these [own-label] lines growing consistently over the past nine months," he said.

Many supermarkets have also been using price-matching with rivals and savings through loyalty schemes to encourage people to shop with them, Mr McKevitt added.

However, consumer spending on promotions, such as two-for-one, is at a record low, accounting for just 23% of spending in the four week period studied by the market research firm.

Kantar said supermarkets were focusing on keeping prices low on everyday goods instead.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64457337

[SteveH]

Tesco has announced major changes to its stores which will impact thousands of jobs.

The supermarket giant said it will shut counters and delis at all stores, as well as shutting a number of in-store pharmacies across the UK.

Tesco said it is reducing the number of lead and team managers in large shops as part of the changes to its management structure, which will impact around 1,750 workers.

A spokesman said the move will also introduce around 1,800 new shift leader roles in stores, leading operational duties on the shop floor.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23288057.tesco-closing-counters-hot-delis-across-uk-stores/

[SteveH]

Five costly air fryer cooking mistakes all owners should know about
Some handy hints and tips to ensure you make the most of the appliance

Air fryers are the latest money-saving kitchen accessory which have taken UK households by storm. Thousands of people have ditched oven cooking in favour of the cheaper alternative, but making a few common mistakes while using the gadget can prove costly.

Following a boom in air fryer sales, many have taken to social media to share hints and tips about how to make the most of the appliance. We already know it's versatile and can cook almost anything, but beginners may find they're missing out on savings by not using the appliance properly.

Read on  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/five-costly-air-fryer-cooking-26138786

[SteveH]

Shoppers shocked as cost of Lurpak butter and its dupes increase significantly
The costs of the branded butter and the supermarket own brands have been compared in a yearly study, and they had all risen in price

Shoppers at Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons have been left stunned by the price of butter.

And they've been left especially dismayed by the cost of Lurpak and its cheaper alternatives at supermarkets all over the UK. A yearly price comparison revealed that the price for premium Danish butter shot up by 37 per cent and copycats Nordpak and Danpak also rose by 15 per cent.

A 500g tub of Lurpak cost ?3.65 on average last year, but was reported to be selling for as much as ?7.50 in some outlets. The average price has now risen to ?5, reports the Mirror.

The price of Lurpak dupes also increased dramatically over the past year, according to new data, which has disappointed consumers looking for less expensive options. Aldi's Norpak currently costs ?2.19, up 15.8 per cent from a year ago, while Morrisons Spreadable was ?2.49, up 13.1 per cent.

In fact, the latest statistics show that only three out of thirty items are now less expensive in stores and supermarkets than they were a year ago. Some food essentials have also jumped in price by as much as 65 per cent in just a single year.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/shoppers-shocked-as-cost-of-lurpak-butter-and-its-dupes-increase-significantly/

[Helig]

I went into the nearest Asda yesterday this was to buy some fruit juice. I bought some Tropicana orange juice last week. It was on offer at ?1.95. This week it is not on offer and being sold for ?3.25. I couldn't believe it (shades of Victor Meldrew). I noticed Lurpak was selling for ?5 per tub. In another store I went into recently they had a new plant based spread at ?1 per tub. The ingredients seemed to contain a large amount of palm oil, yuk. The supermarkets seem to be rigging the prices and increasing these in huge amounts in order to rip us off. They are to announce the new system of rail fares today. I reckon this will be another way of hiking up the fares. They say the return fare will be abolished and only single fares will be available.

[SteveH]

Shoppers shocked after horse spotted browsing the aisles in local supermarket
Had staff members seen anything like it before? The answer is, 'Neigh'

We've all been tempted to trot down the local shops whenever there's an offer on. But the last thing anyone expects to see browsing the aisles down their nearest supermarket is a bargain hunter of the four-legged variety.

But that's exactly what greeted customers down at the Pengam Green branch of Tesco in Cardiff recently. A black and white pony was spotted nonchalantly wandering around the store for several minutes, during which time it was both filmed and photographed by bemused bystanders.
cont video  https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/horse-supermarket-aisles-tesco-cardiff-26267192?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


North Wales woman 'chased by badger' in Shell garage
Molly Padget from Hawarden was so startled by the encounter that 'I dropped my curry'

"A police officer walked in and saw it, but then just turned around and walked back out," she added. Despite appearances, the badger wasn't actually shopping, more so a case of nature quite literally calling: "He didn't take anything, he just ran into the loos." Molly said.

"I was scared though when he chased after me, I dropped my curry trying to get away by going down two different aisles, he was always close behind until he went into the bathroom. It's the first badger I've ever seen alive."
cont  video https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-woman-chased-badger-26237482