The Range brings back classic Wilko items to stores and fans say prices are ‘even cheaper’
THE Range has brought back a classic Wilko item to stores - and fans say it's even cheaper than the original.
The Wilko name and intellectual property were bought by rival discounter The Range after the chain went into administration.
The deal will see the Wilko website and the brand name live on as all shops close for good.
And shoppers are already spotting Wilko products in The Range stores.
The Range shared a picture on Facebook of the brand's selection of cleaning products for as little as £1.49.
And shoppers were quick to share their thoughts.
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One wrote: "These are cheaper than when Wilko were selling them."
Another added: "Glad to still see the Wilko name in shops."
A third said: "Omg the full range."
CDS Superstores, which trades as The Range and Wilko, revealed last month that it will be relaunching the chain at sites in England, Scotland and Wales in a surprise move.
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But it has now confirmed the locations and opening dates for its first three stores.
Bosses are also planning to recruit up to 80 local team members per store.
Nearly 10,000 staff were made redundant when 400 Wilkos stores closed.
Alex Simpkin, chief executive of CDS Superstores said; "It's clear that there's a huge love for Wilko and we're proud to confirm we'll be re-introducing the brand to high streets in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton in the coming weeks.
"We're also glad to be bringing employment opportunities to these towns and for helping local families and communities have easy access to all the everyday home and garden items they need once again."
He added that further store launches and re-openings will be announced throughout 2024.
The new shops will offer value items including cleaning and household, decorating and DIY, garden and outdoor, homeware, pets, storage and seasonal items.
Customers will also be able to buy the wilko.com range for home delivery using in-store terminals.
The three newly announced locations, and their opening dates, are as follows:
- Plymouth, which opens at Unit A, Armada Centre, Mayflower Street, Plymouth, PL1 1QL on December 1
- Exeter, which opens at Unit 100, Guildhall Shopping Centre, Exeter, EX4 3HP on December 1
- Luton, which opens at 141/147 Arndale Centre, Luton, LU1 2TN on December 8
It comes after The Sun exclusively revealed three other potential locations for new Wilko stores.
Wilko.com returned earlier this month under The Range's ownership and Wilko branded items are being stocked in The Range stores.
Concessions have opened inside the chain's 210 shops, selling many popular Wilko products.
Wilko tumbled into administration in August before a flurry of potential buyers expressed an interest.
But sadly, a buyer for the whole business couldn't be found and it then announced all 400 shops would close by October.
Wilko's last remaining sites shut for good on Sunday, October 8.
But rivals stepped in to buy a handful of stores.
Among those was , which purchased 71 Wilko stores.
The first of these reopened under the Poundland name in October, with more set to follow.
B&M also agreed to buy up to 51 locations in a £13million deal.
These locations haven't been announced yet, but will reopen as B&M shops.
In September, administrators confirmed they had agreed the sale of the retailer’s brand name to The Range in a £5million deal.
As part of the agreement, which also includes Wilko's intellectual property, 36 jobs were saved as the employees transferred over.
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Rival chains Home Bargains and Dunelm also offered devastated Wilko staff new roles after the retailer collapsed.