Wilko announces ‘exclusive’ free gifts up for grabs in two stores set to open next week

The gardening and homeware chain is offering the first 50 customers in each of the two sites an “exclusive” Wilko goody bag, filled with some “top-rated” Wilko products.

Shoppers will also be offered 20 per cent off on all arts and crafts supplies for Easter activities.

Wilko has announced several openings in recent months, with three sites - in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton - having opened their doors in December 2023.

The store in Rotherham will be in Parkgate Shopping Centre, S60 1TG, while the St Albans Wilko will open in Unit 29 The Maltings, St Albans, AL1 3HL.

Ben Exall, Chief Digital Officer at Wilko, said the firm was "delighted" to see the return of Wilko to the high street in the two areas.

He added: "The team and I anticipate a great response from locals and visitors who are looking for all the products they need to get their home and garden jobs done."

Wilko recently announced plans to open in Poole, Dorset, as it updated customers on the national roll-out of new Wilko stores, which is taking place across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The retailer closed its 400 UK shops last autumn after tumbling into administration.

The Range owner CDS Superstores later purchased the website, brand and intellectual property.

When staffing the new stores, priority was given to former Wilko team members, Wilko said.

Administrators sold off a raft of the company's assets last year, including up to 71 stores to become Poundland shops.

They also struck a deal for B&M to open up to 51 stores under the rival discounter's brand.

In December, Poundland said it had hired 963 former Wilko employees as it opened up stores snapped up from the collapsed high street rival.

Some 862 of these workers had been given hourly paid contracts at the reopened stores, while a further 122 were hired as store managers or assistant managers.

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• Hundreds of jobs at risk as Waitrose proposes warehouse closure
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Simon Wells, people director at Poundland, said: “I really want to thank the Poundland team for their extraordinary efforts in making so many roles available, so quickly, to those affected by the administration of Wilko.

“We know by keeping our promise to reopen former Wilko stores in such numbers, and at such pace, we’ve made a big difference to hundreds of people.

“We’re incredibly proud that so many former Wilko team members have now chosen to continue their careers here at Poundland.”