BUSINESS at an independent discount store said to be as cheap as Wilko is booming.
The cut price store opened up six months ago and the owner is now set to take the space next door so he can stock more products.
Ilkeston Discount Chain Store near Nottingham started out selling “liquidation stock” which has been taken off the shelves of high-street chains.
But the owner Andy Hampton now plans to stock between 1,500 and 1,800 menswear items in the new lot next door – as well as hardware and pet supplies due to surging demand.
He told the Nottingham Post: “Six months in, we cannot add anything to this current store, it’s full. But the floor space at the new shop is three times bigger.”
He claimed that his shop was as cheap as Wilko. He said: “It’s a bit of an open market for us at the moment.
“Because we’re as cheap as Wilko, we can still fill our shelves and give people in Ilkeston what they want.”
The government has pledged to help Wilko workers after the discount chain collapsed into administration.
PM Rishi Sunak said: “From a government side, the DWP can stand up particular support for people in situations like this. People should be reassured by that.”
Discount stores have sprung up around the country over recent years as austerity has bitten into household budgets.
Shane Phelan and his partner Jessica Cullen own Moda Imperiale in Huddersfield and stock top brands for cut-cost prices.
They can sell a Jack Wills top for £10, when it was £29.95, a Topshop dress for £15 – which has come down from £39 – and Topshop boots for £20, when you’d have to splash £59 in store.
Richard Williams proudly runs Overstockers and says he’s filled its shelves with budget-boosting essentials.
And he said customers are shunning traditional supermarket titans – and flocking to his shop instead.
Bestsellers at the Worcestershire store include hotel pillows that cost £5 for a pack of two – but are found for £40 elsewhere.
