One Below, a new UK discount shopping brand from the original founders of Poundworld, is to open a store in Bradley Stoke later this month, creating 20 local retail jobs.
The new store is scheduled to open in the former Poundworld unit at the Willow Brook Centre on Friday 27th September, at 10am.
The independent chain claims to be the only discount store in the UK selling everything for £1 or under and it specialises in frequent ‘get it before it’s gone’ one-off deals.
It sells a wide range of well-known brands including Coca Cola, Pedigree, Heinz, Kellogg’s and Cadbury’s.
One Below, which opened its first stores in March 2019, is independently financed by father and son retail entrepreneurs Christopher Edwards (36) and Christopher Edwards Senior. The pair were the original founders of former high street retailer Poundworld Retail Limited before it was sold to American private equity conglomerate, TPG Capital in 2014.
The new venture now has more than 50 stores, with the nearest currently being at Channons Hill Retail Park in Fishponds.
Poundworld entered administration in June 2018 and all its stores were closed by August that year, with the loss of more than 5,000 jobs.
A spokesperson for the new venture said some of the 13 staff members who lost their jobs when the Bradley Stoke Poundworld outlet closed have been taken on at the new One Below store.
Christopher Edwards, managing director of One Below Retail Limited, said:
“We’re delighted to be opening a store at the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke. It’s a great location and we’re hoping that the store is going to go down well with shoppers looking for some great deals.”
Andy Wynn, centre manager, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome One Below to Willow Brook. The company have been expanding rapidly in recent months and will make a great addition to Bradley Stoke. In a tough retail climate, the new opening will make Willow Brook one of only a handful of UK shopping centres to be fully let.”
Photos – Top: Shoppers queue outside one of the first One Below stores to open in March 2019. Above: The currently vacant former Poundworld unit at the Willow Brook Centre (pictured in September 2019).
Discussion about this article on the BSJ Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/BradleyStokeJournal/posts/2587007028016124
Is this something BS really needs, most other ‘pound shops’ seem to have closed in short order over the last few years why will this be any different. Why can’t a DIY or hardware store be opened rather than another food store (as if there aren’t enough of them already!), something that is vaquely useful. A post office would be really useful (I know that won’t happen). There has to be a better use for these empty units.
I prefer this to an empty unit, but we really could use practical shops in BS. As Stephen Moorhouse wrote , a real DIY/hardware store would be very welcome.
I would like to see a practical shop, but times are changing …
The internet provides easy access and next day availability.
With the rent structure at Willow Brook Shopping Centre, only well financed shopping chains can get a store, small independents cannot afford the risk.
Willow Brook should open a market with 10-15 units/stalls, with short term leasesm and maybe a small food area. All lo rent, with 1 month leases.
Although I’d much sooner a shop which was a bit different from the ones we already have in BS, it’s fantastic to see the empty shop filled and see the whole shopping centre doing well when so many are struggling.