I'm unreliably informed that later in the day on Saturday, unlike at opening time, Homebargains in Dinbych was packed out. My undependable informant reckoned she queued for 45 minutes to check out, during which time her frozen food defrosted (so she said).
All this attention. I mean, it isn't John Lewis, is it. But it is more like Woolworth's than Woolworth's. Expect there's no pic 'n' mix at the front of store (or elsewhere).
For those who remember the larger Woolworth's of the 1970s (before the department store de-ranged), you could buy children's clothes, basic furniture, paint, DIY equipment, groceries, stationery, basic electrical equipment, children's toys and on plus household goods. So it was at Homebargains.
Having made my first visit yesterday, it seems to me also like a giant B & M. If you want to buy cosmetics, detergents, alcohol, fizzy drinks or other groceries you have no problem. Soft furnishings, electrical equipment and the like, well, you take a chance as you just know that the products won't last.
Yet, Homebargains does offer something new to Dinbych: scale. It's huge. Its as big as Kwiksave plus its peripheral shops put together. Indeed, it's totally out of scale compared to the town. You can see that it's going to be popular. Some ranges are basic, perhaps, but most of the stuff you simply won't find elsewhere in Dinbych and certainly not at the price.
And where you can find similar products, the the town itself is going to struggle, whether chemists Boot's, Royle's and Rowlands; cheap shop Diskos; or ironmonger Mr Bevan's, they will all be affected. Little wonder TJ's Market World decided to close after Christmas.
And not just Dinbych. The sheer floorspace at Homebargains will undoubtedly tempt trade from Rhuthun/Ruthin. Add Poundland, Aldi and Peacock's to the existing Lidl's and that lot will make the lure of Dinbych's new Discount Quarter inevitable and unavoidable.
The difference between B & M Rhuthun and Wollworth's is that Homebargains is open till 8 p.m. on weeknights.
All this attention. I mean, it isn't John Lewis, is it. But it is more like Woolworth's than Woolworth's. Expect there's no pic 'n' mix at the front of store (or elsewhere).
Having made my first visit yesterday, it seems to me also like a giant B & M. If you want to buy cosmetics, detergents, alcohol, fizzy drinks or other groceries you have no problem. Soft furnishings, electrical equipment and the like, well, you take a chance as you just know that the products won't last.
Yet, Homebargains does offer something new to Dinbych: scale. It's huge. Its as big as Kwiksave plus its peripheral shops put together. Indeed, it's totally out of scale compared to the town. You can see that it's going to be popular. Some ranges are basic, perhaps, but most of the stuff you simply won't find elsewhere in Dinbych and certainly not at the price.
And where you can find similar products, the the town itself is going to struggle, whether chemists Boot's, Royle's and Rowlands; cheap shop Diskos; or ironmonger Mr Bevan's, they will all be affected. Little wonder TJ's Market World decided to close after Christmas.
And not just Dinbych. The sheer floorspace at Homebargains will undoubtedly tempt trade from Rhuthun/Ruthin. Add Poundland, Aldi and Peacock's to the existing Lidl's and that lot will make the lure of Dinbych's new Discount Quarter inevitable and unavoidable.
The difference between B & M Rhuthun and Wollworth's is that Homebargains is open till 8 p.m. on weeknights.