Bargain store brings new jobs

12:00pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Wantage/Grove

The former DIY Focus store which will open as a Family Bargains shop The former DIY Focus store which will open as a Family Bargains shop

A BARGAIN superstore will open in a large Wantage store, bringing 35 new jobs.

Family Bargains, which is part of the 99p Stores group, is to open in the former Focus DIY store in Limborough Road, on Saturday. The store has been standing empty for a year.

The firm has signed a long-term lease for the 23,077 sq ft shop and has invested £350,000 in the move.

Wantage Chamber of Commerce president John Naish said: “The chamber is very pleased to hear the old Focus DIY store has been let, and we welcome the jobs it will bring to the town.”

The store, which will include a garden centre, openx at 10am on Saturday. It will sell more than 5,000 products.

The Focus DIY shop shut in May last year when the national chain went into administration.

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Comments(16)

Buntcuster says...
2:04pm Wed 9 May 12

oh joy another bargain store. Just what Wantage needs.

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smithadm says...
9:08am Thu 10 May 12

This is very dissapointing! We already have two stores like this, we do not need a third! This makes that whole region the bargain basement of Wantage!

Not much chance of our little town becoming a destination location when this is the kind of stores we attract! I would rather see it empty...

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Ellie the Bruce says...
1:27pm Thu 10 May 12

"You would rather see it empty" - bit of a self contained view in light of the fact that its opening will see 35 new jobs.

An empty plot certainly couldn't do that.

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Commyguy says...
8:11am Sat 12 May 12

I totally agree that I would rather see the place empty. Because at least if it is empty it isn't a threat to other shops like B&M or The Original factory shop that are nearby.

As the place is big enough I think the council should just turn it into something useful like a cinema which is what the town has needed for years now.

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smithadm says...
9:42am Sat 12 May 12

OK, so job creation is good! I agree with that 35 jobs is helpful. But I would much rather those jobs have been provided in a different way, but a different store - Halfords, M&S, Homebase, B&Q, Currys even a DFS would have been better!

You know things are crap when the only companies that can afford to open new store are the '99p Stores group'.

I loved the comment from John Naish - says he is pleased the store is let, and that it will bring jobs - hardly gushing support for the company or kind of store thats opened!

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smithadm says...
9:44am Sat 12 May 12

My spelling was terrible in that last post! Apologies.

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CLLR KEN TIWARI says...
9:50am Sat 12 May 12

How naeve some readers must be, to talk about cinema ?
I wonder ?

Cllr Ken Tiwari (parish-of-R&S-Oxfor
d)

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steve1955 says...
10:01am Sat 12 May 12

You get a bargain store coming to town because they can see it making a profit thats business, A cinema would come to town if they can see a profit thats business Now lets see the bargain store is here WHY No cinema WHY the town like many others will only thrive with the arrival and survival of its shops and businesses not with the argument we dont want this type of shop we want another 35 jobs is a must or the whole town will die like many others in this country do they really want a ghosty town?

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OxfordDon says...
10:01am Sun 13 May 12

Quality. As welcome as another Tescon.

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MadeHere says...
5:33pm Sun 13 May 12

Oh so negative.

There is cheap and there is a Bargain. A bargain is a good value deal and that is what you will find at the new Family Bargains Store. You will be upset if you are looking for tatt for the mother-in-laws christmas present. She will be delighted indeed.

As a supplier to 99P Stores based in Stanford in the Vale we know that this company demands good and consistent deals.

They demand efficiency with this store taking just 10 days to fit out from an empty shell. It is this efficiency and lower margins that mean this store really is full of bargains.

Yesterday was a great day for Wantage and Grove. Williams did the deed and Family Bargains Opening up leaving a bit more in peoples pockets for the nice things in life.

Peter Sully
Managing Director
Storage Solutions Ltd

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steve1955 says...
5:42pm Sun 13 May 12

Madehere
First class comment stating fact like all stores including the top ones you get quality in Family bargains you get brand names cheaper than most stores common sense buying unless those objectors have more money than sense and after all no one is forced to shop there are they?

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MadeHere says...
9:16am Mon 14 May 12

Steve1955
I took my two young girls to the opening one bought a toy that she had wanted for ages at £4.99. We took it home and my other daughter decided she wanted one as well.

My wife decided to look online and the cheapest she could find that toy was £24.99 on Amazon. Correct that is 5 times the price.

Now my wife who is a Waitrose type of lady, will now be popping into Family Bargains on the way in.

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Wintersmith says...
1:32pm Mon 14 May 12

So some people would rather see the unit empty? Idiots. Any shop opening new stores is fantastic news. I guarantee that the nay-sayers will at some point stroll through the doors of Family Bargains and come out with a trolley-full. I hope a similar shop opens up in the former Focus in Didcot too.

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MadeHere says...
11:56am Tue 15 May 12

Hi

I would say watch this space I know nothing about any forward plans but we will deliver shelving for store at Blackpool, York, Gateshead, Yate and a secret London store this week.

Didcot already has a 99P Store as does Oxford and Witney so they are doing their bit.

The shelving we manufacture at our factory in Devon and the mezzanine floors we are designing here in Oxfordshire are a real benefit to the local economy. So I say good luck to 99P Stores and their Family Bargain Outlets.

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steve1955 says...
3:32pm Tue 15 May 12

Just been to wantage nice to see so many people in the store carpark full looks full have the protesters lifted the blockade of the cheap shop or have Waitrose got some offers on?

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goodchoices says...
10:13am Sun 27 May 12

Family Bargains is quite a good store but what we really need is a large Iceland or Farmfoods store where we can buy frozen foods at reasonable prices. The nearest Iceland being Botley which is a pokey little store although handy its not large enough and Wantage is too far out for deliveries from Cowley. We dont need any upmarket stores that most of the general public cant afford. If the lease comes up on one of the outlets here lets have an Iceland or Farmfoods store.

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