Entrepreneur Chris Dawson, founder and owner of The Range, whose products include homewares, finalised a £5m deal yesterday (14 September) to buy the Wilko name, website and IP. It will ensure that the Wilko name lives on, with The Range selling Wilko-branded goods its stores nationwide and online.
The news came after it was confirmed that Poundland has bought 71 shops, (12 September), which it will convert to Poundland stores. A deal was also agreed withB&M last week (5 September), which bought 51 Wilko stores in a deal worth £13m. The retailer, whose product range includes gifts, said that an update on the timing of the new store openings will be unveiled in its first half interim results announcement on 9 November.
Despite the deals, which have saved 122 of Wilko’s 400 stores, thousands of retail jobs will be lost as a result of the retailer’s collapse.
The Range first opened its doors in 1989 in a business park in Plymouth and now has 213 UK stores offering over 140,000 products across 16 different categories, ranging from homewares and furniture to DIY and art supplies.
Top: The Range has bought the Wilko name, website and IP.
