Latest news with #EtchaSketch
Scotsman
18-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
I went to Edinburgh's Poundland for the very first time, and this is what I bought
Contributed This store might be on its way out soon, so I took a trip Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I didn't know how to react when I heard that the flagging chain, Poundland, was closing up to 150 stores in the UK, after, ironically, selling for £1 to investment firm Gordon Brothers. Since I've never been to a branch, I felt sad for the employees, but impassive otherwise. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Still, as I have a single pound coin that's been burning a hole in my pocket, I thought it was time to make my inaugural visit. This is not going to be a Pulp's Common People-style experience.I am not a Waitrose-ite. Nope, I like a bargain as much as the next woman. Scratch that. I NEED bargains. Thus, I head to the Edinburgh Lothian Road store, which is one of four in the Capital and 57 in Scotland. Don't panic, as this shop might not be going anywhere, as it's not yet clear which of their branches will be shutting. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad My first thought is that this occupies the spot that, many moons ago, was the location for Woolworths and their formidable pic and mix selection. That destination is so seared into my memory that I feel as if I'm developing a psychosomatic mouth ulcer while reminiscing over their sandpapery-surfaced cola cubes. It's also on the same block as another 'variety store', the independent Ali's Cave, which has been there for 44 years and has also recently announced its closure. I AM sad about it's a sign of the times. We can blame Amazon, and probably Shein and Temu, too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Anyway, first impressions of Poundland aren't great. It's as forbidding as Count Dracula's castle. I feel as if I'm channeling my inner Mary Portas, when weighing up the kerb appeal. It doesn't really have any. In fact, this store makes its neighbours - The Futon Company and Superdrug - look like Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason. The cracked window is being used as storage for trolleys full of litre bottles of primary-coloured fizzy pop, rather than a tempting showcase to display their finest objects. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At least they've paid lip service to visual merchandising with a few posters in the window, though they feature lifestyle shots on them that look as if they've been taken on someone's ancient Nokia 7650. Nay, drawn on, using an Etch a Sketch. As soon as you enter, you're faced with a wall of Pot Noodles. My cryptonite. The grey and green branding is also pretty depressing. Concrete and snot. Elephants and frogs. It's just not inspiring. The staff, dressed in the same colours, seem lovely though, with Happy to Help emblazoned on the back of their uniforms. I'm sure they would be, though I might just be browsing today. We'll see. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's definitely a store of the pile-em-high-sell-em-cheap ilk that became popular in the Nineties. I totally see why they've been shuffled out of the market by stores like Aldi and Lidl. Those retailers are affordable, yes, but at least they have muzak playing, and lots of natural light. This place is dingy. It isn't much of a retail experience, really. However, I'm surprised by how many shoppers are here. Since you can't see inside from the street, I assumed it was always deserted. On a Tuesday morning, there are at least five browsers, and a few at the self checkout. As far as products go, they have SO much. Blame Woolworths flash-backs but I am very much enjoying the sweetie aisle. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There are no cola-cubes but they do have bags of my present day Achilles heel - Galaxy Minstrels for £1.50. Get in. And boxes of Maltesers for the same price. If I'd known, I would've been here earlier. They even have bags of Turkish Delight minis. As the only person in the world who still loves these rose-scented chocolate-coated retro delights, I haven't seen these fun sizes anywhere else but here. Also, every type of Haribo and Skittles available under the sun, all for £1 a bag. And a strange sort of sweet called Chooeee. I wonder if they're yumeee or spewee. This area is the best bit. The rest of the store is a bit meh. At the back, I find their own clothing range, Pepco. Everything is bargain basement priced and pretty neutral, apart from the £10 handbag with Minnie Mouse on it, and the t-shirts that are emblazoned with a heart and the words 'Love your self'. Shouldn't that be two words, rather than three? Never mind, the sentiment is there. They also sell their own versions of Crocs. Let's call them mock-crocs. There are square holes, rather than round ones, and they're £4. There are seven packs of socks for £3. I don't know if they're 100 per cent cotton or not. I'll risk the athlete's foot for 42p per sock. The other aisles sell all manner of homeware. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There is one that has toothpaste, and stacks of other branded toiletries. Another features garden stuff. Across the shop floor, I find rain ponchos for £1.50, hand-towels for £1.75, padlocks for £1 that may or may not invalidate your home insurance, frozen and fresh food, a water ball catapult for £2, and £3 washing powder on a row of very empty shelves, with an ominous sign that reads AGAINST RETAIL CRIME in front of the negative spaces. They've got pet stuff, and a patriotic box of Scott's Porridge Oats for a quid. This store might lack aesthetic value, but it certainly has its redeeming qualities.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These Walmart Price Hikes Are Going Viral After Trump Told The Chain To "EAT THE TARIFFS"
In mid-May, Walmart announced that price hikes were coming due to President Trump's tariffs. Other brands like Best Buy, AutoZone, and Adidas have also said they'll have to raise prices because the tariffs will increase their costs of doing business. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that other countries such as China would pay for the tariffs, responded with a post on his Truth Social platform urging Walmart to "EAT THE TARIFFS." The company, which reported $684.2 billion in sales in 2024, has declined to forecast how it might perform in the current quarter of 2025 due to the uncertainty posed by the tariffs. Well, just a couple weeks later, we're starting to see some higher prices rolling in. Walmart employees and shoppers are sharing the price hikes they've spotted in the wild. I confirmed these prices on the Walmart website with links throughout. As of the time of writing, all prices seen in these images are correct (with one exception that's now priced even higher online). Here are some of the most viral examples of these price hikes so far: doll went from $34.97 to $49.97. fishing reel went from $57.37 to $83.26. this roll of tape went from $4.24 to $9.94. The employee who posted this wrote, "The tariffs are tariffing." to a customer's receipt saved in the Walmart app, this heating pad went from $19.98 to $24.96 on the website today. this 8 pack of Play-Doh went from $5.64 to $7.47. tablet jumped from $79 to $97. this snap from a toy aisle in Asheville, North Carolina, shows prices on a Never Dry Dough Creation Station, an Etch a Sketch, and a Lite Brite Magic Screen set going from $19.97, $14.97, and $14.97 to $24.97, $24.99, and $21.97, respectively. The Lite Brite is currently listed on Walmart's website for $30.99. And finally, a Walmart employee on Reddit shared this screenshot of the price changes underway at their location: Have you noticed prices going up at your local Walmart? Share your photos and receipts in the comments or email them to me.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These Walmart Price Hikes Are Going Viral After Trump Told The Chain To "EAT THE TARIFFS"
In mid-May, Walmart announced that price hikes were coming due to President Trump's tariffs. Other brands like Best Buy, AutoZone, and Adidas have also said they'll have to raise prices because the tariffs will increase their costs of doing business. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that other countries such as China would pay for the tariffs, responded with a post on his Truth Social platform urging Walmart to "EAT THE TARIFFS." The company, which reported $684.2 billion in sales in 2024, has declined to forecast how it might perform in the current quarter of 2025 due to the uncertainty posed by the tariffs. Well, just a couple weeks later, we're starting to see some higher prices rolling in. Walmart employees and shoppers are sharing the price hikes they've spotted in the wild. I confirmed these prices on the Walmart website with links throughout. As of the time of writing, all prices seen in these images are correct (with one exception that's now priced even higher online). Here are some of the most viral examples of these price hikes so far: doll went from $34.97 to $49.97. fishing reel went from $57.37 to $83.26. this roll of tape went from $4.24 to $9.94. The employee who posted this wrote, "The tariffs are tariffing." to a customer's receipt saved in the Walmart app, this heating pad went from $19.98 to $24.96 on the website today. this 8 pack of Play-Doh went from $5.64 to $7.47. tablet jumped from $79 to $97. this snap from a toy aisle in Asheville, North Carolina, shows prices on a Never Dry Dough Creation Station, an Etch a Sketch, and a Lite Brite Magic Screen set going from $19.97, $14.97, and $14.97 to $24.97, $24.99, and $21.97, respectively. The Lite Brite is currently listed on Walmart's website for $30.99. And finally, a Walmart employee on Reddit shared this screenshot of the price changes underway at their location:
Buzz Feed
28-05-2025
- Business
- Buzz Feed
Rising Prices At Walmart: Shoppers Report Tariff Effect
In mid-May, Walmart announced that price hikes were coming due to President Trump's tariffs. Other brands like Best Buy, Autozone, and Adidas have also said they'll have to raise prices because the tariffs will increase their costs of doing business. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that other countries such as China would pay for the tariffs, responded with a post on his Truth Social platform urging Walmart to "EAT THE TARIFFS." The company, which reported $684.2 billion in sales in 2024, has declined to forecast how it might perform in the current quarter of 2025 due to the uncertainty posed by the tariffs. Well, just a couple weeks later, we're starting to see some higher prices rolling in. Walmart employees and shoppers are sharing the price hikes they've spotted in the wild. I confirmed these prices on the Walmart website with links throughout. As of the time of writing, all prices seen in these images are correct (with one exception that's now priced even higher online). Here are some of the most viral examples of these price hikes so far: This doll went from $34.97 to $49.97. This fishing reel went from $57.37 to $83.26. And this roll of tape went from $4.24 to $9.94. The employee who posted this wrote, "The tariffs are tariffing." According to a customer's receipt saved in the Walmart app, this heating pad went from $19.98 to $24.96 on the website today. And this 8 pack of Play-Doh went from $5.64 to $7.47. This tablet jumped from $79 to $97. And this snap from a toy aisle in Asheville, North Carolina, shows prices on a Never Dry Dough Creation Station, an Etch a Sketch, and a Lite Brite Magic Screen set going from $19.97, $14.97, and $14.97 to $24.97, $24.99, and $21.97, respectively. The Lite Brite is currently listed on Walmart's website for $30.99. And finally, a Walmart employee on Reddit shared this screenshot of the price changes underway at their location: Have you noticed prices going up at your local Walmart? Share your photos and receipts in the comments or email them to me.
