Poundland Issues Challenge to Armchair Critics

Poundland has confirmed it will open its Princes Street store in Edinburgh on Saturday 16th November in the former Currys / PC World location. 

And it has cheekily singled out critics who’ve expressed disquiet about the discount store’s arrival on Scotland’s premier shopping street by erecting vinyls at the store highlighting their snobbery.

Poundland has taken a leaf out of the Greatest Showman to help launch the store , Just like PT Barnum who embraced the critics’ dismissal of his venture as a circus but then used the phrase in advertising, Poundland has replicated the headline from the 17 October Scottish edition of the Times on its window vinyls. 

In that article, The Times proclaimed “Poundland Threatens To Cheapen Princes Street”.  But set alongside the headline now proudly displayed in the windows, are the facts that will make Poundland’s arrival on Princes Street good news for other businesses on the street. 

Poundland attracts 7m shoppers a week to its stores across the UK and is supporting high streets while other retailers are leaving.

Alongside the display of vinyls in the new shop’s windows, Poundland today issued a challenge to those who have criticised its arrival, to come and see the store the day before it opens.

Those invited include the editor of the Scottish Times Magnus Llewellin who wrote a leader using the arrival of Poundland as a metaphor for Princes Street’s decline and engaged in an online spat following publication (https://twitter.com/Poundland/status/1185130378111148032).  Also invited to see for themselves are Scottish retail commentators for universities and local and national politicians.

Poundland’s retail director, Austin Cooke who will be at the critics’ preview alongside transformation director Mat Ankers said, “Frankly the hand-wringers and armchair commentators should be ashamed of themselves. 

“Yes, we’re going to cheapen Princes Street, but not in the way they mean – we’re going to cheapen it by bringing amazing value to the city centre.  

And we see no reason to be ashamed of supporting high streets with jobs, investment and an offer that we know customers will love.”

The new Poundland Princes Street store will open on Saturday 16^th November 2019.

Source: Insight DIY Team & Poundland

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