Bargain Madnesss! (B&M Stores)

Member Name: heynonnynonny

Product:	B&M Stores
Date:	27/10/09 (230 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Vast range, good brands, cheap prices

Disadvantages: None

Firstly, I really cannot get over the fact that there is only 12 odd reviews of this absolutely essential, fantastic store!!

B and M is a discount retailer often selling a lot of brands you will have heard of and some you may not have encountered before.

It sells food, toys, furnishings, alcohol, toiletries, kitchenware, health and beauty items and maybe the odd clothing item all at discount prices.

Within 25 miles of Stoke on Trent there are now 13 B and M stores, not bad going.

It is clean and very tidy unlike a lot of other discount stores everything is neat and not just thrown on the shelves.

It employs 5000 people, now has over 100 stores and over amillion customers a week.

You will find most things cheaper in here, I recommend that if like me you visit several different grocery shops you do your shop in here first and top up in a supermarket, quite often I'm in B and M and wished that I had waited and got a certain product or item there rather than for double the price at say, Tesco. So now B and M is where I start in town.

B and M first introduced itself in our demised Kwiksave store a couple of years back, and since it's launch seems to have been extremely popular.

There is a B and M 'home' standalone store in Stafford Queens Retail Park, it is mint, amazing stuff for the house and also groceries are available. The home range is really really good...

For the review I will break down information from my local Stoke on Trent store and talk about the sorts of things available from the start of the shop to the checkouts so you know roughly what to expect.

Aisle 1
Front of the store, Dixcel Kittensoft 6 pack loo rolls £1.19. Will never buy loo roll anywhere else again, it's at least half the price of other shops.
Massive range of mostly branded biscuits, most are at cheaper prices than found elsewhere. You are bound to find your favourite brand here somewhere.

A very small chiller cabinet provides milk, cheese and a pretty small selection of meats, I do not tend to bother with these usually only to grab a bottle of the white stuff.

Hot drinks are found here. Good selection, teabags, coffees, cappucinos, various hot chocolates to be found here most are brands you will know ie Typhoo, Nescafe etc.

Good range of breakfast cereals and breakfast bars are further down.

Next is jars packets and tins. Love this section, often branded jars etc are very cheap. I got some jars of Homepride Potato Bake 29p each, Seeds of Change pasta sauce £1.20. Very good range, condiments, cooking sauces, noodles, tins, pastas, noodles, soups etc make sure you check the dates as a lot of them can have not much time left til best consumed hence some items are REALLY cheap like that potato bake. I find I can pick up a lot of stuff from here and always wish I'd got a trolley instead of a hand basket :S

Next aisle is crisps, confectionery and soft drinks. Multipack branded crisps are at an ace price. All types of goodies available here you are bound to find your favourite. Juices, pops and squashes mostly branded to be found and range is excellent in this aisle of all mentioned products. Lots of chocolate and sweets options, often have 7 packs of Cadburys chocolate bars ie Crunchie, Twirl £1.50, good for families.

Next aisle contains alcohol, very good range, however not being a massive drinker do not tend to get mch from here apart from the odd alcopop so not sure on prices, but plenty of choice of product is available.

Further down, randomly, is bathroom stuff. A bit random, toilet seats, shelving, toilet brushes, pretty good range of towels.

Next aisle is soft furnishings, they do lovely cushions at a great price, often on offer, I recommend people to take a look at the range they do quite a few cushions. Bedlinen and curtains, wide range, I had a lovely sequinned voile panel for a fiver and it looks amazing. Reasonable prices here and well worth a look. B&M has exclusive rights to the 'Home Living' range of household goods which I've found to be equal quality of many bigger stores stuff.

Further down to be found are random houehold items, some blinds and curtain poles, a small selection, then things such as blank tapes and CD's, household alarms, picture hooks, batteries. smoke alarms that kind of thing. Prices good, I think probably cheaper than Argos.

Next one, they do a small range of cheapish electricals, irons, kettles and toasters, hand mixers and also sometimes they have cheapish vacuum cleaners and carpet cleaners, not sure if cheaper than say Argos but worth having a look while you are in there.

Next aisle!! Pet products and food, occasionally the bargain branded stuff, mostly though is brands you probably will not know, however all at good prices, ok range of cat/dog food but nothing specialist, occasionally Iams pet food can be found for bargainous prices. Couple of toys, leads, pet beds, but really better for pet food. Felix pouches are often to be found also for cheaper tham supermarket prices.

At this time of year there is a blimmin HUGE range of chrimbo and halloween stuff and when that is not there a very good gardening bits aisle. Often some of the bits and pieces are a bit tacky but they do have some good stuff and well worth a look as the range is pretty vast,

Ladies haircare and toiletries next. Very good range all branded stuff and occasional bargain designer item, always loads to be found you will definitely get stocked up here. The mens range is alright but not a massive selection to choose from.

Then there is the cleaning range next, massive choice of brands and none brands. Washing powder and conditioner always good prices and get it all from here, you will find all your usual cleaning products and smellies here....

Next!! Kitchenware, brilliant range, pottery, pots and pans, cutlery, mugs, draimers, plasticware, utensils, worktop savers coaster mats etc I love this bit and have had some really nice stuff out of here.

The end section is mostly homeware and oh they really have some nice stuff here, I have found many a lovely modern item from here. Single stem flowers, vases, wall art, rugs, bits and pieces like occasional furniture, bar stools, mirrors, clocks, frames, and some of the stuff is so nice you wouldn't believe the price. Have found people selling it on eBay for 4 times the price and passing it off as Next or Marks stuff so watch out on there, on a different note.

Back of the store is dedicated to childrens toys from one side to the other, the range is blimmin huge and the stuff looks good, not purchased though as not got kids to buy for but if I did I would be straight here!!!!

There is a small range of clothing bits, slippers, gloves, nightshirts, a few branded bits for the kids so you may just find a bargain present for yourself or somebody else.

So summary, find your essentials cheap in here and top up with more specific or specialised stuff in a larger supermarket.

You will not be disappointed!!!!

Our Head Office address is:
B & M Retail Ltd
Unit 1G
Squires Gate Industrial Estate
Squires Gate Lane
Blackpool
FY4 3RN

Tel: 01253 349 040
Fax: 01253 348 721

Email (for general enquiries): enquiries@bmstores.co.uk

Summary: Give B and M a go. I love it!