Trying to get a younger look (BHS British Home Stores)

Name: Scooobydooo

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Product:	BHS British Home Stores
Date:	22/01/04 (1228 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: some good quality, expensive

Disadvantages: Expensive

Now I had a voucher to spend on £150 of clothes, I could have got it for Top shop or Evans as I am good size 18. Top shop a bit too trendy for me. Evans at their prices I would be able to afford a pair of knickers never mind a few items of clothing. So I decided to opt for the middle of the road store.

BHS was born in Brixton in 1928 and all stores now have a cafeteria. In 1985 it went international and in 1986 it merged with Habitat and Mothercare. In 2000 it was bought out of the Storehouse group of companies and is now a sole retailer. It also dropped British Home Stores and became BHS.

Now my opinion of BHS is brilliant for over priced christmas gifts but the clothes are ones that you buy for gran. Mind you I must admit, I never really look at clothes and it is now rather updated and is trying to attract a younger element.

This opinion is of my experience yesterday in the Warrington Branch. I walked into the store yesterday and was immediately met by all the christmas gifts and had great fun playing with the snowman that skis and kittens who sing. After pulling myself away from this I went to see what clothes I could purchase with my voucher.

Now the store is split into several sections, Womens and mens clothing were on the ground floor. Together with the christmas gifts. Childrens clothing was on the upperfloor with the cafeteria and the homeware section.

I walked around the store and looked at the clothes. Now I must admit there is still an element of granny clothes there which is fair enough as we cannot have granny walking around starkers! I passed this section of clothes and became pleasantly suprised a range of modern clothes aimed at the 20s and 30s something people. The prices were a bit expensive but not over expensive, sort of middle of the road. I bought a black pin striped skirt for £12 and it was marked up with the size and the skirt was lined. I then bought a suit which was reduced and cost me
£50. What a luxury.

I then went over to have a look at the shoes and eventually settled on a pair worth £30. I must admit when reading the label I was suprised to find they were made in taiwan. British Home Stores, BHS, Taiwan mmm doesnt quite go does it.

The displays were all neatly arranged down stairs, but I felt as though stuff had been crammed in and it was very hard to move in the aisles. The shoes were tucked in a corner as though they were in the way.

Next to the shoes were the knickers and bras.. All neatly arranged. Easy accessible to most people, but I thought I need the old favourite black tights and would have expected them to be around this area... Wrong they were with the mens trousers.

By now my osteoarthritis was make my mobility quite hard and lifting the clothes was hard. I could not see any trolleys or baskets around. Come to think of it, It was a case of spotting a member of staff.

I then spotted a member of staff who said I have got two baskets here, leave your clothes here and you can take them back up to customer services who will price everything up for you. At last I carried on shopping and when I had completed it. I then had to find the lift so that I could go upstairs, the stairs were just too much for me. I explained to the girl that I was having problems with mobility now but she did not bother to take the baskets up stairs for me. I struggled to carry one basket and kicked the other into the lift. The lift doors opened upstairs and I went over to see customer services. She priced everything up and then told me I had got another £25 left to spend as the sale was on and somethings were cheaper than what the label had said. I said can I leave my handbag here as I am really struggling now and was worried I would seize up.

I returned back downstairs via the lift and thought if the store detective was watching me, he would think I am knicking stuff, going upstairs with loads of stuff a
nd coming back down stairs with nothing, looks a bit suspicious.

By this time I just grabbed a pair of trousers to make up the cost and took it back and she said you still got £4 left... I said keep it I had had enough.

Whilst she processed the voucher, I looked at the upstairs of BHs. There is a cafeteria which is quite expensive but very nice and clean. To the left of this is the homeware section, selling lighting and bedding and all sorts of products that one would want for their house. Near customer services was the childrens section and they seemed all nicely spaced out and arranged and fairly priced.

My impression of BHS as a granny store has changed and I did like the products that they sold. Not as expensive as marks but not as cheap as the market. A sort of the middle of the road shop.

Tips for Buying here
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Watch the christmas gifts especially, One year I spent a fortune here and two weeks later in December all the prices were halved.

If you see a suit you like buy it, jackets and skirts are sold seperatley.

If you have mobility problems, this is a bad store to go in. the clothes are all cramped together and I had trouble manovering on my feet. A lady in a mobility car knocked so much over bless her but it was not her fault. No space.

Lifts were not sign posted well and it was a case of guess where the lift is.

Customer service was appalling. No help was given by the staff. Hardly any staff on the shop floor.

BHS have a website BHS.CO.UK I always try to research a bit on the internet, the site is basically rubbish and does'nt give you any helpful information about what it sells or anything. I could do them a better one!

Would I shop there again?
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Yes I would as I did like the clothes, but only when I am fit and able to wander around the rails they have out. Would I recommend it? Not really they do rather
need to get their act together regarding the store layout. Upstairs was good, downstairs a nightmare. Also if your a larger lady they only go up to a size 20 but they do do a petite range.


Karen

Summary: