No Trouble At Mill (Dunelm Mill Shop)

Member Name: Emmald

Product:	Dunelm Mill Shop
Date:	17/04/09 (309 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A well stocked store

Disadvantages: None

I am a regular visitor to Dunelm Mill, I may well only go to look around the store but more often than not I come out having bought something for the home.
Dunelm was founded over 25 years ago by a Leicestershire couple and in recent years the company has gone from strength to strength and is still growing. At the moment there are eighty stores spread throughout the country and the company are hoping to be in a position to open more of their popular stores.

Our local Dunelm Mill is easy to access, there is a spacious car park and the store is more often than not busy. If there is a sale on -and they do have some fabulous sales- then expect the car park to be full.
Our local store at Ilkeston is wheelchair friendly and just inside of the entrance doors are the toilets which are always spotlessly clean and well maintained.
As you walk into the store you just want to feast your eyes on the glorious displays, usually inside of the entrance doors there is a massive selection of very tempting bedding, duvets, rugs and throws.
Always make a note of looking in the bargain bins, some are full of cushions that are great value.
The last time we went we were looking for a couple of extra special cushions, those that you use for show! It was so difficult to know where to start, there was a huge range in many colours, fabric types and shapes.
The store is comfortable to walk around, it is warm and the aisles are wide enough so they don't feel claustrophobic. There are usually plenty of staff on duty that can help you with any enquiries, if you come unstuck then head in the direction of the Customer service desk which is always manned.

We always allow a couple of hours to wander around, there are so many ranges to look at.
Their range of bedding is second to none, they stock all leading makes, colour ranges and fashions.
They have many beds that are dressed so that you can get a good idea of what the bedding looks like when it has been removed from the packet.

There is a curtain making service and recently my Mum took advantage of this service, she chose her fabric and lining and then her two pairs of lounge curtains were made to measure by experts. I am not going to pretend it was a cheap way out but the end result was impressive.
But they also have a massive selection of ready made curtains, if you catch the sales there are many good bargains to be had. They also stock Filigree nets among other makes and something that I have found hard to get hold of, door curtains.

Look along the towel shelves and you will be amazed at all the colours, there are huge bath sheets right down to small hand towels and flannels. They have a good selection of beach towels and some for children's bath time It could prove a great temptation to buy a new set of bathroom towels.

If you are looking for wedding gifts or in fact gifts for any occasion then the mill has something for everyone. Any newly wed couple would be thrilled with some of the modern up to the minute china and kitchen ware that is in stock.
Dunelm mills have a considerable amount of quality products , laundry goods, cleaning equipment, china, cutlery, tableware, the list is endless.

As well as having many good storage solutions they also stock some furniture, occasional chairs, tables, desks and Ottomans. On my last visit they had a lot of carved blanket boxes in stock , I couldn't buy one because sadly I've no space to put it.

As you wander around the store you are constantly sidetracked by large displays, Towards the bottom of the store is the fabric department and there are hundreds of good quality bolts of all types of fabric to choose from. They also stock wadding, lining and many cottons, needles and other sewing accessories.
Just lately it has become harder to buy knitting wool and the store has a small section that is reserved for the knitters.

If you are looking for blinds, curtain tracks or poles then there are plenty to choose from. Only recently my niece bought a blackout blind in the sale for her toddlers room.

Don't forget the lighting section,there are lamps galore, beautiful contemporary light fitments and a host of shades.

In an ante room off of the main store area is a medium sized room that is filled with goodies, mirrors, pictures, fancy china, silk flowers and at Christmas this room just bulges at the seams.

Usually the queues at the tills aren't too bad, the staff are usually cheery. I had to laugh on one occasion though, a young girl served me and I had bought three huge and heavy throws.
Well, there seemed to be a reluctance to `wrap` the throws and I asked the young cashier if she would mind putting them into a bag. The wrapping wasn't carried out very ceremoniously! The throws were `bundled` into large plastic bags...by then I was spluttering under my breath!

Dunelm Mill have a website and it is regularly updated. You have to keep an ear to the ground to know when they are having a sale, that is one of the very best times to visit.
If I had one suggestion that could make the store the perfect place to visit it would be to make room for a small coffee shop, I very often go with my elderly Mum who needs nourishment along the way!
Apart from that Dunelm Mill gets the thumbs up from me.

Summary: An Aladdin's cave which is good to look around.