Pinching pennies (Primark)

Member Name: friendofmaddo

Product:	Primark
Date:	11/08/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good for children and teenagers

Disadvantages: No identity

Primark is a wonderful shop that has changed largely in the last ten years. It is a large clothing store for men, women and children, but has branched into household goods and toiletries.
It has made up most of my wardrobe for a lot of my life. When I was a child, the clothes I wore were worn through in about a month from my clambering about, and so expensive clothes were not ideal, and so I wore Primark T-shirts. In my teenage years, it was brilliant, as I could chop and change my style every season and it wouldn't cost me a fortune. It is brilliant for anyone on a budget or who changes clothes frequently.

I the last ten years it has changed. Before this period I found it very cheap for what it was, but I have noticed the prices going up recently. I used to be able to buy a plain white t-shirt for £1, and now i find myself buying them for £2.50. I realise this is partly due to inflation of course, but I'm disappointed at their obvious change of priorities from cheap generic goods for the general public, into a desire to compete with the more expensive chain stores, trying to set the fashion of young people, which has dented their identity somewhat, and also leaves a niche for a new shop, with more of the style of the old Primark.

Of course, this does have a good side as well. If it means saving £10 on a jacket which is nearly exactly the same as the Kate Moss chain in Topshop, I'm not complaining. And obviously their ability to determine the clothes that young people wear brings a lot into their coffers, which I can't blame anybody for. However, this has made them into just another chain store for me, albeit a cheaper one.

Summary: Generally a good shop