The 'Wilkos Effect'

[morethanworts]

I'm not the campaigning sort, really, but I'd like to say that I've decided to view my recent purchases from Wilkos' 50% off sale as bonus 'extras'.

At the risk of appearing hypocritical, let's collectively spare a thought for the local independent shops whose hearts must sink when Wilkos decides to shift masses of stock at 50% off. It's a fine line, between saving money on tight budgets, and supporting independent shops and our forum sponsors who offer a broader range of specialist products, without whom we would all be worse off.

So, having taken advantage of the rare 'unmissable' offers, I will now be bringing forward my next visit to my independent LHBS to get a couple of the more specialist kits i was planning to get anyway, at a time when it is possible that they most need the cash.

Not preaching, just saying...

 

[RobWalker]

always go to LHBS anyway, all grain is cheaper once you're set up...

 

[calumscott]

:clap: :clap:

Well done that man.

Wilco can only ever cater for the mass market end of brewing, flogging the commoditised products like youngs fermenting bins and the mainstream kits.

Trouble is that a LHBS needs to have a market for ALL of the stuff they sell, from the mainstream to the specialist stuff that suits their locality. If the market for the mainstream dries up then then can't sell any specialist stuff and there goes your LHBS.

Recently Lakeland got in on the act. Before they started my LHBS were a bit down about it, thinking they were going to have to reinvent themselves again. I popped in for some bits the day the Lakeland stuff went on sale to find a VERY cheery smiley LHBS owner. Their prices were SO high and range SO limited that he reckoned it would help his trade!

Wilco is a different story though. They're pile it high and flog it low merchants and its hard to compete against that. Fortunately the nearest one to my LHBS is a good 15 miles away.

 

[graysalchemy]

The upside is that a proportion of those who take up the hobby then migrate to their LHBS when they become serious, they want to ask questions etc. Thats what happened with a specialist shop I ran. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Zedilly]

The place where the LHBS will win over the likes of Wilko's is their expertise and choice of products. I'll admit I took advantage of the wilko deal but their range is very limited with only a few "branded" kits and their own range. My LHBS has a mahoosive range of kits and equipment and there must be a market out there for them or they wouldn't be stocked. Add into this that there are a much bigger number of home brewers who are not on forums such as this one who would not be aware of the deal and I don't think the LHBS will notice too much difference.

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

My LHBS has made money out of that Wilko deal. I got a 25L fermenting bin on the half-price offer, and have since spent £23 on a 23L beer kit and spraymalt which I wouldn't have bought if I hadn't got the bin.

 

[LeithR]

Very sympathetic to the sentiment expressed in this thread but my nearest LHBS is 130 Miles south in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

I could easily consider Wilko's as my LHBS.!!

I wish I had the luxury of having a LHBS to drop into occasionally.

Spare a thought for those in Orkney and Shetland, we have members there too!!

 

[Tyronnster]

See I was speaking to another member yesterday about this an it was hard going to spend double the money at lhbs for v effectively b the same thing.

Now the sale over I'm happy to go back an support