TAKE A TOWN – CARDIFF


December 2025/January 2026 housewareslive.net


Lakeland, Cardiff Garden Centre, St Mellons (JOINT WINNING MULTIPLE)


This store opened in the summer of 2024 and is accessed by walking through the garden centre. I was looking to buy a bread maker. I was


approached by Alan, who asked if I needed any help. Looking at the products, Alan recommended the


Lakeland Bread Maker Plus, which was priced at £129.99. Alan said that he likes this model and said that it


offers three loaf size options – 500g, 750g, 1kg – and 15 easy-to-use programmes. Other features include a delayed start function, a built-in memory function and non-stock coating for easy cleaning. He explained that the 15 pre-installed settings for


everything from French loaves, gluten-free bread and wholemeal, to desserts, doughs, jams and cakes. The second model Alan presented was the Lakeland


Touchscreen Bread Maker, priced at £149.99. He mentioned the large LED display, the 12 programmes to choose from and the three loaf options – 454g, 567g and 680g. He added that both bread makers are covered by Lakeland’s three-year guarantee.


John Lewis + Partners, The Hayes


This store – the retailer’s largest store outside of London – opened in Cardiff’s St David’s 2 shopping centre on September 24, 2009, serving as a major anchor for the redevelopment. I was looking to buy a coffee machine. I was immediately drawn to two Nespresso displays, the first of which was split between Original and Vertuo machines, with seven Original products and four Vertuo products. The displays looked stunning and showed the Nespresso products well. I liked the Sage Creatista Plus coffee machine, which was priced at £399.99. The price ticket indicated that it could make eight drinks and offers customisable temperature and texture options. To extend the two-year guarantee on the coffee machine, a Protect+ policy would offer a further two years cover for £35. The second display featured 11 Vertuo coffee machines, including five different colours of the Krups Vertuo Pop coffee machine, which were priced at £55. The Vertuo Pop price ticket indicated that the machine produces espresso, double espresso, gran lungo and mug coffees. With no sign of any staff on the shop floor, I left


the store.


Next Home, Capital Shopping Park, Leckwith Road


This store, on a busy retail park, is sandwiched between two national retailers, Smyths Toys Superstores and B&M Home Store. Our new kitchen has a stunning island and I was looking for some bar stools to go around it. Inside the store, I took the escalator to the first floor.


There were six bar stools on display, all of


which featured price tickets. The stools ranged in price from £130 for the Aiden gas lift bar stool, to £185 each for the Abel and Wolton Buttoned bar stools. There were no staff in the home department.


I noticed that every product had information attached that explained that they were all self-assembly and each came with a 15-year guarantee. I was keen on gas lift models. In addition to


the Aiden stool, the Hamilton bar stool was also a gas lift model, priced at £165.The Hamilton model was available in six different colours for the black metal base, and two colours that could be matched with a chrome base.


Sales skills: 5/5


Store presentation: 5/5


Total score: 10/10


Summary: Alan was able to present both products well and the mention of the three- year guarantee was an attempt to close the sale. He talked in-depth about the two products and was keen to help me. The store was well presented.


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation: 5/5


Total score: 5/10


Summary: I was unable to assess the sales skills here. The two Nespresso displays looked great and well merchandised.


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation: 5/5


Total score: 5/10


Summary: I was unable to assess the sales skills of staff at this store. Having a bright showroom, with products well displayed is great, but staff on shopfloor would be equally welcomed.


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