Shopfloor TAKE A TOWN


Currys, Weston Lock Retail Park,


Lower Bristol Road 40


This store is located on one of Bath’s city centre retail parks, where its neighbours include M&S Food Hall, McDonalds and Storage Kings. Inside the store, I was looking to buy a new washing machine. As I made my way to the home laundry department, I was greeted by Andrew. I began to browse the products on display, and counted 43 washing machines, where pricing started at £209 for a Logik model (L712WM23). On closer inspection of the price ticket, the Logik model had a 7kg capacity, a 1,200rpm spin speed and was capable of a quick wash (full load) in just 30 minutes.


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ProCook, Quiet Street


This store opened on Saturday, October 26, 2019, filled the gap left by Kitchens Cookshop, which closed 13 days earlier after 40 years of trading in the city. As part of a new health and fitness regime, I was on the lookout for suitable cooking products. I headed to the first floor and immediately saw two products that seemed ideal. The first product was the Black Air Fryer Health Grill, priced at £179. I started to read the products features and benefits on the box, which indicated that the product has 12 functions, as well four grill temperature settings. Adjacent to the product was a recipe – for Air Fryer Salmon – from ProCook’s in-house food expert, Steve Carter-Bailey. The second product that caught my eye was the Electric Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer, which was priced at £149. The box indicated that the product has eight cooking settings including air fry, slow cook and pressure cooking, as well as a removeable 4.5-litre inner pot.


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation: 5/5


Total score: 5/10


I was unable to assess the sales skills here, as no staff were in my vicinity. The store was well presented.


Sales skills: 1/5


Store presentation: 4/5


Total score: 5/10


Andrew greeted me, then ignored me; the store was well presented, although some price tickets were missing from products.


I needed a bigger capacity, and, after a few minutes of browsing, I settled on the product that I thought best suited my needs. The 12kg Hisense washer- dryer (WD5S1245BW) was priced at £549 and the price ticket explained that the machine, with 1,400rpm spin speed, offers 12kg washing capacity and an 8kg dry capacity.


M&K Hardware & Electrical,


Bath Guildhall Market


This is a family-run business, located in the historic Bath Guildhall Market, the city’s oldest shopping venue, just 80 yards from Bath Abbey and opposite the famous Pulteney Bridge. My daughter has just bought her first house, so I was looking to buy a small housewarming present. The SDAs were located on the outer wall of the store and there was plenty to choose from. A man was sat inside the store, while I browsed. Electricals on display included air fryers, slow cookers, food steamers and a rice cooker. I liked the look of a 4-in-1 multi hand blender from Hamilton Beach, which was


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation:


5/5


Total score: 5/10


I was unable to assess the sales skills here; the range of products was very good, and I thought well merchandised in a tight space.


priced at £49.99. The box indicated that the box included a blender, whisk, 500ml chopper bowl and 700ml measuring beaker; meanwhile foods that the blender could be used to produce were highlighted on the box and included smoothies, soups, omelettes and salsa. Unfortunately, with no approach from the member of staff, I left the store.


Lakeland, New Bond Street


This store is in Bath city centre and sandwiched between a clothes shop, Brora, and Studio 22, a space that can be hired by small local traders, designers, makers, artists and charities. With a hot summer – hopefully – on the horizon, I was keen to find suitable products for outdoor cooking. Inside the store, outdoor cooking products were literally the first things I spotted. There were three products on display – the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor BBQ & Smoker and the Ooni Karu 2 multi- fuel pizza oven were priced at £349.99, £249.99 and £349.99 respectively. With no staff in the area, I started to browse


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation:


5/5


Total score: 5/10 Ignoring


the products. According to its price ticket, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven has eight cooking functions, and uses wood pellets for an authentic wood-fired taste. Similarly, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor BBQ & Smoker uses the wood pellets too, but the model only has seven cooking programmes. After more than five minutes of browsing, I left the store.


customers is a significant issue and stores should do more to train staff in the art of approaching customers; the store was well merchandised, and the outdoor cooking area looked impressive.


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