The discount retailer was founded in 1930 but has faced a raft of problems in recent years.
Selling pick 'n' mix, stationery and even garden tools: Wilko has styled itself as a budget UK homeware chain for more than 90 years.But the High Street stalwart has warned that it is on the brink of collapse, putting some 12,000 jobs at risk.
The cut-price shop was founded in 1930 when JK Wilkinson opened his first store in Leicester. Then, it was called Wilkinson Cash stores and by 1939 a total of nine stores were opened. In 2012, Wilkinson began rebranding its stores as Wilko, after its own-brand products marketed under the Wilko name. By 2014, most stores had emblazoned the new name on storefronts.Although the brand is beloved by Brits, Richard Lim, boss of the Retail Economics consultancy, said: "Sadly, sentiment doesn't ensure commercial success.
Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth said the current cost of living crisis should have been the time for Wilko to shine. Soaring prices have meant that many shoppers are looking for a bargain, but she says its customers have been going to rivals instead. A shopper from Kingston upon Thames told the BBC that she would be "very upset" if the town lost its Wilko store."It's a bit like the old Woolworths and it would be a huge loss - not everyone likes online shopping," she said.
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