// Poundworld founders open new discount retailer One Below
// The first One Below store opened in Rothwell, West Yorkshire on March 1
// The company will offer a wide range of items across 10 departments
The founders of Poundworld have launched their brand new discount chain One Below, creating 120 jobs in several regions of the UK.
The first store opened in Rothwell, West Yorkshire on March 1 and saw celebrations take place as the first 100 customers were gifted £25 worth of items in goody bags.
READ MORE:
A spokesman for One Below told Retail Gazette that a second store opened on March 8 at the former Poundworld unit in Manchester’s Cheetham Hill retail park.
Meanwhile, two other One Below store have reportedly opened in Doncaster and on Kirkstall Road, Leeds.
As well as recruiting staff in full and part-time positions in management and sales, One Below has also booked a 160,000sq ft distribution centre in Barnsley, recruiting 50 head office and warehouse staff.
The retailer plans to open 50 stores nationally by the end of the year, creating 1000 jobs in a bid to end the high street gloom.
The new discount retailer will stock over 5000 products, retailing from 29p to £1.
Christopher Edwards and Christopher Edwards Sr, who founded Poundworld in 2004, opened One Below amid high demand for discount retailers.
The businessmen sold Poundworld to US private equity conglomerate TPG Capital in 2014.
However, it went into administration in June last year, leaving over 5000 former staff redundant.
The founders hope to hire some of the affected staff from Poundworld’s collapse.
“We still believe in the British high street and there is a place for convenient stores that work hard to bring stand-out savings to local shoppers, giving them a reason to take advantage of value that they won’t find online,” One Below managing director Christopher Edwards Sr said.
His son, also a managing director for One Below, said: “We’re delighted to be able to employ many of the former Poundworld staff, including our store manager, who were some of the 6000 employees to have lost their jobs,”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
20 Comments. Leave new
Any idea when you will open in Huddersfield? Both stores are still empty!
well done chris what we need you back on hight street
Any chance of opening one in St Neots Cambridgeshire? We gave nothing like this here.
What a joke. We lost our jobs at poundworld and now hes opened up a new store. Couldnt save the stores he sold.
He tried, unfortunately the new owners were asking to much money unfortunately. Send in your resume!
Any chance of a store in halifax loved my work family at poundworld need a new retail family
I wish one below all the best yes it’s a shame about poundworld but Chris tried his best to buy it back but the administrators were not interested
I would have bought Poundstretcher and sacked the hopeless family who own it.
I loved it at poundworld and Chris made sure all his staff were treated well like his family , and well done Darron Hitchcock.
Please open one in warrington cheshire
We only have 1 poundland in whole of warrington
When does the Worksop store open
Open one in east london
Well done .poundworld was far better than Poundland pity he sold to asset strippers keep it up more shops thd better Birmingham awaits your store
I worked for one blow for 5 month. Has to be the worst job I’ve ever had. Not one of the original staff stayed. Management was a joke and gave no support and were abusive even in front of customers. Is all about the money and the staff are treated very badly.
Great news! I’ve heard he’s got his old team back, Damon and Matt really know their stuff, hopefully we get more shops around Manchester.
Nice to see Onebelow opening in Southampton at the former Pound world site ,good luck with your new adventure Chris & Chris.
What about blackwood we need our pound shop back
Good Luck,hope we see you back in Swansea soon,original Poundlworld store still empty and a very busy site.
Cardiff opened last Friday, 12th April…not been in it yet…maybe after work today, but in the same place as poundworld…so watch out, might not be long before they open in the original site in Swansea 🙂
Nice see Poundworld back in its new clothes as One Below it was cruel shame that TPG CAPITAL who bought the Poundworld and BARGAIN BUYS just to drive into the ground