Primark’s boss has confirmed the budget clothing retailer will not be moving online, despite a successful trial of its click-and-collect services in the lead-up to Christmas last year.
Primark owner, Associated British Foods’ CEO George Weston said this week that Primark “is and always has been a high street retailer” and an evolution into a home delivery eCommerce business was simply not going to happen.
He noted that it was a “nice hypothesis", but he did not believe the COVID-19 pandemic had entirely sent shoppers online, as the growth in Primark’s market share compared with before the pandemic suggested otherwise.
With its click-and-collect trial last year, customers in the North West of England, Yorkshire, and North Wales were able to shop online and collect their items at a nominated store, reported the Financial Times.
Currently, only 25 stores across England and Wales, out of the UK’s 400, are taking part in click-and-collect services, but just for kids' toys, clothing and nursery ranges.
That does mean you have to head on down to your local branch to get your womenswear, menswear and homeware.
Primark doesn’t charge a fee for shoppers to use the service but they do need to spend a minimum of £15 to qualify.
At the time of the launch, Primark CEO Paul Merchant said that the trial showcased the very best the retailer had to offer and that overall, Primark was a “big fan of the high street and we believe passionately that a thriving local shopping area benefits everyone in the community”.
He explained how Primark's approach to online shopping was “all about supporting and complementing our stores” and the trial offered customers who lived near smaller Primark outlets a chance to browse its entire range.
Since the success of the service, Primark has teased a click-and-collect extension. However, the hopes of more click-and-collect services have now been slightly dampened.
The full list of stores currently offering the click-and-collect service include:
- Birkenhead, Grange Road, CH41 6EA
- Blackburn, The Mall Blackburn, BB1 7JG
- Blackpool, Bank Hey Street, FY1 4RY
- Bolton, Crompton Place Shopping, BL1 1EA
- Broughton, Broughton Shopping Park, CH4 0DE
- Burnley, Charter Walk Shopping Centre, BB11 1BB
- Bury, The Rock Shopping Centre, BL9 0ND
- Carlisle, English Street, CA3 8NX
- Chester, Foregate Street, CH1 1HA
- Huddersfield, New Street, HD1 2TR
- Lancaster, Marketgate Shopping Centre, LA1 1JF
- Liverpool, Church Street, L1 3AY
- Llandudno, Parc Llandudno Retail Park, LL30 1PX
- Manchester, Market Street, M1 1WA
- Manchester, The Trafford Centre, M17 8AS
- Oldham, Market Place, OL1 3AB
- Preston, Fishergate Shopping Centre, PR1 8HJ
- Sheffield, Meadowhall, S9 1ER
- Sheffield, The Moor, S1 4PA
- Southport, Chapel Street, PR8 1AE
- Stockport, Chestergate, SK1 1NT
- Wallasey, Cherry Tree Shopping Centre, CH44 5TL
- Warrington, Golden Square, WA1 1QB
- Wigan, Standishgate, WN1 1UP
- Wrexham, Regent Street, LL11 1RY
