The Bradley Stoke Journal

The new Bradley Stoke Argos store, due to open at 9am on Saturday (26th November), is offering a free £10 voucher to the first one hundred customers on its first day of trading.

Fitting out of the store, located at the Willow Brook Centre between Brantano and Peacocks, is now nearing completion and Argos lorries were observed at the back of the premises last week, delivering stock.

The 8,000 sq ft unit has been fitted with a mezzanine floor, which will be used as a stock room – along with the rear section of the ground floor.

The sales area includes a jewellery counter on the left hand side, with the collection counter situated towards the rear.

Around 40 new jobs have been created at the new store, according to an earlier press release put out by the Willow Brook Centre.

Related links:

• Latest Price Cuts at Argos
• Shops at the Willow Brook Centre (The Journal)

The Christmas lights at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre will be switched on this Thursday afternoon (17th November 2011) when Ben & Holly from Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom make a special guest appearance.

In contrast to previous years when the event has been fronted by Heart FM (we reported in 2009 & 2010), this year will see live music and entertainment provided by our own Bradley Stoke Radio (BSR).

Visitors will have a chance to win £250 to spend at a store of their choice at the Willow Brook Centre by entering a competition during the event.

We’ve heard that BSR are planning kids’ magic, balloon modelling, music quizzes, choir singing, dance groups and, of course, seasonal music and jingles.

The action gets underway at 2:30pm and runs until 5:30pm.

Could the event rival last week’s Olly Murs lights switch-on at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway (the Patchway Journal reported)? MC Andy of Bradley Stoke Radio will no doubt give it his best shot – streamers and artificial snow machines at the ready!

More: Bradley Stoke Radio at the Willow Brook Centre »

Catalogue retailer Argos has begun recruiting staff for its new Bradley Stoke store, due to open at the Willow Brook Centre in late November.

The new store will occupy unit 3 of the retail terrace, between Brantano and Peacocks, which is currently having an additional ‘mezzanine’ floor installed to function as a stock room.

An advertisement on the Argos Careers website says the retail group is looking for Delivery Assistants, Stock Room Assistants and Customer Advisors to join the team at its new store.

Customer Advisors are expected to have “fantastic communication skills” and a “great telephone manner”. Previous experience in the retail industry is said to be desirable but not essential.

Stock Assistants will be responsible for dealing with deliveries and “putting stock away on a timely basis and in priority order”. Applicants will need to be “aware of the importance of health and safety”.

It is understood that around 40 new jobs will be created at the new store.

The closing date for applications is Friday 14th October 2011.

Read more: Job vacancies at Argos Bradley Stoke (Argos Careers)

Related link: Jobs in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has announced that Argos has completed contracts on an 8,000 sq. ft. unit that is set to open in late November, in time for Christmas.

The new store will occupy unit 3 of the retail terrace, between Brantano and Peacocks.

Scott Lahive, Manager of the Willow Brook Centre said:

“We will be delighted to see Argos open here in Bradley Stoke.”

“It’s also good news for all our tenants to see the Centre fully let in retail terms.”

A press release put out today by the Centre describes Argos as: “a well-established, unique retailer recognised for choice, value and convenience. It sells general merchandise and products for the home and, on average, 18 million UK households, or around two thirds of the population, have an Argos catalogue at home at any time.”

Following the re-opening of the Santander agency branch last week, this latest news means that the Centre will have 100% retail occupancy by the end of 2011, just over three years after its official opening in October 2008.

More: Unit 3 has planning permission for a mezzanine floor »

The Santander agency branch at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has re-opened under new management less than six weeks after it closed due to “difficulties” between the unit’s previous operator and the centre’s management.

Business at the branch came to a sudden end on Thursday 11th August 2011 after staff had been informed of the impending closure just a few days earlier. The agency had been run by IPM Agencies (Santander) Ltd, a company registered at the same address as 1st Equity, who were behind the failed Nationwide agency that traded from the unit between October 2008 to February 2010.

A spokesperson for Santander told The Journal:

“It was with regret that we had to announce the short notice closure of the Agency on 12th August 2011 after the Agent became unable to trade from the premises. Since then we have worked to restore a banking and savings service for customers, and have appointed Hart Agency Services as an Agent of Santander.”

Read on to find out more about the company behind the new agency »

Work is due to start today (5th September) on the implementation of a series of traffic calming measures at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre.

The Centre says the measures are designed to help drivers obey the speed limits that are currently in place throughout the car park and on the approach road, ensuring pedestrian safety is paramount.

The measures are said to include improved signage, speed tables and speed cushions.

Andy Oram, Operations Manager at the Willow Brook Centre said:

“As part of our ongoing commitment to the improvement of the Centre we will be beginning some traffic calming work week commencing Monday 5th September, 2011.  This work is being carried out to reduce the speed of vehicles entering and leaving the site, therefore improving the safety of customers who visit the Centre. The work will involve installing speed cushions on the approach road to the Centre, the road running along the top of the car park plus the front of the Mall and Non Food Terrace.”

“This will be carried out in phases as part of our commitment to reducing the inconvenience to customers and maintaining normal trading and car parking availability.”

The Centre’s car park was recently given the ‘Park Mark’ Safer Parking Award in recognition of measures put in place to provide a safe environment designed to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.