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B&M, Wilko and Home Bargains have shared updates with customers following a change to all stores currently open across Wales.

The variety shops have remained open throughout lockdown as essential retailers, but many of their aisles have been cordoned off due to the Welsh Government’s ban on selling non-essential items, which came into force in December last year.

But today [Monday, March 22] seen the ban in supermarkets and other shops open throughout the lockdown lifted. It is the first move towards the re-opening of non-essential retail in Wales, as garden centres have also been allowed to re-open today. You can read more on this here.

If the public health situation remains positive, all shops will then be able to open from April 12.

You can follow our live updates as queues form outside stores, and see how big chains like Asda, Tesco and Aldi have responded to the changes

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B&M

Photos from inside the B&M branch in Cardiff Bay today showed non-essential items back on sale.

Plants and homeware lined the shelves as the retailer reopened aisles that had previously been closed to the public.

Pictures inside B&M, Cardiff Bay on March 22, 2021 as the ban on non-essentials is lifted in Wales following the easing of coronavirus restrictions
(Image: UGC)

Homeware on sale in B&M
(Image: UGC)

Wilko

The budget retailer said it welcomed the lifting of restrictions and stressed safety would continue to be its top priority.

A spokesperson told WalesOnline: “We’re a family-owned business who, through the good times and the bad, has been helping our customers to get their jobs done in their homes and gardens for 90 years.

“So, as a retailer of essential household items our shops have remained open to serve our customers in Wales. We welcome the re-opening of other stores and lifting of restrictions and hope that this is the start of us getting back to a more normal way of life.

“Safety will continue to be our top priority and we’d like to encourage others to keep their customers safe too. We’d like to thank our customers and team members for their continued loyalty and support in these difficult times.”

Home Bargains

A spokesperson for Home Bargains commented: “We continue to align ourselves with the latest Government guidance regarding Covid-19, including the phased easing of restrictions regarding non-essential items.

“Our stores and staff members are working tirelessly to serve their local communities in the current lockdown and we are taking every reasonable precaution to ensure that we have done our part to help prevent the spread of this virus because the safety of both our staff and customers remains our number one priority.”

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The Range

Popular budget store The Range is said to be fully stocked for the change in rules.

As part of the re-opening on non-essential products, the retailer now has a wide range of patio furniture available in all of its 12 Welsh stores.

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