Variety Stores in Ireland

PROSPECTS

Further store openings expected by value based variety stores

Variety stores offer value that consumers cannot resist, with bargain shopping behaviour expected to contribute to value sales growth over the forecast period. The majority of variety stores operate on this low price/high volume business model, with this set to continue over the coming years.

Brexit poses significant challenge to growth for variety stores

Brexit is expected to be a significant challenge to the channel over the coming years. With the deadline for Brexit on 29 March 2019 coming, there is still a lot of uncertainty as to whether it will be a hard or soft exit.

Increasing competition from internet retailers

The channel is expected to come under increased competition from internet retailers over the forecast period. Irish consumers are forecasted to shop more frequently online over the coming years, with sites such as Amazon, Ali Express and Wish likely to grow in popularity.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Argos leads sales, in spite of strong competition from internet retailers

Argos remained the leading retailer within the variety stores channel in 2018. However, the company is losing value sales, largely due to increasing competition from other players within other channels, especially internet retailers.

Dealz continues to expand and opens apparel concessions in several stores

Poundland, which operates as Dealz in Ireland, opened several new stores in 2018, with the retailer continuing to strengthen its position in Ireland via its aggressive expansion strategy. Dealz entered apparel in 2018 with the introduction of its Pep & Co concession within 30 of its Irish stores.

Domestic player focusing on premium quality and Irishness

There are a small number of premium retailers operating within this channel. Carraig Donn and The Kilkenny Group are two of the main domestic players, operating as premium variety stores.

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