Disney Store comes to Swansea and Lakeland heads for Llanelli
TWO retailing giants are gearing up to open outlets in Swansea and Llanelli.
Disney is to launch a store in Swansea's Quadrant Centre next week.
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Love the brand: Disney
Kitchen store Lakeland is also planning to open at Llanelli's Parc Trostre in the autumn.
Both outlets are likely to provide a jobs boost to their respective localities with Disney having already hired 20 'cast members'.
An opening date is yet to be confirmed for the Swansea store, which will be one of 60 around the country.
It is likely the shop will run for a trial period of up to 12 months and, depending on its success, make the move into larger premises in the city centre.
A spokeswoman for Disney said: "Currently the length of the trial period is unknown. We will continue to trial the new store until such a time that we have confidence to firm up our plans. The store will employ 20 cast members.
"We know that the people of Swansea love the Disney brand, through watching our movies and experiencing all things Disney, and therefore this gave us confidence to trial this new store in Swansea.
"In a Disney Store cast member, we look for someone with a passion for all things Disney and a belief in a great guest experience."
Swansea Quadrant Centre manager Alan Wallace said the Disney store would be a different and novel addition to the centre.
He said: "They were in the centre a few years ago. They built a stand in the centre square before the cafe went in. They did extremely well there. It's something special and we are overjoyed they are here."
Lakeland director Julian Rayner said the firm's intention was to open in the autumn at Parc Trostre, although a lease for the unit is yet to be secured.
Lakeland, which describes itself as a highly successful and growing family- owned business, has 48 stores around the country.
Mr Rayner said: "Parc Trostre was an attractive park. It was a regional centre."
The Lakeland director said the firm had not ruled out a store in Swansea.
He said: "We have got Swansea on our list. It is somewhere we would consider in the future."
Andrew Stephens, president of the Llanelli chamber of trade and commerce, welcomed the news, but urged people to take a look at the town centre also.
He said: "We need to encourage the people who go to Trostre to see what Llanelli has got to offer."
rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk
26 Comments
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by Edna, Swansea
Tuesday, August 03 2010, 11:39AM
“Who are you trying to kid!
You usually leave a space after a comma if we are going to get pernickity about matters John.
Obviously nothing better to do on a Monday though.”
by john, swansea
Monday, August 02 2010, 8:03PM
“Yes Edna, THIS is the place to use correct english,how else will they learn? I think my use of the comma is correct according to my old english professor.Sorry I didn't comment before but I have more important matters to attend to on a Sunday.”
by Jack Bauer, Neath
Monday, August 02 2010, 4:01PM
“Well said Edna - if we refused to shop at any retailer who had questionable practices, we wouldn't shop anywhere!
The sweatshop story seems to have been conveniently wheeled out here to knock the Disney brand. When my daughter asks to shop there, we'll be going in - I won't be standing outside giving her a lecture on exploitation.
So let the children enjoy the magic of the store, and if you don't like it then don't shop there - simple!”
by Edna, Swansea
Sunday, August 01 2010, 3:24PM
“Oh John, I am wounded, I really am. I mean this is THE place for perfect tenses, ideal grammar, use of past participles and so forth. Maybe you could go and brush up on the use of commas.
Suz, I am fully aware of the poverty in the world. Poor children in India, Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, U.S and China etc. I suppose you have never worn an item of clothing on your back created in Asian sweatshops? You'd be surprised which businesses use such labour. If we all got moral about traders in the Quadrant then it would be empty. We can't have it all ways. Sad fact of life but a true one.”
by suz, Gorseinon
Saturday, July 31 2010, 4:28PM
“"Oh theres some sanctimonious know all miseries about isn't there!!!"
Well edna I suppose you can count me as one of those.You see sometimes in life you acquire knowledge that you cannot ignore. Keeping children safe and ensuring they get a childhood should be a basic right.Unfortunately that is not the case for millions of children.
Certainly it is not the case for those "bonded"children who are forced to work long hours for a few cents a day.Walt Disney Company is one of the biggest companies that have contractors in developing countries making their toys and clothes. In Haiti, girls stitch Aladdin T-shirts for twenty-eight cents an hour, in Burma-six cents an hour. Michael Eisner,the CEO of the Disney company made about $102,000 per hour.”
by Pluto, Swansea
Friday, July 30 2010, 9:58PM
“Heather, Mumbles
Oh no you don't Heather! You are just a 'Cartoon Cowgirl', lost beyond the Planet I was named after!”
by john, swansea
Friday, July 30 2010, 7:47PM
“Disney did not get it right according to the report on child poverty Swansea is just about top of the league.Look out Heather, Edna is snapping at your heels withher put downs pity her use of English particularly tenses is so poor.”
by Edna, Swansea
Friday, July 30 2010, 4:22PM
“Oh theres some sanctimonious know all miseries about isn't there!!! Disney was always magical for me as a child and is still magical for many millions of children around the globe. Childhood is getting shorter as it - let them enjoy it with Winnie and Eeyore and Tinkerbell for as long as they can and keep the snidey clever dick political yapping about these commercial giants for another age. Welcome Disney! There's always someone to pick holes in every opportunity. Going back to Gowerview's comments what is to happen with the much talked of Oxford St development? Far more welcome than this over blown Boulevard nonsense.”
by M Evans, Swansea
Friday, July 30 2010, 7:46AM
“Agree totally with Mickey Mouse, Swansea, Disney has done it's research well and knows that Swansea is just the place to sell their overpriced tatt.
Lakeland has gone for the more discerning customer.”
by M Evans, Swansea
Friday, July 30 2010, 7:45AM
“Agree totally with Mickey Mouse, Swansea, Disney has done it's research well and knows that Swansea is just the place to sell their overpriced tatt.
Lakeland has gone for the more discerning customer.”