The Lord Mayor of Liverpool officially launched the re-vamped premises of the value home and garden retailer Wilkinsons.
Wilkinsons, still a family owned firm after it was established back in 1930, now boasts 349 stores across the UK.
The Liverpool store, situated in St Johns Shopping Centre, has been given a fresh new look and was completed as part of a national initiative by Wilkinsons to invest in local towns.
Customers will now find it easier to navigate through the store, with clearer pricing and displays, as well as a much brighter shopping environment with extended product ranges.
And Councillor Hazel Williams was there to cut the ribbon on Thursday 7th April, as part of a Grand National themed day.
She said: “It is wonderful to see such a big household name investing in St Johns Shopping Centre.
“I think the makeover has been a triumph and I am sure local residents will love the new look.”
Mayor Williams was joined by Everton FC mascot Changy the Elephant, The Bluecoats’ chief executive Alastair Upton, Wilkinsons’ head of logistics Simon Lowe and store manager Mark Allen.
Following the ceremony, Store Manager Mark presented Alastair from The Bluecoat with a cheque donation for £500 to enable the charity to continue to provide opportunities for local families and young people to engage with free, creative activities at the centre and through its neighbourhood participation projects.
Artists from The Bluecoat were also in attendance, hosting an arts & crafts table where children designed imaginative and colourful jockey silks ahead of the Grand National.
Alastair Upton, from The Bluecoat, said: “It has been an honour to be involved in today’s re-opening celebrations.
“We are extremely grateful for Wilkinsons’ generous donation, as The Bluecoat has been hit hard by the recent spending cuts.
“So this money will enable us to continue to offer free, creative activities to families and community groups across the city.”
Mark also presented the Lord Mayor with a donation to her chosen charities Help for Heroes, Mencap and the Alder Hey Hospital ‘Imagine’ Appeal, while Changy the Elephant received a donation to go towards work carried out by the ‘Everton in the Community’ scheme.
Changy the Elephant remained in the store throughout the morning, posing for photographs with shoppers, while a balloon modeller created racehorse figures for children to take home.
Store manager Mark Allen said: “Re-opening day has been a great success, and it has been fantastic to see so many people flooding through the doors.
“The artists from The Bluecoat have done a wonderful job of helping the children to create their own jockey silks, and I’m certain I’ve seen a few winning designs today!”
A special competition was also set up called ‘What’s his Neigh-me?’, where customers were invited to guess the name of a horse from a board full of possible names.
This was in aid of Anthony Nolan, Wilkinsons’ charity of the year, which helps match leukaemia patients with donors within the region.
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