Value home and garden retailer, Wilko, has announced the opening of two new stores in the South Yorkshire region.

Its new Cortonwood Shopping Park store, near Barnsley, will open on Wednesday 6 September at 9am. The retailer is set to give away £20 store gift cards to its first 100 customers on the day.

The opening will bring 60 jobs to the area, creating opportunities for both locals and existing team members from nearby stores.

To mark the special occasion a representative from Refuge will lead a ceremonial ribbon cutting along with Wilko retail director, Anthony Houghton, and Wilko Cortonwood branch manager, Rose Lowery Mcleen.

The launch day activity will include £20 gift cards given to the first 100 shoppers as well as free cupcakes for customers. As well as this, on Saturday 9 September stilt walkers will be handing out bags for life to shoppers at the site and there will be a kids craft station with a competition for the chance to win a £20 Wilko gift card.

Wilko Cortonwood manager, Rose Lowery-Mcleen, said: “The team is busy preparing the final touches to the store ahead of the official opening on 6 September.”

“We are very excited to welcome the customers to come and see our wide range of products at everyday stay low prices. We know shoppers will be impressed by the quality and value we have to offer this summer. It’s the perfect time to come and browse our collections.”

Second new store

Also, not far away, Wilko has signed a lease for a new store 8,100 square foot store at Wheatley Retail Park in Doncaster.

Having expanded in recent years, Wheatley Retail Park attracts more than four million shoppers a year. 

Wilko retail director, Anthony Houghton, said: “We are delighted to have signed the lease at Wheatley Retail Park and are looking forward to serving the local community from October and for many years to come.” 

The Wheatley Retail Park store will open with a new simplified team structure, building a sustainable business for the future. It will bring over 60 jobs to the area.

Wilko - which was founded in 1930 as Wilkinson Stores by J K Wilkinson, and is now headquartered in Worksop - launched numerous new stores across the UK in 2017.