More than 100 people queued outside a new home and garden shop ahead of it opening for the first time on Good Friday morning (Friday, March 29) - so we went along to see what all the fuss was about! The Range, which has 200+ shops across the UK and Ireland, took on the huge former Wilko unit at Fairfield Way in Neath town centre late last year and the new store is now open to the public.
The Range stores typically stock a wide variety of homeware items including decorations, lighting and mirrors; garden furniture and "outdoor living" items like hot tubs, barbecues and firepits; storage boxes and baskets; picnic crockery; pet accessories; cleaning products, and snacks and sweet treats - and I was impressed with the items stocked in the Neath store. Plus, many items were on-offer and, for those waiting on pay day, The Range accepts Klarna and Clearpay, services which allow customers to pay for items in interest-free instalments.
Outlining what shoppers can expect from the new Neath shop, a spokesperson for The Range told WalesOnline: "The new Neath store houses everything you'd expect and want from The Range, offering products that make the house feel like a home, from soft furnishings, dinnerware sets and decorative items to patio accessories which make the perfect outdoor haven – there's something for everyone regardless of style and budget!" Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here
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"As well as in-store browsing at this refreshed site, local customers can make use of the free Click & Collect service by shopping online from the comfort of their own home before conveniently picking up their new purchases in-store at a time that suits them," the spokesperson added. "Alternatively, indulge in the convenience of doorstep delivery with home delivery options available at therange.co.uk with over 140,000 products across 18 different departments to choose from."
CEO of CDS Superstores, the parent firm of The Range and Wilko, Alex Simpkin said: "We're overjoyed by the tremendous success of our new store opening on Neath's high street today. The outpouring of support from the community has been truly heart-warming, and we are thrilled to have become an integral part of Neath’s shopping scene. This success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and we are excited to provide quality products to our valued customers."
Scroll down for some of the best deals and most exciting products I spotted during my visit:
Home items
The Range in Neath has a huge variety of bedding, curtains, lighting, mirrors and home decorations. I absolutely loved this set of three LED moving candles - I thought they were real at first! The battery-powered candles would certainly help make your living room look and feel cosy and romantic, especially on a cold evening. And because there's no real flame, they're safer than real candles so would especially suit people who have children or pets.
You could put all three candles together or place them in different places in your home as whilst they come as a set, they're not connected together. Currently, they're £14.99 from The Range. Can't get to The Range Neath? You can buy them online here.
On the topic of candles, these huge True Aroma candles really stood-out to me as I was perusing the aisles. Available in a wide range of scents including Gin Fizz, Sicilian Lemon and Vanilla & Lavender, lighting these at home would make your whole house smell gorgeous!
Many people consider True Aroma candles as more affordable dupes of Yankee Candle - and at just £3.99 a piece, they're more than £10 cheaper than Yankee Candles sold in department stores and supermarkets. Bargain!
A nice mirror can really make-or-break a room in your home. Fortunately, The Range stocks mirrors of all shapes, sizes and designs so you're bound to find one (or more) that suit your home and your style.
Personally, I loved this All Glass Glam LED Dressing Table Mirror. With its pretty lights and curved shape, it gives Hollywood glam vibes and being battery-operated, you wouldn't have to worry about having it near a plug socket. It could be placed wherever you want in your bedroom and, I think, would really elevate a dressing table or chest of drawers.
It's currently £36.99 and if you don't have a Range store near you, you can buy it online here.
The Range is my go-to shop for buying photo frames and pictures and prints for my home. As I was walking down the artwork aisle at The Range Neath, I caught sight of this canvas of three donkeys and it made me smile and laugh so much. They're just so cute!
The huge Spring Donkeys Canvas, designed by artist Louise Brown, features three gorgeous happy brown donkeys, one of which is chomping on a carrot, on a muted mustard yellow background.
The print would liven up a simple living room and add colour and personality to a hallway. And it's just £22.99. Available online here.
Less quirky but just as striking, this gorgeous Summer Flower Meadow Art canvas really stood out. I loved the pretty floral design, the use of texture and the elegant colour palette.
It's quite large, so would perhaps best suit a living room or large bedroom, rather than a smaller space. But wherever you hang it, I think you'd get loads of compliments from guests. It's available online here, for £27.99.
Still on the artwork/wall decorations theme, this Macneil Barcelona Cafe Scene canvas is stunning. I can't believe it's only £24.99, it's so intricate and beautiful. If you've ever been to Barcelona, it would make a lovely addition to your home to remind you of your trip! Available online here.
Move along Live Laugh Love, there's a new cliché catchphrase in town: Life Long Love. It took me a second but I think it means love that lasts a life-time, as in your love is life-long!
This quirky Life Long Love sign is just £2.25, and it would certainly be an amusing gift for a 'Live Love Laugh' fan, or a funny conversation starter! Available online here.
Another funky sign decoration, this Platform 9 3/4 Hogwarts Express metal plaque would make a great gift for Harry Potter fans young and old. Available online here, £9.99.
Another homeware item that stuck-out to me as I was browsing the store was this adorable doorstop. There's currently £1 off the Spike the Hedgehog Doorstop, meaning it's now £5.99. A great buy for animal fans or those just looking for a cute or quirky doorstop. Available online here.
Also, I really liked this Home Sweet Home wall plaque. The simple wall plaque has eight hooks, so every member of the family has a space to hang their keys up. No more searching every handbag, shelf or table for your keys: you'd know exactly where they are. Available online here, £6.99.
Finally, I recently got a new phone and it uses a different charger to my old one. Typical. The Range sells charging cables and, as I like to keep one in my handbag/car, I was pleased to be able to buy a one-metre USB-C charging cable for just £2.99 (or, currently on offer: two for £5). Available online here.
Outdoor living - camping and garden wares
We may have had a bit of snow this week (you can recap the unexpected weather here), but summer is just a few months away - so it's a great time to start getting prepared for camping trips, holidays and any garden parties or barbecues you plan on having.
I loved this Set of Two Drinks Dispensers with Stand, £19.99. The product comes with two good-size 3.9 litre glass jars, with lids and taps, a stand for your dispensers to keep them off the table and make them easier to manage, and chalk so you can note which cocktail, mocktail or other drink is in each jar - or write a fun message!
They'd make a great addition to any barbecue or party as you could fill them up with sangria or orange juice, for example, and guests could help themselves throughout your party. Brilliant. Available online here.
The Range had lots of picnicware and camping crockery available, in lots of different designs. I'm going camping soon and needed some plastic crockery so I purchased a few bits on this aisle.
Among my purchases, I bought this vibrant Honolulu 9" Side Plate for just £1.29 (currently in-store only) - I only needed one but can see myself returning to The Range and buying more items in the Honolulu design because they're really funky and would brighten up a picnic or summer lunch. I also bought a set of Plastic Cutlery for just £1.29, online here, and an Enamel Plate for £2.39, stocked online here.
I also invested in a Nitro 40oz Jumbo SS travel mug. There were loads of colour options for this durable travel mug, which is suitable for hot and cold drinks, and I went for a pastel pink one. The Nitro travel mugs/tumblers are being marketed as dupes for Stanley Cups which have been going viral on TikTok for weeks now.
Whilst they obviously don't have the trendy STANLEY logo (if you're after one of those, maybe look at some options on eBay), they're almost £40 cheaper than the branded Stanley Cups. Yes, really. Actual Stanley travel mugs are being sold on the Stanley website and in a leading UK department store for £44.99, whilst these Nitro jumbo travel mug dupes are just £5.99 (currently £2 off, full price £7.99). The one I bought is online here. (Please note, at the moment the Range website does not appear to let customers select which colour they'd like.)
I'm excited to use my travel mug- it will be great when I go camping as it will keep food/drink warm and, although it's large, its very light-weight. Plus, as the bottom of the travel mug is smaller than the top of the mug, it will fit in my cup holder in my car so I can fill it with water and take it on long car journeys easily. Result.
Also in the outdoor living section of the shop, you'll find barbecues and fire pits. A friend of mine owns the El Dorado Camping Fire Pit, currently stocked online and in the Neath store, and it's made many an appearance on weekend holidays as it's absolutely brilliant.
Despite being really durable and sturdy, it's actually quite light-weight. Plus, its legs fold down and its lid fits in the fire pit bowl, so it easily fits into its carry bag and can easily be carried from the car to a beach or designated firepit/barbecue area at a campsite, for example. It's £49.99 and I personally think it's well worth it. Available to buy online here.
Also perfect for camping trips, this Portable Gas Cooker, also known as a Portable Gas Stove, from Summit brand is currently £5 off, at just £14.99. The stove is lightweight and compact and comes with a carry case, so it would be easy to take on a beach or camping trip. Available online here. And this huge 24-litre Blue Cooler Box would fit loads of beers, wines or bottles of water. Available online here, £17.99.
Garden furniture
A quality set of garden furniture can set you back several thousand pounds, so I'll use the word "bargain" here loosely! Nevertheless, The Range is well-known nationally for its garden furniture so if you're looking to splash out on some lovely chairs or a table or bar for your garden, for example, it's worth checking out the items available at The Range - and some have money-off at the moment.
Staff say this bougie New Hampshire Fire Pit Set is a best-seller. At £1,199.99, it's not quite a steal - but it's £300-off its full price (£1,499.99) and includes a huge, comfortable corner sofa, a stylish table with integrated fire pit, and additional seating. So if you're looking to invest in a beautiful, statement piece for your garden: this might be it! You can order it online here.
I also loved the look of the New Hampshire five-piece Bar Set. Who wouldn't love to have a bar area in their garden? This set comes with a good-size bar table with shelves underneath, four stylish rattan chairs, and soft chair coverings. The Range has £150 off this set at the moment so it's available for £599.99. Available online here.
There's also this stunning Cambridge five-piece reclining dining set which looks so classy and inviting. I loved the round table and can imagine it would be so relaxing on a summer's day to recline on a chair in the sunshine. More information about this set online here.
In terms of items that are in my budget (sadly, not the garden furniture!), I loved this Honolulu Outdoor Cushion. It would brighten up even the plainest of garden furniture and would match the Honolulu side plate I bought.
Further, there was a full range of Honolulu print picnic ware so you could deck-out a whole picnic or party with the print. The cushions are being sold as outdoor cushions but could also be used inside. They're online here, £8.99 each.
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