New Cotswold openning in Cornmarket Belfast in July

[ChuckMcB]

Just got a text from the Mrs. saying the above.

A poke about their site doesn't say anything but I did find this in the Vacancies section:

Belfast - NEW STORE
Roles: Store Manager, Assistant Manager, Supervisor, FT and PT Retail Sales Assistants, Retail Admin Support, Visual Merchandiser. Please send a CV & covering letter to [email protected]

Left menu -> Company Information -> Vacancies

can't give direct link....stupid site is all in flash....

It's good to get a bit more competition in the centre of Belfast....but IMHO Tiso already beats them for price every-time (for the low/medium end gear that I've been looking at).

Edit: just found a non-flash version of their site. Here's the link to the Vacancies

Edit #2: (Cornmarket not Corkmarket) Seems as if the shop's going to kinda opposite Starbucks, kinda beside the old John Frazers unit.

[Celt_Ginger]

Cotswolds are more likely to give you discount for being in a group like the Scouts, Mountaineering Ireland or the DoE. I get 20% of everything at Cotswolds. I've never has so much as a penny discount at TISO

[RedLeader]

Me too. Cotswolds give me 15% for being a CANI member.

[ChuckMcB]

Well that kinda confirms it (in my mind anyway...'cos it suits my argument): Cotswolds mark up items to then give discounts...

[Celt_Ginger]

Not usually marked up any more than TISO stuff is. Both tend to sell their gear at full RRP

[chris]

yeah I generally found cotswolds cheaper than tiso's. Recently I found that tiso's is going way down hill in terms of what they stock seems to be mainly rucksacks and north face now!

[NeilB]

It's not so much the price  that gets me it's the attitude of people in tiso's generally quite bad

[ChuckMcB]

@chris: Have to agree, since their refit a couple of months ago they seem to have less stuff.

@NeilB: I've got stories to tell about both companies. (present company excepted) Customer service in NI is a bit...erm..patchy at times...

(The first time I was in Cotswolds I really warmed to the place...took me a while to figure out why...then I realised they were playing Radio Paradise  my fav online radio station {next to Soma FM})

Anyhow, I've got affiliate accounts with both, must pull their datafeeds and do a price comparison

[MG1]

Blacks are opening a store in Belfast as well.

[ChuckMcB]

Should be some good bargains to be had at Blacks, I understand their parent company, Blacks Leisure Group, who also own Millets, is having £££ problems, so we may get a clearance store.

Last but not least we've got Decathlon opening down near Ikea direction

[twentyclicks]

If it clears anything up - I can give some info on Tiso as I work there at the weekends (although am not doing this as a spokesman for the company, just as an NI-Wilder sharing info).

The store do discount for DoE and have reintroduced discount for MCI and MCI affiliates (card must be present to get discount). 
Any other businesses, clubs, associations etc can enquire about being put on the list for the "club discount nights" that are run a few times a year.  From my time there, there tends to be rolling promotions across different lines of stock, with 15-25% off, every 6 weeks or so.

Regards stock - having been a browser for years I haven't really noticed any change in variety.  While it's true that they do stock a greater proportion of Berghaus, North Face and Icebreaker ranges (just as I think of Lowe & Paramo in Jackson's and Mountain Equipment in Cotswold), there are plenty of key items from other manufacturers, extensive footwear and accessories.  The shop just can't fit anymore in.

Regards customer service - I'm surprised, but I guess everywhere and everyone has bad times.  I find everyone really friendly & willing to give the right advice regardless of price or stock - it fits with my attitude and is why I enjoy working there.  Sure, say hello if you see me you'll always get a smile

[suspectmonkey]

Any other businesses, clubs, associations etc can enquire about being put on the list for the "club discount nights" that are run a few times a year.

Would NI-Wilders be eligible?

I have to say that I've given off in the past about receiving poor customer service from Tiso, which did put me off slightly.  But, my last few trips have been dead on and the staff I've spoken to have been really helpful so I can't complain going be recent experience.  Not to name names or anything () but I think its just the store manager that got my back up! 

[twentyclicks]

NI-Wild probably would be eligible - I think they try to get as many groups involved as possible.  Next time I hear of an upcoming club-night I'll let admin know so they can get in touch.