You'll get more than you bargained for when a new home store opens tomorrow (Thursday)

A Gravesend woman experienced in managing high quality department stores has pledged to ensure B&M will be a shop local people will love. During an exclusive sneak-peak at the store ahead of it's opening, the Messenger saw the last minute preparations.

Deputy manager Julia Ross, from the Valley Drive area, has joined after a career with House of Fraser. She said: “The standards there are incredibly high, and I’ll be bringing that expectation to this store.

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“It will be tidy and well presented. I couldn’t work here after coming from House of Fraser if I didn’t believe in the quality of what we sell.”

She and the manager of the new store, Carl Russell, are well aware of the feeling many in the town share – that there are enough discount shops.

Mr Russell, who has taken on the role after managing the Orpington branch, said: “I’ve been to speak to people, and I get it. Time and time again, I hear, ‘we don’t want another pound shop’.

“That’s not what we are. We discount on brand named goods, but we also have quality household furniture and furnishings for hundreds of pounds.”

The store, at almost 30,000sq ft, is the largest B&M in the South East and the biggest shop in Gravesend town centre. It employs around 80 people and is advertising for more Christmas temporary staff.

When next door neighbour BHS shut down early this summer, B&M offered help.

Mr Russell, said: “I called the store manager and said we would be looking for staff. I didn’t want to see people out of a job, so I interviewed all their employees and hired 21 people from the store before starting to recruit extra.”

The phrase “everything under one roof” is usually an exaggeration, but in this place, it’s pretty close.

The tinned and dried goods are vast, as are the electricals, with top-quality technology and gimmicks. There’s an extensive DIY section and a floor devoted to home furnishings and decorations.

There’s clothing, fancy dress, a huge toy selection and gift ideas, popular fragrances and seasonal goods, including school uniform in the summer.

But if you’re looking for something unusual or for a present idea, there’s also things that you would only normally find online.

From novelty lighting, halloween hats for cats, mankinis, mini jukeboxes and record players to a toilet fishing game to name just a few.

You couldn’t realistically do a whole fresh food shop for a family, but refrigerated products include milk, cheese and joints of meat.

Miss Ross said: “We do some fantastic things here, the furniture is brilliant quality, and I’m always very impressed by the blinds and curtains. They’re on trend, but offer something different to other home furnishing shops.

“There’s something for everyone. People come in here for a couple of items and leave with a trolley load, I know I still do it myself. But it saves them money on a usual weekly shop.”