Charlies Stores

Charlies Stores, a British home, garden and outdoor living retailer

Charlies Stores is a UK retail chain with more than four decades of activity in the sector. Its offering spans home, garden, outdoor living, DIY, gardening, camping, equestrian and pet products, as well as clothing and footwear for women, men and children. The company combines online sales with a network of physical stores, which at the time of analysis numbered eight locations.

Gardening and garden care

The gardening catalogue includes bird and wildlife food and care, with feeders, bird baths, tables and nesting boxes and bird box cameras, as well as pond care products. Garden machinery includes pressure washers, blowers and vacs, chainsaws and their PPE and clothing, strimmers and brushcutters, hedge trimmers, lawnmowers, ride-on mowers and KombiSystems and MultiSystems. The growing section brings together greenhouses and growhouses, propagators, potatoes and seeds, seed trays and potting, planters, pots and hanging baskets, plant support, cloches and tunnels, and compost. It is completed with watering accessories —water butts, hosepipes and reels, sprayguns and sprinklers, hosepipe connectors and watering cans and roses— and hand tools such as rakes and brushes, forks and hoes, pruners, shears and loppers, garden waste, spades and shovels, hand tools and wheelbarrows.

Home, kitchen and textiles

In the home and kitchen section, pots, pans and roasting, cooking utensils, small electrical appliances such as kettles, baking, kitchen and food storage, kitchen textiles, homebrew and winemaking, preserving and homemade, fridge and freezer accessories and international cookware are sold. The heating and cooling section includes stoves and wood burners, electric heating, log baskets and stores, fireside accessories, electric fires, fans and air coolers, dehumidifying and humidifying, and hot water bottles. For dining, tableware, drinkware, cutlery, serving and food on the go are offered. The bedroom and bathroom, home utility, household storage, bins and recycling, cleaning, laundry and ironing area is complemented by home decor and accessories such as cushions and throws, storage baskets, photo frames and wall art, candles and fragrance, clocks and artificial plants. Homeware brands include Addis, Brabantia, Emma Bridgewater, Joseph Joseph, Le Creuset, Russell Hobbs, Salter, SMEG, Strata and Tower.

Clothing, footwear and workwear

The clothing offering is organised by gender and age —women, men, children and workwear— with coats and jackets, gilets, jumpers and cardigans, sweatshirts and fleeces, tops and T-shirts, shirts and blouses, dresses and skirts, trousers and shorts, waterproofs, activewear, changing robes, socks and accessories. The workwear line includes hi-vis clothing, overalls, waterproofs and safety clothing and accessories, with specific versions for women and children. Footwear covers wellington boots, boots, walking trainers and pumps, shoes and sandals, slippers and safety footwear, as well as shoe care and accessories. Footwear and clothing brands mentioned include Barbour, Brakeburn, Craghoppers, Dare 2b, Joules, Kaiwaka, Lazy Jacks, Pachamama, Regatta, Ridgeline, Stoney Creek, Weird Fish, Blundstone, CAT, Chatham, Cotswold, Crocs, Grubs, Heavenly Feet, Hunter, Le Chameau, Lunar, Muck Boots and Skechers.

Outdoor living, camping and pets

The outdoor living area covers garden furniture —sets, seating, tables, parasols and pergolas, arbours, gazebos, storage and covers, and outdoor cushions—, gas, charcoal, wood-pellet and hybrid BBQs, pizza ovens and accessories, outdoor dining and picnicware, garden heating such as chimeneas, fire bowls and baskets and patio heaters, and garden and outdoor decor including clocks, ornaments and wind spinners, artificial topiary, doormats, outdoor rugs and water features. Outdoor lighting covers lanterns, string lights, spot lights, decorative and string lights, solar and mains powered. In camping, tents of various sizes, event shelters, accessories, extensions and awnings, equipment such as torches and lanterns, water and waste, power supplies, caravan accessories, sleeping bags, air beds and mattresses, pumps, camp beds and mats, camping stoves, cookware, coolers and cool boxes, flasks and food storage, and folding furniture are sold. The pets and equestrian section includes horse care —clippers, headcollars, brushes, shampoos, treats, first aid, hoof care and fly control—, saddlery, rugs and bandages, stable and yard, feed, and rider clothing and footwear, as well as products for dogs, cats, birds, fish and small mammals. Brands mentioned in this area are Ariat, Carr & Day & Martin, Dunlop, Gallop, LeMieux, Lister, Liveryman, Moretta, NAF, Rosewood, Saxon, Shires, Weatherbeeta and Zoon.

Tools, DIY and toys

The tools and DIY section comprises hand tools —hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, spanners, saws, vices, levels, torches and work lights, trowels and floats, punches, riveters, staplers, brushes, chisels and files—, safety and workwear, car maintenance, cleaning, caravan and trailer accessories, tarpaulins and covers, power tools and accessories, tool boxes and cabinets, ladders and steps, general storage, ropes, bungees and straps, electricals such as extension leads and adapters, wiring accessories, batteries and chargers, and adhesives and sealants. Toys and gifts include indoor games and toys, board games, health and beauty gifts, puzzles, knitting, sewing and craft, soft toys, outdoor toys and games, garden toys, paddle boards and kayaks, ride-on vehicles, sledges, spas and hot tubs, swimming and paddling pools, and trampolines. Gifts are organised by hobby, recipient and price, with ranges under £10, £30 and £50 and over £50.

Christmas and seasonal items

The Christmas campaign includes artificial trees of various types —unlit, pre-lit, snow-covered, mini and fibre optic—, tree skirts and bases, indoor and outdoor Christmas lighting, garlands and light-up figures, wreaths and garlands, tree decorations, Christmas floristry, ornaments and decor, villages and scenes, indoor light-up Christmas decorations, and home items such as bedding, throws and cushions, candles, fragrance and holders, doormats and draught excluders, kitchen and dining and bathroom essentials, Christmas cards and wrapping. The site also shows seasonal campaigns such as 'A Touch of Autumn' and 'Room Reset', with selections of throws and cushions, bedroom, women's and men's clothing and footwear.

Customer service and commercial proposition

The company states it has over 60,000 reviews and an 'excellent' rating on Trustpilot, according to its own presentation. It offers free standard delivery over £75, with faster or weekend options, and customer service channels including phone, email, WhatsApp and live chat. Its commercial policy is based on maintaining stable prices all year round. The site also has help sections, user account, delivery and returns, store locator, customer reviews, contact, live chat, terms, privacy, blog and buying with finance.