Bargain Shop Wars

This episode follows the tensions, tears and comedy as Pep & Co spend £20 million in a high risk roll out of 50 stores across the country and take on the giants of discount retail. In Corby new shop manager and perfectionist, Sue, struggles to open her new store on an arch rival’s patch and attracts an unexpected visit from the competition. And in a bid to enter the ultra-competitive menswear market, head office gamble on ditching their homeware range to launch a men’s line instead. We see the new line, from head office decision making via the factory to the shop floor.. but will it prove a costly mistake that threatens to derail the new chain?

In this episode, the new kids on the bargain block face the challenge of supplying to the fast and sometimes fickle demand of the bargain customer. Shoppers can't get enough of Pep & Co's bargain black leggings, but there's chaos for the management team as on the shop floor stock levels dwindle. The race is on to get them back in stores before punters go to the competition. In Birkenhead, in the post-sale slump of early spring, store manager Caroline, has lots of supply but no demand. Prepared to do anything to get customers through her doors, the latest idea is to use ‘pester power' to get the shoppers in. Caroline recruits local school kids to spend a day working on the shop floor in the hope that they will bring in their parents to spend, spend, spend! In Paisley, the male staff are finding it hard to charm the ladies with their sales patter. So, before the MD, Adrian inspects, shop boss, Angela, is pulling out all the stops to get her male work force up to scratch as well as carrying out her own market research to find out what the people of Paisley want. The legging lovers of Paisley are demanding brown leggings but will MD Adrian be able to supply them with what they want? And will one of the few clothing manufactures left in the United Kingdom rise to the challenge and give the customer exactly what they want?

The company step into the fiercely competitive arena of school uniforms. Trading director Cathy has introduced a one pound school polo shirt, which she hopes will be a success. The school uniform range is put to the test with a muddy fun-filled trial by a bunch of kids. Back at headquarters, chairman Andy Bond decides to take on the supermarkets. One of them already has a money back guarantee that their school uniform range will withstand 100 days of wear and tear. Pep and Co decides to guarantee their range for 101 days - a cheeky move, but will it attract more custom?

In this edition, the company launch an in-house competition to keep staff at the top of their game. War breaks out in two of their Birmingham stores as competing managers Sam and Michelle go head-to-head. The relentless wheel of recruitment hits Pep and Co hard as they face replacing two managers, and area manager Heidi is under pressure to fill the vacancies fast before the stores start to suffer. She is looking for someone with the X factor to join the team - but will the candidates make the right impression?

The documentary going behind the scenes of bargain fashion retailer Pep&Co returns after a six-week break for its final instalment. The fight for fast fashion is hotting up, thanks to the great British weather. The bank holiday weekend is crucial for retailers but with snow predicted and the shops full of summer clothes, will it be boom or bust in the bargain shop wars? In the Midlands, one of Pep&Co's rivals invades their turf - so head of stores Darren engages in a few crafty tactics to fight back. Last in the series.