Blacks are the UK's largest chain of Shops that specialise in supplying equipment for the Outdoor enthusiast. With 104 Stores distributed throughout Britain their Shops are a familiar sight on the High Streets of our Cities.
There is a Black's located in the Centre of Sheffield where I live ... Read review
Advantages: Good Range Of Products, Quality Goods Disadvantages: Smaller Shops Do Not Carry Full Stock
Blacks are the UK's largest chain of Shops that specialise in supplying equipment for the Outdoor enthusiast. With 104 Stores distributed throughout Britain their Shops are a familiar sight on the High Streets of our Cities.
There is a Black's located in the Centre of Sheffield where I live and another larger Store at the Meadowhall Shopping Complex. I am a frequent visitor to them both.
These days the Stores are officially ... ...division of the Blacks Leisure Group. This Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in addition to Blacks, it also includes other well known Stores including Millets, O'Neill, Freespirit and Mambo.
The history of the Company begins in Greenock, Scotland when Thomas Black set up a Sail making Company. He soon enjoyed a relatively prosperous living as Shipbuilding was a prosperous Business at that time but the arrival of Steam ... more
Blacks are the UK's largest chain of Shops that specialise in supplying equipment for the Outdoor enthusiast. With 104 Stores distributed throughout Britain their Shops are a familiar sight on the High Streets of our Cities.
There is a Black's located in the Centre of Sheffield where I live and another larger Store at the Meadowhall Shopping Complex. I am a frequent visitor to them both.
These days the Stores are officially known as Blacks - The Outdoor Experts. They are a division of the Blacks Leisure Group. This Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in addition to Blacks, it also includes other well known Stores including Millets, O'Neill, Freespirit and Mambo.
The history of the Company begins in Greenock, Scotland when Thomas Black set up a Sail making Company. He soon enjoyed a relatively prosperous living as Shipbuilding was a prosperous Business at that time but the arrival of Steam Ships was just around the corner.
Around 1900 Thomas’s Son, Thomas Junior came up with the idea of using their stockpiles of Canvas to make Tents. In 1905 Thomas Junior took charge of the Company. This new line of Business went from strength whilst the Sail making side of the Business depleted and by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 the Sail making side of the Company had ceased. During the First World War the Company benefited by winning contracts to supply Hospital Marquees, Bell Tents and Ambulance Covers.
Today, Blacks is one of the High Street's most well known names, offering many different Products for the Outdoors. Their Products include Clothing, Camping Equipment and Accessories. Within the Clothing Products there is an extensive Kid’s Gear section. Black’s also specialise in more specialised equipment including Skiing and Surfing Products.
All of the Products that are sold are of good quality. Brand names include Berghaus, The North Face, Salomon and Karrimor.
The layout of the Stores depends largely on their size. The two Stores that I visit most frequently are each at the opposite end of the size spectrum. The Sheffield City Centre branch is very small and compact. Whilst the Meadowhall Store is very large and spacious.
The City Centre Store has plenty of Clothing and things like Travel Guides and Maps but if you are wanting to buy a Tent you are certainly better off going to one of the larger Stores like the one at Meadowhall.
The smaller Shops still sell Tents but due to lack of space these are not on display so you have to look at them in a book. The staff will however be happy to get any of the larger items from out of the back for you to inspect.
On my most recent visit to Blacks I purchased an Ordnance Survey Map which was actually 50p cheaper than those on sale in both W H Smiths and Waterstones.
On a previous visit I bought a Pedometer but when I got home it did not work. When I returned it there was no quibble regarding exchanging it and I was offered my money back, but I did choose a replacement which was checked in the Shop before I bought it.
I always like the atmosphere of Blacks Shops and it may sound strange but I also like the smell, which is hard to describe but reminds me of a faint odour of mothballs. All of the Stores that I have been in look very modern and are carpeted throughout. I have also always found the Staff to be very helpful and polite.
Blacks also supports some of the UK's most well-known outdoor organisations, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which Blacks are the official kit supplier, they also support the Outward Bound Trust, the Lake District National Park Authority and the Council for National Parks.
...both a loyal customer of Blacks and a member of staff, I can confidently say that it is the best place to buy all outdoor gear. Blacks is an outdoor clothes shop selling items such as rucksacks, waterproof jackets, fleeces, boots, tents, sleeping bags, camping accessories and lightweight clothing. The stores are well presented and modern, with all stock laid out in a methodical and easy-to-find way. All of the brands sold are of the highest quality, ... ...The way in which Blacks stands out above other outdoor shops is the quality of service. The staff are well trained (every week we had a half hour training session on new products) and friendly, and have personal experience of outdoor activities, and will give an honest opinion. Also, if a particular item is not in stock, they will try their hardest to find it in other stores for you. All of the items that I have bought from Blacks have been excellent ...
helendavis83 14.05.2001 (11.05.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Blacks (Shop)
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Advantages: good little accessories, good bargains Disadvantages: crowded, staff not always pleasant
but in a cold way. The appearance of the shops are usually nice but I feel they are always very squashed together lots of stands and to close together it should be spaced out more. Also thee can be a lot of items on the floor which makes the appearance horrible to look at.
One thing this shop doesn't sell are clothesbut it is for accessories and when you have no categories under that word it means pretty much everything a girl could want. I think that every town has this shop because I have visited a lot of places in the UK and I always see a Claire's accessories in the city centre or shopping centres. The logo is quite easy to see usually the word claire's in white on a black background.
The shop has a website so you can find out more this site is: http://www.claires.co.uk
I like this shop though for little things I wouldn't use ...
top shop offer a very nice range of clothing aimed at the fashionable youngsters,
They have a very wide range of clothes to suit all body shapes which is the main reason i shop in there for my trousers as they do different sizes that are not always available in other out lets, they begin there trousers at a 27inch inside leg in a size 6 and go right up to a 35 inside leg for the taller person.
There clothing may be of a similar design to other cheaper outlets but the quality is much better, there clothes are designed to last but this does come at a price, you will be lucky to get change from £60 for a pair of jeans and a top which is why i do buy from other shops unless i am treating myself to something that wont go out of fashhion like black trousers for work.
There shops are usually well laid out and items easy to find ...
