Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Paige Holland

Ex-Primark employee shares store secrets - like where to find hidden stock

A former Primark employee has shared a number of store secrets that customers might not know about.

Georgia Pontin from Kettering in Northamptonshire first started working for the clothing giant on the weekends after college, back in July 2017.

During her time there she learnt a thing or two about the running of the store and a number of insider secrets, which she now shares on her TikTok ( @pontasaurus ).

Georgia first went viral on the app after she posted a video revealing what it was like working there and the best ways to shop in the store as a customer.

Since then she has posted 23 more videos on the subject, growing her a following of more than 78,000 fans.

So, we have compiled some of her best store secrets, so you can get the most bang for your buck.

Georgia reveals all (@pontasaurus/TikTok)

For more of the news you care about, straight to your inbox, sign up for one of our daily newsletters here.

Why the clothes are "so cheap"

Primark is loved for its bargains, but apparently, there's a reason why the clothes are "so cheap".

Georgia explained that the store doesn't play any music to keep costs down.

"By not playing music they don't have to pay any licensing fees which helps keep the cost down, and to be fair Primark is loud enough as it is so you wouldn't even hear the music," she said.

Where to find hidden stock

Georgia explained how both staff and shoppers would hide their favourite pieces in strange locations around the store when new releases arrived, as these items quickly run out of popular sizes.

However, most customers forget they put these items away – so it's always worth a look elsewhere if you're struggling to find a size.

The ex-employee recommends starting with corners of the shop and lower racks, especially in the nightwear section.

"All the popular stuff goes very quickly," she said. "The most popular sizes, which are 8, 10 and 12 will go and once they're gone, they're gone.

"But sometimes people are undecided about a piece of clothing and will hide it in case they want to come back and get it.

"They almost always forget about it but sometimes if you check right at the back of the rails that are still quite full, some people hide stuff there.

"And in corners of the store. Since a lot of people glance over areas that are in front of them, the corners of the store are sometimes the most forgotten about.

"There was one particular corner in the pyjama section, on the lowest rack, where people would hide stuff.

"When I used to work and I saw something I want to buy on my break, I would put it in that corner too and come and collect it when I was on my break.

"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure my managers knew I did that.

"It was so hard to not spend all your money in there since we worked around the clothes all the time and saw the items as they first hit the shelves."

What to do if your size isn't in stock

It's so annoying when you find something you like but you can't find it in your size.

While many of us might just accept that it's not meant to be, there is something else you can do.

Georgia said: "If you find something you really like but they don't have your size in stock at one store, then you can ask one of the members of staff to call another store and see if they have it.

"Obviously you would have to go and pick it up, they won't deliver it to the store but it's something to think about.

"Now there's no guarantee that a staff member is going to do it for you, but it's always best to check if you really want this product."

Why you should wash the clothes before you wear them

This one isn't so much of a secret Georgia says, but an important reminder.

"When you buy your clothes and you take them home, please wash them the first time you wear them.

"Like every other retail store, if someone's returning something or they've tried something on in the fitting room, it doesn't get washed after they've tried it on.

"You have no clue what that other person has been doing, what they've been wearing, where they've put their clothes - so please wash the clothes.

"Sometimes when I used to work there, we'd get clothes back and we'd check them over and they had stains on them and only then we can determine whether we sell it or not.

"If we choose not to sell it then it would go to the faulty bit but if we do sell it, then it'll be a reduced price - so that's the risk that you have to take."

What the bells mean

If you ever hear three rings on the bell, be careful – it signals that there is some form of emergency going on.

Georgia said: "The bells ringing in Primark have different meanings.

"One ring is to alert the floor staff that help is needed on the tills, two rings are to alert supervisors and site managers, and three rings is to signal for an emergency."

Despite some unfortunate experiences with unhappy customers, Georgia thoroughly enjoyed working at Primark.

She added: "I loved working at Primark. My first job as a waitress was awful and put me off working in food forever.

"When I heard a Primark was opening up at the new shopping complex, I jumped at the chance.

"Since I started from the beginning, everyone was in the same boat and we all saw what the store looked like without any clothes or stock in.

"They brought in staff from all over the country to help us set up so we knew what we were doing."

How to get "first dibs" on clothes in a new store

"If you have a new Primark store opening up in your area, this is how to get first dibs on the clothes in there," Georgia says.

"So I started working at my store when it first ever opened and we had a staff only night just before it opened.

"You got to see it brand new, you got to see all the new stock, you got first dibs on the popular items and all the popular sizes...

"At the event, you can bring friends and family so they can see everything too and they can buy stuff first as well.

"So if you have a new store opening up and you know someone that's gonna work there then that's how to get first dibs on all the items in the shop."

When to avoid shopping

Georgia explained that each store has a "prime time" which is their busiest hour.

"So at the store I worked at, our prime time was 2pm and during that time, anyone who wasn't on break or lunch had to be downstairs on the shop floor.

"Because it got so busy we had to go behind everyone and fold everything, put things back and make sure it was all neat, or at least we'd try to.

"Often during that time that's when the queue is longest."

While queueing is inevitable, Georgia suggests going during off-peak periods so you can get served quicker.

Have you got a story to share? We want to hear all about it. Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.