Vloggers promote a glossy, aspirational lifestyle online – so it may come as a surprise that they’re increasingly showing off their buys from the likes of Poundland.
The rise of the ‘bargain haul’ means that YouTube stars are now more likely to show off their purchases from stores such as Home Bargains, Wilkos and TK Maxx, than high-end designer brands.
The glamorous YouTube stars include mothers with a keen eye for a bargain, as well students on a tight budget.
The trend is so popular that many have amassed thousands of subscribers by showing off their bargain purchases.
Typical purchases include homeware items, cleaning products, as well as bargain snack packs.
However, unlike more high-end brands, the vloggers say retailers such as Poundland usually do not offer sponsorship deals or any commission – explaining that they do the videos simply because their fans love it.
Here, FEMAIL speaks to those who are leading the way when it comes to finding Poundland bargains…
EMILY NORRIS – 218K SUBSCRIBERS
Emily Norris, 35, from Essex, has quit her marketing director job to focus on her successful YouTube channel
The mother-of-three’s typical Poundland hauls includes various items for her kids, including this children’s activity book
Emily Norris, 35, from Essex, says she started vlogging after becoming a ‘bit bored’ on maternity leave, and has now decided to quit her marketing director job to focus on her successful channel, which has 218,000 subscribers.
The mother-of-three says her bargain haul videos are hugely popular, as mothers don’t have to physically go to stores like Poundland and Primark to see what’s on offer.
A typical haul includes homeware, cleaning products, along with snacks for a kid – with Emily spending up to £50 in a shopping trip to Poundland.
Explaining the popularity of her bargain haul videos, Emily told FEMAIL: ‘Because you can’t view Primark products on their website, you have to physically go in to the store and for a mum that can be quite tricky with children in tow.
The mother-of-three (pictured with her son) says her bargain haul videos are hugely popular, as mothers don’t have to physically go to the stores to see what’s on offer
Emily (pictured with her family) recently created a Poundland hacks video to help other mothers get their home in order
The mother also regularly buys snacks from Poundland, as well as cleaning products
‘The same goes for Poundland, you can’t check out what’s new online so watching a haul, from an influencer you trust, is a great way to see what’s new in store and everyone loves a bargain!’ she said.
Emily recently created a Poundland hacks video to help other mothers get their home in order.
‘My following love to learn new ways to clean and organise their homes,’ she said. ‘So I decided to make a dedicated video on how I’ve organised my home cheaply using Poundland products.
‘The response has been amazing and the video has had over 130,000 views in a month.’
FREYA FARRINGTON – 13K SUBSCRIBERS
Freya Farrington, 26, from Manchester, says fans often ask her to produce more bargain haul videos
Freya Farrington, 26, from Manchester, runs a lifestyle channel on YouTube with 13,000 subscribers.
She says that her budget hauls from the likes of Poundland and Primark are her most popular videos, and she now posts these every month.
A typical haul includes homeware items, along with stationery and even books.
Speaking to FEMAIL, she explained: ‘I create content that I love watching myself and finding a great bargain is exactly that.
One of Freya’s recent Poundland hauls included homeware items, including this cushion costing £1
The vlogger also picked up a couple of decorative items, including this stylish ornament
‘I feel like I have an eye for a bargain, I always seem to find them not only in budget stores like Poundland and Primark but elsewhere on the High Street including Homesense and TKMaxx.’
Freya said that her fans frequently ask her to do more Poundland videos, and like to see what DIYs you could create from £1 items.
However, she says that the retailer does not offer a commission, because their products are not available online.
She added: ‘Those who showcase designer items on their channel earn a much higher commission than linking a budget item.’
LUCY JESSICA CARTER – 83K SUBSCRIBERS
Vlogger Lucy Jessica Carter, 26, regularly posts Poundland videos – explaining that she just ‘loves a bargain’
The mother-of-two shows of an eclectic mix of items in her haul videos, including this washing-up sponge
Lucy also showed off some Snack Stop meals in her haul, where she spent £20 altogether
Mother-of-two Lucy Jessica Carter, 26, from Wiltshire, began vlogging after her younger sister, who is also a vlogger, encouraged her to give it a try.
The YouTuber, who has over 83,000 subscribers, explained she does her Poundland videos simply because she’s always keen to get a good deal.
Lucy usually shows off an array of various items, ranging from every day essentials to decorative items for the home.
‘I do the bargain hauls because quite frankly, I just love a bargain,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘Of course I love designer stuff as well, but as a mother-of-two I am on a budget.
‘I have to prioritise my spending so Poundland and all the other bargain stores are always my go to for products.’
Lucy said her fans like to know what’s new in store, and whether it’s worth a trip in stores.
The mother-of-two said that since giving birth to her children, her budget has been more restricted, meaning she often turns to bargain stores
Lucy (pictured with her son) said her subscribers are mostly other mothers who like shopping in the same places as her
‘My viewers like watching bargain hauls because who doesn’t love saving money on products,’ she said.
‘My subscribers are mostly other mums with children that shop in the same places for similar products.’
MAISY MEOW – 6.5K SUBSCRIBERS
The Maisy Meow YouTube channel, run by mother Eilidh Ferguson, has over 6,500 subscribers.
Mother-of-one Eilidh, from Glasgow, regularly shares her purchases from the likes of Poundland, Home Bargains and Matalan.
Mother-of-one Eilidh , from Glasgow, regularly shares her bargain purchases on YouTube channel Maisy Meow
‘A lot of my videos are about sharing tips and tricks on how to save money and if I’ve found a bargain, I always like to mention it in case others are interested too,’ she explained.
‘Poundland and Home Bargains are my go-to shops for cleaning products and homeware and if I think I’ve found some good bargains, I’ll show what I’ve got on my channel so my viewers can get it for themselves too!’
Eilidh describes how on her channel she speaks to her fans ‘in the same way I would tell a friend about a bargain I’d picked up in the shops’.
Explaining the popularity of the bargain haul videos, she added: ‘I think people like to see what’s new in, especially if Poundland have something that one of the bigger supermarkets sell for three times the price.’
Eilidh (pictured with son Oliver) explained how many of her videos involve sharing tips on how to save money
The mother-of-one says her Poundland hauls are popular because people like to see what’s new in store
KATE MUNRANE – 310K SUBSCRIBERS
Kate Munrane, 27, from Kent, explains how she regularly makes shopping haul videos on her channel, which has over 310,000 subscribers.
These include bargains that she’s found from the likes of Poundland, TK Maxx and B&M.
Speaking to FEMAIL, she explained: ‘As a mum I find myself shopping in places like Poundland and B&M much more now as I find them great for the different seasons.
Kate Munrane, 27, from Kent, regularly makes shopping haul videos on her channel
‘Recently I did a huge Easter haul from PoundWorld and they seem really popular with viewers.
‘I also find these stored great for those everyday essentials like cleaning products and as a lot of mums watch my content cleaning products can be such a popular topic!’
Explaining why budget shopping hauls are increasing in popularity, she added: ‘I love watching designer hauls but the items aren’t always as accessible for many people and personally I don’t spend enough on designer items to be able to show viewers in a haul.
‘People love to see what’s available in the High Street shops at the moment as that’s where the majority of people shop.’
As well as her Poundland hauls, Kate also shows off her bargain purchases from TK Maxx
From her recent TK Maxx haul, the vlogger showed off a large fluffy cushion
The vlogger recently did a Easter haul from PoundWorld, which she said was ‘really popular’
CERYS DAVIES – 47K SUBSCRIBERS
Welsh fashion student Cerys Davies, 20, runs a fashion and beauty channel on YouTube with 47,000 subscribers.
Recently, she did a collaboration with Wilko, to see what she could buy for £100.
Explaining why she decided to cover the budget chain, she explained: ‘It has everything in there and for a low price, items are great quality and they’re often trendy or aesthetically pleasing!’
Fashion student Cerys Davies, 20, recently showed off a haul from Wilko on her YouTube channel
Cerys showed off £93 worth of Wilko products, including various homeware items
She explained that she wasn’t paid for the video, but sent the products by Wilko – showing how even bargain retailers are realising the reach they can achieve through YouTubers.
Cerys said that bargain haul videos are popular as people often don’t know about the ‘hidden gems’ they can find there.
The student previously tested out make-out from Poundland in one of her YouTube videos.
The student said that bargain haul videos are popular as people often don’t know about the ‘hidden gems’ they can find