The Centre, Livingston's Style Squad surprised some shoppers with £25 Gift Cards as they completed their back-to-school shopping lists. With over 150 shops and restaurants, including M&S, Primark, schuh, wagamama, Wingstop, and Starbucks, the centre is a one-stop destination for uniforms, shoes, and stationery.
Shopping Tips for Families
Whether it's a child's first day or a teenager's return, shopping with a plan saves time. Start with durable uniforms, supportive shoes, a sturdy backpack, and lunch essentials. Primark, New Look, and H&M offer a wide range of uniforms, while M&S provides crease-resistant and stain-resistant options. For shoes, schuh Kids offers free foot measuring to ensure a perfect fit with room to grow. Rymans and Smiggle cover all stationery needs, from calculators to scented pencil cases.
Shoppers Share Their Experience
Dad Sean Riddell from Armadale was in M&S with his sons Evan and Jack, ticking off their list. He said: “M&S makes it really easy to shop for kids schoolwear, which helps when you have to get two boys everything they need for going back after the summer break. Thanks to The Centre, Livingston for the £25 Gift Card which we’ll be using towards the uniforms – which was a really nice surprise.”
Stuart Ireland visited the newly opened JD Sports, the largest in Scotland, for school trainers. He said: “We love JD Sports and thought it would be the perfect store to pick up new school trainers for the boys and we got exactly what we were looking for. We also nipped into Primark for PE kits, which was great as they were the last thing to get on our checklist. Now it is time to treat them to a well-earned mango fruit cooler at Costa.”
Mum Alison Thomson shopped for her daughter Iona, focusing on stationery from Smiggle. She said: “We usually wait until after our holidays to get what we need for Iona and today has been a great day, especially picking out some lovely stationery in her favourite shop, Smiggle, including the bag, lunch box and water bottle. Next up is a visit to M&S for her new uniform, and at some point, we’re planning to take some time out to enjoy a bite to eat in Starbucks.”
Expert Fitting and Treats
The Style Squad also spoke with staff at schuh Kids, who were measuring feet for free. Amy Gourlay said: “It was great to get Rosie’s feet measured in schuh Kids – what a difference a proper fit makes – comfy feet, room to grow, and now she’s ready for the new school year! Next up is New Look to check out the uniforms and then Smiggle for stationery, although we might just be popping into Starbucks in between for a matcha, which Rosie loves.”
Dad Nick Bechelli treated his daughter to Hotel Chocolat. He said: “Today was all about popping into The Centre, Livingston to get my daughter a treat in one of her favourite shops, Hotel Chocolat. We picked up a lovely trio selection, including pistachio-flavoured chocolate, which is one of my favourites.”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We’re delighted to offer a brilliant range of Back-to-School retailers at The Centre, Livingston for families to get everything they need, and all under one roof, to ensure their kids are ready and excited for the year ahead. It was great to be able to surprise some lucky visitors with a £25 Gift Card towards their shopping or put it towards a well-deserved treat after completing their checklist.”
