A SOMERSET branch of Poundland is among the first to start selling clothing in a shop-within-a-shop as part of a major new initiative.

The Poundland store in Minehead is one of five stores in England and Wales taking part in a trial which sees the shops host a mini, in-store branch of fashion retailer, PEP&CO.

If successful the pilot, bringing a comprehensive range of kids’, women’s and men’s clothing to stores unable to take a full ‘shop-in-shop’, could pave the way to bring the brand to more Poundland stores across the UK.

The full PEP&CO offer is already available in a third of the Poundland and Dealz stores across the UK and Ireland, as the retailer transforms its high street offer to give customers more ways to find amazing value on the items they need for their families.

“We’re determined to become the retailer our customers are asking us to be,” said Poundland trading director Tim Bettley.

“PEP&CO, our fast-growing family fashion brand is a major part of that reinvention and this new pilot of a compact shop-in-shop will bring the best of our clothing ranges to our smaller stores.”

Last year, Poundland completed the rollout of PEP&CO to its largest UK and Irish Dealz stores, and say sales have 'rocketed'.

"Ranged in just 30 bays rather than the 90 in its largest stores. the pilot mini PEP&CO shop-in-shops will stock favourite pieces at prices that will not only knock their socks off, but also their jumpers, jackets and jeans," said a Poundland spokesperson.