We’ve got everything you need at Asda to help you sweep your Valentine off their feet this weekend – and thanks to other Asda customers we’ve even got tips for the perfect chat-up line to win your loved one’s heart.

Customers have been sending in their stories of how they met their partners – and the romantic or not so romantic lines that did the trick – for a chance to win a romantic cruise on the Thames in our Valentine’s competition.

Gill Wilson from Hornchurch is living proof of the way a chat-up line can change your life. She says: “It was a really windy evening. Me and my friend went into a pub and while she went to the bar I found a table.

“The wind had played havoc with my hair, so I got out my comb to tidy it up. A man came up to me, and with a grin on his face said ‘Do you comb hair often?’ We’ve now been married 28 years, with 2 children and 4 grandchildren.”

more Posted by Kevin on 08 February 2010, 16:44

Share - Comments - Leave your own comment about this article

Andrea Birchall and David Culverwell – a devoted couple whose love for each other survived being separated by the demands of war – are getting ready for the happiest day of their life after winning our fantastic Asda Wedding competition.

We received hundreds of entries when we announced the chance for a bride and groom to win an all-expenses-paid Valentine’s wedding ceremony in an Asda store, plus a full reception and £2000 towards their honeymoon.

Our panel of judges narrowed the entrants down to a shortlist of nine and were finally won over by the story of David and Andrea, who met while both were in the army preparing to serve in Iraq.

more Posted by Anna on 29 January 2010, 16:46

Share - Comments (22) - Leave your own comment about this article

We’re trialling a new way of packaging fabric conditioner that could revolutionise how you buy your laundry products in future.

Instead of buying fabric softener in expensive, bulky bottles customers in Asda Barnsley can now buy it from a vending machine that dispenses the liquid straight into a plastic refill pouch.

Using the same refill pouch 10 times compared to buying 10 1.5L bottles of fabric conditioner will save you £3.70. It also cuts packaging by up to 96%.

The two-week trial will be rolled out to our stores in Swansea and Hartlepool from 31 January and Govan and Carlisle from 7 February.

The new concept has taken a year to develop, in partnership with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and Eziserve, and manufacturing partners.

Julian Walker-Palin, Head of Corporate Policy for Sustainability and Ethics, says: “In the UK we throw away 1.5 million tonnes of plastic each year and it can take up to 500 years for this plastic to decompose. We’ve already reduced the packaging across fabric softeners by 55% but it’s hard to take this any further. Hopefully this machine is going to revolutionise the way you buy laundry softeners.”

Richard Swannell, Director of Retail at WRAP, says; “We have already seen positive responses from consumers in relation to carrier bag reuse and if this trial enjoys similar success, it could mark the start of a reusable revolution. There are clear opportunities for reusable packaging in relation to all manner of products ranging from laundry products to paint.”

To see a video of how the machine works visit Julian’s Aisle Spy blog.

What do you think? Would you buy your fabric conditioner from a vending machine? What other products would you reuse in this way? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment below.

Posted by Trina on 28 January 2010, 14:06

Share - Comments (17) - Leave your own comment about this article

Fashion students from The University of Salford have turned recycling into an art form – by designing their latest outfits out of Asda carrier bags.

The three outfits are part of an exhibition called ‘Art in Advertising’ at The Lowry in Manchester.

Fiona Oakes is one of the students who helped create the outfits. They were given 2000 Asda carrier bags and 1000 Bags for Life to work with. The final outfits include a showerproof mac backed with calico, a knitted green dress and a white jacket made of carrier bag handles.

more Posted by Anna on 27 January 2010, 13:11

Share - Comments - Leave your own comment about this article

On the day Britain officially comes out of recession a survey of Asda customers has revealed increasing pressure on families’ finances.

Our monthly Income Tracker survey showed families in December were no better off in terms of disposable income compared to a year ago and are likely to face a tough year ahead.

The monthly survey measures the amount of disposable income families have after tax and basic living costs. Last year this rose every month from March to November as the cost of living – including mortgage interest rates – went down.

But towards Christmas this levelled out, partly because of rising petrol prices. The average UK family had £163 disposable income to spend in December, leaving them marginally worse off than the previous year.

Asda chief executive Andy Bond predicts it could be a tough year ahead for customers and says: “The Asda Income Tracker shows family finances are still under considerable pressure. The climate for customers this year is going to get tougher. People are used to low interest rates, therefore when mortgage rates begin to rise again it will be painful for homeowners.”

more Posted by Trina on 26 January 2010, 10:45

Share - Comments (1) - Leave your own comment about this article