Poundworld prides itself on selling life's essentials, but every now and then one particular new product can unexpectedly start selling like hot cakes. Timing is everything with retail crazes, and the trick is to know what to gamble on. Poundworld boss Chris is tipped off by his granddaughter Olivia that the latest trend to hit is loom bands. Despite being baffled by the appeal of the coloured elastic bands which can be woven together to create bracelets, key rings and toys, Chris decides to order over a million packs. There's no guarantee that a craze will materialise, but Chris's savvy granddaughter has helped him steal a march on the opposition, and it looks as though the risk is paying off when sales rocket. But demand for loom bands continues to soar, and as their stock begins to dwindle, competitors start to catch up. Smaller competitors like Kevin from Leeds manages to get one over on the big boys by buying loom bands from a UK-based supplier. In the battle of the bands, being small gives Kev the edge because he only has to stock one store.

The national minimum wage has increased by 19p an hour. Thousands of Chris's employees will benefit from a rise in their pay packet, but Poundworld will have to cope with a massive hike to their £38 million annual wage bill. Commercial director Ian Hamilton is on a cost-cutting mission to find the money to pay for it and has his eyes set on the warehouse. The warehouse's management team does not take kindly to the suggestion they are not working efficiently or to the possibility of cutbacks. Chris proposes Ian goes to work in the warehouse, so he can start to understand more about what they do. Show less