Halstead-based discount store Thing-Me-Bobs is to rebrand as QD as part of a refit by its owners, the QD Group.

The QD Group have closed down three other Thing-Me-Bob stores in the last six months - one in Clacton in December, a branch in Newmarket in January and another last week in Sudbury.

The East Anglian discount store chain Thing-Me-Bobs was bought by its larger, Norwich-based rival QD Stores in 2013, and at the time had ten stores across the region and an annual turnover of £6.5m.

The Halstead store is the first Thing-Me-Bobs to be rebranded QD. The full refit and redecoration of the Halstead store includes new fixtures and fittings and a more spacious layout. Work at the Halstead High Street store is due to be completed by the end of this month, and a family fun day is planned for Saturday June 30 to mark the occasion, featuring face painting, giveaways and competitions.

Chris Meale, operations manager at QD, said: “We are very excited to be giving our Thing-Me-Bobs store a complete makeover as it becomes a QD. We have a very loyal customer base in Halstead and we are sure they will love the new store.”

QD Group say the newly refurbished store will offer the same products as before, but different year-round deals, use of QD’s Reward Card Scheme and their Click and Collect service.

The first QD (short for Quality Discount) store was established in Norwich in 1985 by the company’s CEO Nick Rubin’s father, and current Chairman, Danny Rubins. The company now operate 44 stores.