How do you make a new retail brand famous? One that's really ambitious, but where the scale of that ambition isn't matched by the size of its marketing budget?
Around 12 months ago, I tried to answer that question for my friends at PEP&CO.
"Simple", I said. "You get a prime-time TV series about what you're up to".
"I'd like to see you pull that off", they said.
So I did.
After six months working on the idea with the talented people at Crackit North, ITV finally gave us the green light last December.
And the broadcaster didn't just ask for a pilot that would be buried away in a graveyard slot.
No, they told Crackit to deliver a six-part prime-time network docusoap in just over four months. Trust me, in the world of TV that's more than super-quick.
So over the past fourteen weeks I've travelled the length of the UK. Weston-super-Mare, Salford, Bolton (just wait for that episode!), Paisley, Cwmbran, Yardley, Birkenhead and more.
"Bargain Shop Wars" will be all about how PEP&CO is bringing affordable family fashion to some of Britain's most loved high streets.
It will air on ITV1 at 8.30pm from Thursday 14th April.
