‘It was a very successful and simple proposition(商业模式；卖点),” laments(惋惜地说；哀叹) one former Poundland boss. With every product in the shop sold at £1, and the price in its name, its proposition to shoppers was the clearest of any UK high street chain(在英国连锁店中最清晰的).
“那曾是一个非常成功、也非常简单的商业模式。”Poundland 的一位前老板惋惜地说。店里每件商品都卖 1 英镑，连价格都写进了名字里，它对顾客的定位在英国商业街的连锁店中是最清晰不过的。
Now the UK’s first and biggest nationwide single-price retailer(单一价格零售商) could disappear amid heavy competition and inflation that has eaten into its ability(侵蚀了它的能力) to offer bargains(便宜货；划算的交易).
如今，这家英国第一家、也是规模最大的全国性单一价格零售商，可能在激烈竞争和不断侵蚀其让利能力的通胀中消失。
Its potential collapse has brought distress(痛苦；忧虑) for its up to 12,000 staff in the run-up to(在……前夕；临近) Christmas, and as shoppers head to the chain for Halloween costumes and treats(（万圣节）糖果；好吃的东西).
它可能倒闭，这让多达 1.2 万名员工在圣诞节前夕陷入焦虑，而此时顾客正涌向这家连锁店购买万圣节服装和糖果。