General Chat

Was not owned by a film star , but by an American, Barbara Hutton, who was married at one time to Cary Grant,(the film star)
She went on to have various husbands, and was a very unhappy woman with all her millions.
When I was young, she was know as Barbara Hutton the Woolworth heiress

Woolworths should have stopped at the cheap goods, which we used to go in and buy with our pocket money, nothing over 1/-, but the same as with all the Companies, they have to get their fingers in all the pies, with sad results.

When Banks , Building Societies,Estate Agents, and Insurance Companies, were just that, all was fine, but then they got greedy, and all went into Insurance. Also the Supermarkets are after you taking out Insurance. If they had all stuck to their own business, half of them would not be in the trouble they are in now.

It is a shame but both these companies lost their way years ago, and neither really knew what their target market was. The have both been struggling to make profits for several years.

It is not surprising that come come a recession, they are the some of the first to go under.

I'm sure there will be lots more. DSG (PC World / Currys) aren't looking so good at the moment either. They caught a big cold last year by stocking up with laptops that no one wanted.

It's very sad,another end to an era. Most children spent their first pocket money in Woolworth's,a trusted and respected household name.

My Daughter has just left after working for them 8 years,she was happy there but staff have known for a very long time that there were serious problems.

Through the years Woolworths have always kept up to date and knew what customers wanted,but times have changed ie internet and poundshops etc. so they fell behind.They are part of B&Q. Superdrug and Comet too.
I hope 'someone' takes over as it would be a shame if all stores were boarded up,(as seems to be happening more and more across the country) and I'd be sad if it's name disappeared from the high street.

Yes it seems that these shops go, and then they become either Charity Shops, or as in Southampton, Bars and Nightclubs.

My sons on his way To MFI paid £400 for a wardrobe unfortuantly he paid cash not credit card so no protection, He's taken a screw driver with him and says he's taking the one off display.

B&Q owners Kingfisher, severed their ties with Woolworths some years ago. It was demerged as a separate trading company in 2001.

Superdrug was sold to Kruidvat who in turn was subsequently sold to AS Watson in 2001.

Comet is now part of Kesa Electricals

Ours moved out of the city centre years ago so is at a location with a Morrisons, Boots, Next, Argos and other stores by the Railway station. Plenty of parking but somewhere you only go to for a reason, not browse in as you pass.
Recently our Somerfield squeezed up their stock to make an area for Woolworths to sell in, then it was delayed then they just brought in all the bargain electrical and household stuff, will have to see if it is still there when I go over later.

I did used to go to the out of town one when it was Big W for a while, it included Peacocks within the store, then squeezed up into a smaller space so other stores could rent some of the property.

I understand they will continue trading while they look for a rescue package or buyer.

Lizx

I worked in Colchester Woolies from 1975-79 this was a new store after fire destoyed the previous one a few years earlier. In those days they had a wide variety of goods. Grocery and greengrocery, sweets sold by weight, delicatessan, bakery, stationery, jewellery, make-up & toiletries, gifts, clothes, D.I.Y. electrical goods, household and lots more. The previous store, which I remember going into as a child sold loose biscuits and had a snack bar which also sold ice-creams. I think they have really gone downhill in the last few years, The one we have now sells mostly sweets, toys, CD's DVD's and kids clothes.