As like most people I have grown up with " Woolies " being the heart of a lot of highstreets, up and down the land.
It seems now thay are likely to go from our high streets along with MFI. How sad is it when major companies like this can go to the wall.
Woolworths is as British as fish and chips. It will almost be like an old friend going IF they go to the wall.
What do others think?
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Woolworths doomed?
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i thought woolworths was a part of the kingfisher group? who also owned superdrug B&Q etc? but no mention of them so i gues not.
i used tolove woolworths as a kid, it had every thing, toys, posters, make it was THE place we would go to check out the singles chart.
i live in a smallish town where by they go into panic mode if a new shop wants to open up, especially outside of the main town.
what i think they forgot/forget is that the internet was born, people no longer want to buy the music from town, they down load it.
there is no longer the thrill of getting to woolworths to get your hand on a single, or picture disc or 12 inch etc.
im not saying the internet or cd's downloading has crushed woolworths, but its all a drip effect.
i would be sad to see it go, its the biggest shop we have in my town, i still like it. i still use it.
ive rambled , sorry xx fem xx
i used tolove woolworths as a kid, it had every thing, toys, posters, make it was THE place we would go to check out the singles chart.
i live in a smallish town where by they go into panic mode if a new shop wants to open up, especially outside of the main town.
what i think they forgot/forget is that the internet was born, people no longer want to buy the music from town, they down load it.
there is no longer the thrill of getting to woolworths to get your hand on a single, or picture disc or 12 inch etc.
im not saying the internet or cd's downloading has crushed woolworths, but its all a drip effect.
i would be sad to see it go, its the biggest shop we have in my town, i still like it. i still use it.
ive rambled , sorry xx fem xx
Sex God
They and MFI have gone in to adminstration
Woolworths has been an outmoded retail concept for at least 30 years and I'm surprised it staggered along until now.
MFI has been ill for less time but has still been badly managed.
I predict after this current recession the high street banks will mostly disappear cos they too are way past their sell by date.
I just hope we all wake up soon to what a waste of space estate agents are and give them the heave ho too.
MFI has been ill for less time but has still been badly managed.
I predict after this current recession the high street banks will mostly disappear cos they too are way past their sell by date.
I just hope we all wake up soon to what a waste of space estate agents are and give them the heave ho too.
Sex God
I reckon Curry's won't be far behind. Their stores around here are tatty and staffed by people without the basic training they need to sell effectively.
As a company their customer focus is entirely absent.
I went in to look at washing machines. Found one I liked with a discount on it. Noticed a sign that also offered a discount for trade-in on your old machine. Great, £30 and £40 off the price - bargain. I went through all the rigmarole at the checkout - name, address, etc etc and then the little girl at the checkout looked all confused and wandered off to the manager's office muttering something about 'discounts'.
A manager came out - poked the buttons on the till a few times - and announced 'you can only have one of the discounts, which one do you want?'
One discount? wtf was he on about? Apparently the computer couldn't handle inputting 2 separate discounts. It was obviously beyond him to over-ride the computer and put in £70 discount. I told them they had lost themselves a sale and went to Comet (so close they are in sight of each other).
Both the manager and the child on the till just couldn't do the most basic of customer stuff. So, that company must be doomed.
As a company their customer focus is entirely absent.
I went in to look at washing machines. Found one I liked with a discount on it. Noticed a sign that also offered a discount for trade-in on your old machine. Great, £30 and £40 off the price - bargain. I went through all the rigmarole at the checkout - name, address, etc etc and then the little girl at the checkout looked all confused and wandered off to the manager's office muttering something about 'discounts'.
A manager came out - poked the buttons on the till a few times - and announced 'you can only have one of the discounts, which one do you want?'
One discount? wtf was he on about? Apparently the computer couldn't handle inputting 2 separate discounts. It was obviously beyond him to over-ride the computer and put in £70 discount. I told them they had lost themselves a sale and went to Comet (so close they are in sight of each other).
Both the manager and the child on the till just couldn't do the most basic of customer stuff. So, that company must be doomed.
Woolworths started in the US but I agree with you Kent... it was a part of my childhood and I've always thought of them as British. I remember Saturday shopping trips when Mum would leave me in the Woolies cafe with a warm sausage roll and orange squash while she went into Sainsburys (this was when they were the only "supermarket" in town). On the way home we'd usually pop into the Green Shield Stamps shop for some cheap and cheerful catalogue item.
I think their problem is that they don't seem to sell anything you can't pick up in your local Asda. :-(
If you want to reminisce take a look at the ;-)
I think their problem is that they don't seem to sell anything you can't pick up in your local Asda. :-(
If you want to reminisce take a look at the ;-)
Sex God
Quote by essex34m
I would imagine with Woolworths going into administration, it is something someone like Philip Green is looking at.
Woolworth's is up for sale for £1!!
foxey i completely hear what your saying,
i wonder if the amount of cash that has been spent prior to this credit crunch let shops think they had the power.
customer service skills are a thing of the ignorance, arrogance, rudness, being rushed,treated like a idiot or being served by a idiot has all ment they have lost reputation now.
may be that why peopel shop on line , so they dont have to deal with a idiot shop assistant.
i know there are some good ones, or the good ones are being pushed to shove as many people through the tills as possible.
xx fem xxx
i wonder if the amount of cash that has been spent prior to this credit crunch let shops think they had the power.
customer service skills are a thing of the ignorance, arrogance, rudness, being rushed,treated like a idiot or being served by a idiot has all ment they have lost reputation now.
may be that why peopel shop on line , so they dont have to deal with a idiot shop assistant.
i know there are some good ones, or the good ones are being pushed to shove as many people through the tills as possible.
xx fem xxx
Quote by Cubes
Woolworths started in the US but I agree with you Kent... it was a part of my childhood and I've always thought of them as British. I remember Saturday shopping trips when Mum would leave me in the Woolies cafe with a warm sausage roll and orange squash while she went into Sainsburys (this was when they were the only "supermarket" in town). On the way home we'd usually pop into the Green Shield Stamps shop for some cheap and cheerful catalogue item.
I think their problem is that they don't seem to sell anything you can't pick up in your local Asda. :-(
If you want to reminisce take a look at the Woolies Museum ;-)
Cubes, you took me right back to my childhood mentioning the Green Shield stamps. I remember looking through the catalogue and dreaming of Mum buying the swimming pool, which probably cost 3 million books! Instead, my Mum used to go and exchange the books for exciting stuff like sheets and pillowcases.
There was also the Co-op stamps and it was my job to lick and stick them in the book. Was great fun until my parents brought a new sofa and chairs - you've never seen so many Co-op stamp books!! (And I bet she put them towards sheets too
)PS apologies for the hi-jack Mr 777
Mrs 777 xxxxxxxxxxxx
There are some things that cannot be Doomed and Woolies is one of them.
813 shops employing staff. That does not include possibly another people who supply goods to them.
Woolworths is a massive institution on the British high street. If the banks can be saved with billions and billions of pounds of OUR money, why can't the Government step in and save Woolies? They may well do as to allow that many people to lose their jobs would be criminal.
This chain of shops surely cannot be doomed......can they?
813 shops employing staff. That does not include possibly another people who supply goods to them.
Woolworths is a massive institution on the British high street. If the banks can be saved with billions and billions of pounds of OUR money, why can't the Government step in and save Woolies? They may well do as to allow that many people to lose their jobs would be criminal.
This chain of shops surely cannot be doomed......can they?
Sex God
Quote by kentswingers777
Even the Co Op has gone, another British institution. Thats the furniture part of the Co Op.
erm.... the co-op is alive and well..... I am sure they will thank you for killing them off....
:lol: you'll find they are more in the convience store market rather than the large superstores.......... saying that, they bought somerfields in july so this is the big comeback
i shop at my local co-op all the time.........
:):) Sex God
Quote by kentswingers777
As I said...the food Co Ops are still about but the large electrical and furniture ones are gone.
The one in Derby is alive and well - nice tea room upstairs too
Fabio - I can't afford to shop in the Co-op. LOL
woolworths main problem has been the internet and companies like tescos and argos.
These superstores do nearly everything woolworths did and for the internet.
when i was a kid the local woolworths store had everything and my mum and gran were always in there buying stuff.
its sad when old and famous names go to the wall but business and times move on and woolworths was stuck in that in between place.
I cannot remember the last time i went in one and i think a lot of us if we are honest can say that we dont use woolworths that much.
Maybe spend the odd pound but thats it.
These superstores do nearly everything woolworths did and for the internet.
when i was a kid the local woolworths store had everything and my mum and gran were always in there buying stuff.
its sad when old and famous names go to the wall but business and times move on and woolworths was stuck in that in between place.
I cannot remember the last time i went in one and i think a lot of us if we are honest can say that we dont use woolworths that much.
Maybe spend the odd pound but thats it.
Quote by kentswingers777
As like most people I have grown up with " Woolies " being the heart of a lot of highstreets, up and down the land.
It seems now thay are likely to go from our high streets along with MFI. How sad is it when major companies like this can go to the wall.
Woolworths is as British as fish and chips. It will almost be like an old friend going IF they go to the wall.
What do others think?
Do we still have high street?
I thought they went years ago haven't the big supermarket chains already wiped out the high streets? Woolworths was the last survivor in the high street everyone else has gone.
We can blame supermarket giants and people for the demise of the high street disappearance, and gone with it is the community spirit, when shop keepers knew who you were and greeted you like a friend.
I am surprised that Woolworths have been able to hold on so long it is a shame they have lost the battle now.
Ermmm........I think the high street is alive and well in many towns and cities.
The Co Op in Strood and Dartford and Chatham have all gone. Massive stores with massive floor space. The one in Strood and Dartford had been there nearly 100 years. The vast majority of Co Op's that used to sell electrical goods has gone.
There are many high streets near to where I live, and they are def up and running. The shopping centres like Bluewater and Lakeside, which is two of many, have helped to hurt the high streets.
You can shop indoors, out of the cold and rain. Who would not want that option to shop?
But I could name 30 high streets easily that are still thriving, maybe not thriving like they used too, but they are still alive and kicking with shoppers.
The Co Op in Strood and Dartford and Chatham have all gone. Massive stores with massive floor space. The one in Strood and Dartford had been there nearly 100 years. The vast majority of Co Op's that used to sell electrical goods has gone.
There are many high streets near to where I live, and they are def up and running. The shopping centres like Bluewater and Lakeside, which is two of many, have helped to hurt the high streets.
You can shop indoors, out of the cold and rain. Who would not want that option to shop?
But I could name 30 high streets easily that are still thriving, maybe not thriving like they used too, but they are still alive and kicking with shoppers.
Quote by kentswingers777
Cubes, you took me right back to my childhood mentioning the Green Shield stamps. I remember looking through the catalogue and dreaming of Mum buying the swimming pool, which probably cost 3 million books! Instead, my Mum used to go and exchange the books for exciting stuff like sheets and pillowcases.
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:Pure cruelty letting us kids look at what we 'could' have, then exiting with a couple of flannels and matching hand towel :undecided:
I understood that Woollies was part of the Dixons, Curries, PC World group. I could understand PC World going under as their customer attitude is poo, but I still do shop at woollies and there is a nice convenient 1 near us so it will be a shame to see it go and replaced by one of those £1 shops or similar fly by night no guarantee lot :cry:
Sex God
Hopes it stays open until after january so my gift vouchers for christmas pressies aint kerplunked 
Can we put to bed that the co - op has gone as far as Department stores etc go, they may have gone in some areas of the country but certainly in Yorkshire, Humberside, Lancashire and Merseyside, they are plentiful, well laid out and going strong...... i should know i work for them.
As for Woolies as sad as it is we have all contributed to their demise by not buying from them etc, and the company sat back on their laurels and thought they were alright as they were a big name, it is however not down to the current financial crisis solely that they are on the verge its been coming for 10 years.
Fact is if we still want shops and shopping centres we need to get of our pc`s and support them!
As for Woolies as sad as it is we have all contributed to their demise by not buying from them etc, and the company sat back on their laurels and thought they were alright as they were a big name, it is however not down to the current financial crisis solely that they are on the verge its been coming for 10 years.
Fact is if we still want shops and shopping centres we need to get of our pc`s and support them!
