the wonder of woolies

[Barbara]

These are sad times dont you think, we are losing things that were part of our (or my) childhood, the first record I ever bought was , willie and the hand jive, by cliff, from woolies, I think it was 1/11.

[Tig]

Arh those were the days Barbara - when p's were d's

It is a shame because the people on the front line (shop floor) don't cause these things to happen, it is them that sits at the top making the key decisions Looks like they needed better management! What happened to all the profits they made during the 'boom' years? It beggars belief that they thought it would go on forever - that is why prudent contingency plans should underpin any business.

I hope a buyer can be found to take on their debts and turn the company around.

It is the same with all the major building firms that are moaning - they made huge profits when property prices shot up (some of the big companies were sat on land bought in the days when it was cheap) It doesn't help those at the sharp end though - Mr & Mrs Ordinary

[nightowl]

My first record too. And my first make-up. And my first pair of tights..15 shillings (75p) a pair!That was a lot of money back then!

[JennyWrenn]

Do you remember they had laydees serving behind counters - the make up counter was awesome with laydees heavily made up and bee hives

I was only an ickle girl and used to stare at them. I then worked there during my college hols and served on the pottery counter - I really loved it

To me now I have to admit the one in my town is just like a big sweet shop and there are always horrendous queues

[Amo]

My Nan used to call it the penny shop. I think she still had some of her wedding crockery that was from there.

[Ladygardener]

If it goes I think we'll all miss it. I remember ours in the town I was born having wooden floors and Santa at Christmas at the back of the shop. I remember the loose broken biscuits which they weighed out for you. I worked there 33 years ago and still have fond memories of it.

[nightowl]

When I was little, at Easter, our Woolies used to have a HUGE choccy egg in the window!!

It had a sort-of crazy-paving effect, with sugar flowers stuck on it and a big ribbon and bow tied around it.

I wanted it soooo much!

[JennyWrenn]

Was it a real one N.O. - bet it was - nothing artifical in those days ;D

[nightowl]

I'm pretty sure it was Jen. I think there was a raffle for it. Probably a good thing I never got my hands on it, I would have made myself very
;D

[Jasmine]

Was going to get some Woolies vouchers for a couple of medium sized boy's forthcoming birthdays - now what do I get instead?

[farmersboy]

Argos instead ;D

[JennyWrenn]

M & S do some really nice Children's vouchers

They are in the form of "credit cards" and have a robin on them that sort of winks ;D

[farmersboy]

Argos also do them in card form

[Jasmine]

Thanks for the ideas.
Went through Woolies last night and you'd never know that anything was wrong. There's a huge amount of offers but all the stores are doing those.

[Deleted]

I started working for woolies a year ago, and we're all very As usual in these situations, we get treated like mushrooms Just for your info, though, the whole company is going into a massive sale from friday Definately some bargains to be had

[Tig]

I thought about you RM when they first announced the problems

Thanks for the 'nod' on the sale

x Tig

[Ladygardener]

I wonder if anyone from the boards went to the sale? I'd love to go but I'm working.

[Jasmine]

I went to 2 Woolies today and the queues to pay were round the stores - you couldn't move or see anything on the shelves. I gave up in the end. I hope they can find someone to buy the stores - it said on the news that about 400+ people had been made redundant at their head office today - what a miserable Christmas it will be for them.

[Jasmine]

...and now they haven't been able to find a buyer for the chain what a miserable Christmas for all the people who work in a Woolies store.

[Barbara]

I went to my lcal woolies this morning, I had to come out it was so packed, queues to the till a mile long, if these people had used woolies before it wouldn't be going bust now. I feel so sorry for the staff.

[Jasmine]

You're right Barbara. I've just read that Woolies has 30,000 staff, 25,000 work in their stores.

[JennyWrenn]

If it is bought I dread to think who it will be - from some foreign parts maybe who could turn it into something awful

Itwould be nice if it could be turned back to how it was - with laydees behind counters selling their wares

Each counter had its own smell I remember it well - am going down memory lane now as a I type

[farmersboy]

Just heard on the news,Iceland are takeing over i think 50 stores,and Lidel is interested,also Morrisons

[Chuckles]

They are probably only interested because they have mainly prime spots in most towns and also a licence to sell food

[Deleted]

You're right Chuckles. They want the sites rather than taking over the Woolies brand. At least there may be a glimmer of hope for some of the poor shop staff who might be able to apply for jobs at new shops if any of them get converted.

Otherwise, it's a pretty miserable Christmas for Woolies workers, MFI workers, car manufacturers, small businesses etc etc etc

FA x

[Ruthie]

I haven't shopped in Woolies for years, although like everyone else I used to. The big Woolies in Norwich disappeared many years ago to be replaced with a much smaller store which I think I went in once. They haven't sold anything I want in years!

Last week I went in a Woolies which was opened in the outskirts of Norwich about 4-5 years ago as " The Big W". It was quite good then but soon reverted to Woolies and sold off some of the floor space. Anyway, a lot of things were 1/2 price but they certainly weren't things I wanted and I couldn't stay in there long because it was so cold!!

I feel VERY sorry for the staff who have been working for a non progressive, non innovative management for years. Now it's too late to pull it back I think.

[JennyWrenn]

The Woolies in Macclesfield would always have two cashiers by the door and massive queues - you could see the queues from the street so it put you off going in

To re site the cashier desks at the end of the store would have I thought been a better deal

M & S dont have their cashier desks by the door - in fact dont know many that do

[farmersboy]

ASDA ;D

[JennyWrenn]

Supermarkets yes that is correct but then you dont see such massive queues from the car park to put you off going in

[farmersboy]

True