Woolworth? Was it worth it....?
Suggested by DianaYeboah on Mon, 06/04/2009 - 12:38
Budget stores are said to be raking in the cash at the moment. But obviously not poor old Woolworths. ...Aaah Woolworths, with its slickly florescent strip lighting and stale penny sweets, it was a British institution. But what went wrong and why?
Panorama
Tue, 14/04/2009 - 11:52 – robert page
I watched the Panorama special on Woolworth’s last night and was shocked at the trail of personal devastation it has left behind, with its members of staff, and associates, almost destroying many family who received no warning at the state of the company, Why are the directors behind Woolworth’s not held responsible for this, and seemingly getting away with it with a slap on the wrists?
History repeating itself
Tue, 14/04/2009 - 13:52 – DianaYeboah
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I agree. When Woolworths went bust, entire towns, families and societies were left rocked. In a way I think this could link to the quite evident inequality between the north and south (something I was wondering about already today). Because the north was traditionally linked to manufacturing when this industry was weakened massive gaps in job availability became apparent and the brain drain of graduates and young people worsened.
Without vibrant strong businesses (like Woolworths) pumping money, encouraging talent and adding to regeneration of a region, these gaps will only grow and deepen with graver consequences.
save our institutions
Wed, 08/04/2009 - 09:24 – emma_kate
lots of people are sentimental about 'British institutions' like Woolworths, without actually ever making use of them. they just like them to be there because of what they represent. see also: local newspapers! i read a piece in the G2 recently about how much trouble a lot of regional papers are in. there was a mini-interview with a guy who ran a paper in bath (i think?). people were always saying to him, "oh, it's terrible that the paper's going from a daily to a weekly. it's a local institution!" when he said, "well, if only there were more people like you who bought it every day", they'd reply "oh no, i never BUY it!"
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Mon, 06/04/2009 - 12:51 – DianaYeboah
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I find it funny (not funny ha ha but funny strange) how people reacted when Woolworth went into liquidation. If I had a bag of penny sweets for every time I heard the phrase ‘national/British institution’ I’d be the most popular girl in my office.
If Woolworths was as loved as some claim, then why did it go under? We all loved it so much we stopped shopping there? That makes no sense. Also this new love for budget supermarkets is baffling too. For years these stores have been providing sustenance to large chunks of society but were not as mainstream as they are now.
Clearly this is linked to the current climate but where have they succeed where Woolworths failed and why? A conundrum I’m sure you’ll agree.
the shoppers were no longer
Thu, 07/05/2009 - 16:10 – smiffy16
the shoppers were no longer there for woolworths wen i was younger i use to go in there for toys but now my cousin is at that age and all he wants is video games
the times moved on and "woolys" did not move with it
well at least thats my perception as a teen :)