Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Nickbat on 22 November 2008, 23:12:57

Title: Woolworths
Post by: Nickbat on 22 November 2008, 23:12:57
As most of you probably know, Woolies is in financial trouble. Tossing aside the economic arguments for a moment, I for one would be genuinely sad if the company sank. Since I was boy, I've regularly used my local branch, even more so now I have kids. There is something special about their pick n/ mix sweets, their toy section and the "Ladybird" brand of school clothes.

I'm sure the big supermarkets may offer better selections, and possibly cheaper prices, but Woolies will always be special for me.

Hope it can be rescued. :y    
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Baron Von Spongebob on 22 November 2008, 23:25:31
The Wonder Of Woolies   ;)
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: amigov6 on 22 November 2008, 23:35:01
I used to pester my parents for a matchbox car from Woollies when i was a nipper, still collect them now! [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 22 November 2008, 23:36:05
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I used to pester my parents for a matchbox car from Woollies when i was a nipper, still collect them now! [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]


cars have come on a bit since then though Guy eh  ;D :P
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: hotel21 on 22 November 2008, 23:38:06
If they closed, where else could you get a five finger discount on the handfull of pick and nix mix before the ABC minors on a saturday morning??   :(
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 22 November 2008, 23:40:48
Used to get all my cd's from Wollies but get them from Asda now,
Pick n mix  :y white mice... and I only had what I paid for ;D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: albitz on 22 November 2008, 23:55:42
99P Asda bargain basket,more Rick Astley cd,s than you could shake a stick at. ;D ;D
Would be a shame to lose Woolies,still shop there myself. :y
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 22 November 2008, 23:57:50
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99P Asda bargain basket,more Rick Astley cd,s than you could shake a stick at. ;D ;D
Would be a shame to lose Woolies,still shop there myself. :y

Got your moped from there didn't you say!

Oh and Rick Astley is to up market for Asda's bargain basket.... got mine from Morrisons :P ;D :D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: albitz on 23 November 2008, 00:01:04
How very dare you.I got my "moped" from one of the best con men in Essex. :P ;D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Vamps on 23 November 2008, 00:01:09
I heard it on the radio that it was for sale for £1.00, shall we club together..... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: albitz on 23 November 2008, 00:08:26
It always was a bit cheap & cheerful. :D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Danny on 23 November 2008, 00:09:11
that £1 purchase would saddle you with debts totalling more than every member of this forum has collectively!!
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 23 November 2008, 00:15:03
Think they were joking Danny, think Woolies started business selling everything for a £1 ;D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Vamps on 23 November 2008, 00:25:36
Just had a thought, bet the £1.00 shop are doing well............. :y :y :y
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 23 November 2008, 00:29:47
Who Poundstretcher  :D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Jay w on 23 November 2008, 00:34:23
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Think they were joking Danny, think Woolies started business selling everything for a £1 ;D

Its both......

F W Woolworth's starting selling goods at $1, the store was so succsessful it had spread all over the US and in then they move the operation into the UK with the same premise, all goods were £1, from there Woolies became a household name.

Today there is talk that they will be sold for £1, and as Danny said this would include their debts and liabilities......


Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: amigov6 on 23 November 2008, 01:04:21
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Quote
Think they were joking Danny, think Woolies started business selling everything for a £1 ;D

Its both......

F W Woolworth's starting selling goods at $1, the store was so succsessful it had spread all over the US and in then they move the operation into the UK with the same premise, all goods were £1, from there Woolies became a household name.

Today there is talk that they will be sold for £1, and as Danny said this would include their debts and liabilities......


'Tis sadly true. You can become Lord Woollies for an "Alan Whicker"............provided you've substantial coin to throw at yet another supermarket victim.
       Seems to be a sign of the times. :(
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Vamps on 23 November 2008, 01:10:03
Quote
Quote
Think they were joking Danny, think Woolies started business selling everything for a £1 ;D

Its both......

F W Woolworth's starting selling goods at $1, the store was so succsessful it had spread all over the US and in then they move the operation into the UK with the same premise, all goods were £1, from there Woolies became a household name.

Today there is talk that they will be sold for £1, and as Danny said this would include their debts and liabilities......



Are we sure about this?  Woolworths has been around a long time and a £1.00 in the 60's would have fed a family for a week :-/ :-/ :-/
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Vamps on 23 November 2008, 01:13:52
Thinking about it this is wrong as I can remember buying stuff in the 60's with my pocket money which was half a crown, perhaps it started as a 1.0d shop. :y
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: dieseldean on 23 November 2008, 02:39:48
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Who Poundstretcher  :D
if it keeps losing its value the pound will be carried out on stretcher  :D
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 23 November 2008, 03:50:44
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that £1 purchase would saddle you with debts totalling more than every member of this forum has collectively!!


Think the idea is along the scale of the barings bank collapse.  They have to sell for something, so they do a contract for a £1.  But rather than go zillions in debt I think they just hand over the keys and walk away so to speak.  Other details I dont know like the debts or stock in trade.
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: kris9128 on 23 November 2008, 08:02:15
yes woolies is for sale for a £1. for that you would get, 800 stores, 30,000 staff, ownership of a comapny that was started in 1879 and nearly £400 million of debt.  :o :o :o :o
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: waspy on 23 November 2008, 09:02:22
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Quote
Who Poundstretcher  :D
if it keeps losing its value the pound will be carried out on stretcher  :D

 ;D ;D ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 November 2008, 09:14:06
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Thinking about it this is wrong as I can remember buying stuff in the 60's with my pocket money which was half a crown, perhaps it started as a 1.0d shop. :y

Yes Mike Woolies have never been the same since the days of big counters with fascinating bits and pieces everywhere for 1d's!   The old fabulous wooden  fittings and 1920s/30s lighting made the scene complete for me as a child and in the 1950s/60s a lot of my pochet money or birthday present half crowns were spent their! :D :D :D ;)

Happy days! ;) ;) ;)

Now they are just another store on the high street that to me lacks personality, is often tatty, and just does not have that 'special' feel of all those decades ago. ::) ::)

Let them go!! ;)
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Nickbat on 23 November 2008, 10:10:06
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Quote
Thinking about it this is wrong as I can remember buying stuff in the 60's with my pocket money which was half a crown, perhaps it started as a 1.0d shop. :y

Yes Mike Woolies have never been the same since the days of big counters with fascinating bits and pieces everywhere for 1d's!   The old fabulous wooden  fittings and 1920s/30s lighting made the scene complete for me as a child and in the 1950s/60s a lot of my pochet money or birthday present half crowns were spent their! :D :D :D ;)

Happy days! ;) ;) ;)

Now they are just another store on the high street that to me lacks personality, is often tatty, and just does not have that 'special' feel of all those decades ago. ::) ::)

Let them go!! ;)

I'm still sentimental about Woolies. Yes, some of the stores area bit tatty, but I still think they bring something special to the high street.

Don't let them go!


 ;) ;D

Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 November 2008, 10:15:35
Quote
Quote
Quote
Thinking about it this is wrong as I can remember buying stuff in the 60's with my pocket money which was half a crown, perhaps it started as a 1.0d shop. :y

Yes Mike Woolies have never been the same since the days of big counters with fascinating bits and pieces everywhere for 1d's!   The old fabulous wooden  fittings and 1920s/30s lighting made the scene complete for me as a child and in the 1950s/60s a lot of my pochet money or birthday present half crowns were spent their! :D :D :D ;)

Happy days! ;) ;) ;)

Now they are just another store on the high street that to me lacks personality, is often tatty, and just does not have that 'special' feel of all those decades ago. ::) ::)

Let them go!! ;)

I'm still sentimental about Woolies. Yes, some of the stores area bit tatty, but I still think they bring something special to the high street.

Don't let them go!


 ;) ;D

 


Who is going to start a poll on this Nickbat?   Woolworth's to go?  /  Don't let Woolworth's go?  ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 November 2008, 10:18:33
What Do You Want To Happen To Woolworth's?  I have now started a poll at the top of this thread :D :D :y :y
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: HolyCount on 23 November 2008, 11:32:19
Buy it for a quid ---- have a massive sell off at a quid an item -- pocket the proceeeds and declare the company bankrupt --- walk away ( provided the directors personal liabilities are limited to a quid also )

Seriously though -- Woollies of the modern day bears no resemblance to the Woollies we all remember .... like to keep it -- but things change  :(
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 November 2008, 11:40:12
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Buy it for a quid ---- have a massive sell off at a quid an item -- pocket the proceeeds and declare the company bankrupt --- walk away ( provided the directors personal liabilities are limited to a quid also )

Seriously though -- Woollies of the modern day bears no resemblance to the Woollies we all remember .... like to keep it -- but things change  :(

Indeed HC, and quite a few high street names will be going in the near future! :( :(

With declining gross profit, their operating costs and liabilities will soon produce many negative net profit lines on their balance sheets which cannot be sustained for an indefinate period, which this current financial crisis is set to last for! :'( :'( :'(

Investors will seek actual returns, rather than nought, for their investments, which they will not enjoy in the retail trade for some time to come. :'( :'(

Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: HolyCount on 23 November 2008, 11:49:15
Methinks this has not all been caused by the current "crunch" .. but has been a long time coming. We all know the face of the High Street has been changing, largely due to internet commerce. I think that current ecomonic conditions have merely hastened the process.
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 November 2008, 11:58:22
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Methinks this has not been all caused by the current "crunch" .. but has been a long time coming. We all know the face of the High Street has bee changing, largely due to internet commerce. I think that current ecomonic conditions have merely hastened the process.

I would not disagree with that at all, as I witnessed what I believed was the real start of it in my trade in about 1990, in another financial crisis, with drastic cost cutting,  flatterned management structures, and ruthless price competition on the High Street which as a senior retail manager of a international company had to tackle; not a good time at all, which had not stopped when I left that company in 1996 after 28 years.  

In the national retail store company I then joined the same process was in hand and was still in action when I left in 2003, with the company being taken over shortly afterwards by Staples! ::) ::) ::)

There are many companies out there now, like the last one I worked for, who rarely produce a bottom line profit in the current trading situation :'( :'(.  That cannot go on! ::) ::) ::) ::)  The internet has, and is, just hastened the process!
 ;)
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: mars on 23 November 2008, 17:06:43
We don't spend a lot at Woollies but do shop there on a regular basis. I think it would be a shame if it disappears :(
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Jay w on 23 November 2008, 17:44:17
its only a matter of time before someone claims it is part of out 'national heritage' and so asks mr Brown for a handout
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Elite Pete on 23 November 2008, 17:55:44
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Buy it for a quid ---- have a massive sell off at a quid an item -- pocket the proceeeds and declare the company bankrupt --- walk away ( provided the directors personal liabilities are limited to a quid also )

Seriously though -- Woollies of the modern day bears no resemblance to the Woollies we all remember .... like to keep it -- but things change  :(
You haven't seen the Woolies in Whitchurch, Shropshire ::)
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: waspy on 23 November 2008, 18:00:52
They said on the news that Woolworths are 85 million in dept :o :o :o To me that's just plane bad management & stupid. How can they be allowed to get into that much dept :-?
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Elite Pete on 23 November 2008, 18:07:17
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They said on the news that Woolworths are 85 million in dept :o :o :o To me that's just plane bad management & stupid. How can they be allowed to get into that much dept :-?
Ask Peter Ridsdale :'(
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Pitchfork on 23 November 2008, 18:15:03
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Think they were joking Danny, think Woolies started business selling everything for a £1 ;D
I think it was six pence (Christian money)
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Danny on 23 November 2008, 18:42:39
Hilco are buying it anyway allegedly
Title: Re: Woolworths
Post by: Vamps on 24 November 2008, 22:55:04
Went into our out of town Woolies today, used to be Big W, now just called Woolworths. Looking very run down and tatty, loads of 3 for 2 offers and then got an additional 20% off at the till.
MP3 players £3 and £5 mobile phones £10.00 :o
They had no display of Christmas lights, as in the past :( loked like it was just a clearence outlet, I commented at the till that the place looked tatty, were they closing? Negative reply, just did not feel right :( but got some bargains. :y