The Wonder of Woolworths

My Saturday job was in Woolies which I thoroughly enjoyed once I got over being terrified. Initially attached to the biscuit counter later ‘promoted’ to haberdashery where I was relieved to escape the smell of the broken biscuits (quite nauseating after a long day). I learned to measure and enjoyed many a chat along the lines of ‘do you think these buttons…..’. . Working there did a lot for my mental arithmetic, boosted my confidence and gave me some welcome spending money. It was a happy if busy and disciplined place to be. I also learned to manage money. My Mum encouraged (insisted!) my pay be divided into three, a third to save, a third handed over as a contribution to the household and a third to spend. It seemed fair to me and was a sound lesson for life. Good times.

Woolworths here as well (NZ), a supermarket chain, linked somehow to the Australian one I think. Not the old Woolworths back in the 60’s, very sad when that closed, great for makeup, kitchen stuff, pantyhose, and Pic’nMix…. Loved the sweet counter.

Beechnut

I know what you mean. Going into town usually meant a wander around Woolies.
I wonder if we will look back fondly about B&M.

Not really, think it’s expensive, especially since they did our store up

Whilst on Holiday in Australia, there was a Woolworths there, they were very very big and stocked everything, much more than what our Woolworths used to have. It was an amazing experience, they had everything from books, make-up, clothes, DIY, sweets, Food, etc etc, too much to count. Excellent trip and an experience.

I always associate Woolworths with shoplifting. If was rife, particularly the makeup and pick and mix.

I missed our Woolies when it closed down. I particularly liked their selection of Ladybird brand clothing in the children’s dept.

I remember not long before it finally closed I had taken my dear old Dad for some shopping there. My Dad was about 80.

We were at the checkout emptying the trolley onto the conveyor when a bargain basket nex to us caught my Dad’s eye. It was full of small white unmarked boxes slightly smaller than a cigarette packet.

Curiosity got the better of him while I was emptying the trolley and he opened one and pulled out a mini tampon. He dangled it by the string and said in a loud voice “what the hell is that? I kept my head down and carried on emptying the trolley 😆

Beechnut

I know what you mean. Going into town usually meant a wander around Woolies.
I wonder if we will look back fondly about B&M.

😂probably
I used to love Woolies and I now love B&M and Home Bargains.

I miss Woolies - it was my go to place to get needles and thread and other bits and bobs for crafting or general household repairs.

I loved the Woolies food store in Sydney - masses of really fresh produce. I did my weekly shop there for two years.

I miss Woolworths. I liked to pop in just in case there was something I needed. I always seemed to find something. I still have several items from there.

Loads of stuff here from Woolies. Toys we have kept for visiting children, stationery supplies, crockery etc. My favourite vase is a Woolworths one, circa 1965. I have some Christmas decs which my parent bought in 1956 or 1957, still in good condition and far nicer than the imported "vintage style" tat which the shops will soon be full of again.

aww bless @HattieTopper reminds me always of mum too I know some shops are similar but to me nothing will ever top Woolworths!

My late husband used to always make his way to the record department and then to the pick n mix with our two children, they loved filling up their little bags with sweeties on their own.

My husband always chose liquorice torpedos for himself. When I pass a store selling old fashioned sweets and see torpedos in a jar, I feel like crying. He used to ring me up and say, don't forget the torpedos.

I miss Woolies. I did a lot of shopping in there.
I always bought the Ladybird clothes when mine were little.
I always picked my favourites out of the pick and mix.

I miss Woolworths .
It was very popular for all sorts of things .
Whenever we came home my daughter's pockets were stuffed with Milady chocolates and she and her sister had chocolate smiles .
I asked her where she got them from .
The nice lady in Woolworths gives them to us .
No , she's discovered the joys of the Pick n '
Mix ie :
Pick and Don't Pay For It !

I loved Woolies but now the Range does most of the Woolies market share. Ably supported by the heirs to the great Poundstretcher, B&M and Home Bargains.

I love B&M and Home Bargains. The Range too!

nanna
No, no Kmart or Target or Walmart but i think Walmart bought out one of our chains "ASDA" which is similar. It used to only sell groceries and was owned by ASsociated DAiries.

Do you have KMart in the UK? That is the nearest thing to the old Woolworths. We do have Woolworths ( Big W) but it is not like the old one, a big store but not super cheap. We also have a Woolworths food store that took over from Safeway. The best competitive food store for us is Aldi, much cheaper than Coles and Woolies.

I miss Woolies too. It was much superior to the Poundstretcher which replaced it in our town not least in the quality and friendliness of the staff. That was a good programme aonk. Some of the shops they mentioned as gone I hadn’t realised. Has Burton’s gone ? Our Carpet Right is just about to close.

Our Woolies is now a pound shop and much used. It still feels a bit like Woolies, same floor and checkouts, somewhat shabby now.
I miss our own Co-op which took up half the High Street. It sold everything. The food and butchers shop was in a separate building but the main one sold everything, furniture, electrical items, clothes, shoe shop, school outfitter, travel agent. You could get everything you needed there even order your coal and oil plus getting your divi!

poppysmum

is it just me or do many other people miss Woolworths? half my home seems to be Woolies! it helped me when the kids were young toys clothes especially school items.
When I was a teen it was the place to go to get the latest Top 20 hits and some make up the more garish the better!
when making a home everything from mugs to cookware was from Woolworths, plus knitting patterns and yarn too keep the family clothed!
finally Christmas was the time; Christmas hits blaring out, trees decorated with brightly coloured tinsel and sparkly decorations. a lot of my decs are over 40 years old from Woolies!

We loved good old Woolies. I read somewhere recently that they were thinking of bringing it back to the high street, read this.........

Woolworths, the once-beloved pick ‘n’ mix sweets and bargain prices store, could indeed make a comeback to UK High Streets. After its British shops closed in 2009 due to the financial crisis, the brand continued in Germany as “Woolworth.” The current chief of HH Holding, Roman Heini, who has been Woolworth’s CEO since 2020, expressed interest in expanding internationally and making “Woolworth great again” in the UK. However, it’s unclear how the brand would be spelled if it returned. Woolworth Germany owns the brand name “Woolworth” (without the ‘s’) throughout Europe. While there are no immediate plans, a potential return is not ruled out for the mid- or long-term future12. The offerings might differ from the past, as Woolworth Germany now focuses on clothing and homeware at unbeatable prices1. Challenges such as supply chain disruptions and post-pandemic turmoil stand in the way, but the nostalgia for Woolworths remains strong in the UK1. So, keep an eye out for a possible comeback! 😊

Learn more

1

bbc.co.uk
2

standard.co.uk
3

gbnews.com
4

ladbible.com

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aonk

The High Street shops we loved and lost is a series which started last Thursday on Channel 5. I’m not sure how many episodes there are but it’s on again this week. I enjoyed it and think that some of the posters on here might like it too. Woolworths is mentioned among many other shops.

Thanks. I'll check that out.

The High Street shops we loved and lost is a series which started last Thursday on Channel 5. I’m not sure how many episodes there are but it’s on again this week. I enjoyed it and think that some of the posters on here might like it too. Woolworths is mentioned among many other shops.

Still have a Woolworths in Germany, not as good though.

There is still Woolworth in Australia. Very different to our old Woolies. The store near my daughter, is a huge supermarket downstairs and upstairs is everything else you could ever want. I look at everything I would ever want while she does the food shop.
I miss our Woolies. When I was 11 my friend Gaynor took me there on the way home from school and helped me choose my first bra. (She was already equipped). It was pale green. Sadly I had nothing to put in it but I felt very grown up. My Mum tried not to laugh 😄

I miss woolies as some of their homewares and children's clothes were really very nice. The duvet sets were always on trend too. I must admit I do like home bargains and b&M but they are quite 'cheap' quality compared to what woolworths offered. I do like the factory outlet shop though but we don't have any near