Woolies joins Xmas sale fever
Friday 5th December 2008, 11:15AM GMT.
Woolworths today became the latest High Street name to bring an early Christmas present to beleaguered shoppers by announcing it was slashing up to 50 per cent off its prices.
The half price sale brought bargain hunters out in force to towns across Shropshire and Mid Wales despite the gloom of the credit crunch.
A price cut and late opening hours at M&S yesterday also saw the tills jingling across the region.
Shoppers were this morning waiting outside the Woolies branch in Oswestry hoping to grab some bargains.
Shopper Carol Morris, of Oswestry, said: “I feel it’s the heart of the town. It will be such a shame if it has to close.”
Brian Taylor, and his wife Marie, also of Oswestry, were also queuing. He said: “My daughter phoned us up and said there was a sale on and because she is at work she asked us to come down and see what they have got.”
Stores in Shrewsbury and Wellington reported being busy just after doors had opened.
The massive discounting drive by Woolworths administrator Deloitte, comes the day after an unsuccessful bid by Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis for Woolworths which would have seen the retention of the Woolworths name and acquisition of a large slice of the retail business.
Neville Kahn, from Deloitte, said it had hired additional staff to cope with increased demand and moved extra goods to all stores.
“There is continuing interest in the business and the sale will continue whilst potential buyers finalise their plans for the purchase of the business,” he said.
Highlights of the sale will include up to 50 per cent off toys – a huge draw for shoppers working on behalf of Santa. There will also be 30 per cent off Christmas trees and decorations, 50 per cent off all greeting cards, 20 per cent off personal gifts and reductions on all entertainment products.
The sale follows a 20 per cent price cut yesterday at M&S which led to long queues in its county stores.
Shoppers stood in line for up to half an hour at M&S in Telford Town Centre yesterday to pay. Debenhams and many other stores also had major money-off offers swelling visitor figures.
Telford Town Centre manager Tracy Hadley said 54,500 shoppers visited the centre yesterday – 8,600 up on the previous Thursday.
By Sue Austin
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we shall all miss the wonder of woolies
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I’ll second that Devon Salopian
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Sure will miss Woolies! The Welshpool store was jam packed from morning to late this afternoon the queue’s went right to the back of the shop and then back up again at one time.
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Early childhood memories were my mom and dad taking me on the 909 Midland Red Bus from Broseley to Bridgnorth for a day out and going into what seemed the magical wonderland of Woolies with the endless counters of sweets and toys.
What a shame such a national institution is closing down.
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Ah well …. if woolies were a “national institution” like a bank …..
How much more of our “national” trading landscape is going to dissappear before “something” happens?
Sadly – Woollies does seem to belong to a bygone age – with the “endless counters of sweets and toys”
- but –
Also, sadly I see this as the contuing demise of Great Britain PLC….. Last one out … don’t forget to turn off the lights!
Very Sad … and VERY worrying
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i do hope someone takes over woollies and revamps the stores and we will support woollies. latest news is that morrisons supermarkets have taken over 238 co-op stores
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Woolies have been an institution for so many years and I still have fond memories of the Shrewsbury Store when I was a teenager having chips and gravy in the restaurant and listening to the records in the music dept :-)
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Woolworths did not move with the times – in years gone by – Woolworths became a expensive brick and brack store with no clear identity.
Why would people buy cd’s and dvd’s from Woolworths when they are cheaper at Supermarkets
Clothes ovepeiced compared to Primark.
Woolworths was unable to cope and hence failed. I shall not miss it.
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Woolies have made no effort in the past 30 years to change or adapt to changing markets. Their former success was built on the sales of records and cds, children’s clothes & toys and cheap & nasty household products.
If I want cds, I buy online or from Tesco.
If I want children’s clothes, I can buy “George” at ASDA.
If I want toys, I can buy from many places, including Tesco, ASDA, Argos etc.
If I want cheap and nasty household products, I can buy from many, many places.
Woolies has tried to exist on its previous brand image. However, it doesn’t fit with today’s economy or society. The market is there for their product but the mix and price points are wrong.
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I’m sure we shall have a brandnew charity shop in Wellington when it’s gone!!
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I’m Gutted. Brough Val Doonigan CD (for my Dad) before the sale!
Went to get a cheap calender and all that was left was Daniel O’Donnel!
But I have fond memories of buying my first record on Woolies. It was The Shadows, A string of Hits just wish I had a record player to play it on.
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I worked in Ludlow Woolworths for two years.
It will be a shame to see it close down- I don’t think anyone would go into Castle Square anymore if it does.
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H. St. John Peasbody
How can local stores keep prices lower that the likes of tesco and asda? If everyone thought like you we would have no high street at all. In Wellington we are left with charity shops and betting shops because most people want the cheap goods from the big stores leaving the local shops to either cut prices to a bare minnimum or close down.
How can local shops compete when Tesco can sell products for less than they cost to make in the first place?
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