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Rachel
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 Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:45 am Post subject: Chris Evans opens first Wellworths Store |
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Well he offered to on air last night....
The Woolwoths Store here in Dorchester is being re-opened as "Wellworths" next month by the Store manager of the old Woolworths Store. Most of the ex Woolworths staff will be working there too. How cool is that?!!!
I thought it may have made the local paper today but no mention of it (yet)
Last edited by Rachel on Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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I spotted this yesterday and put something in the "Administration" thread!
It won't be easy, but all power to her, and I'm sure CE will be as good as his word. Will you be first in the queue if he does, Rach? 
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Rachel
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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yeah - I might run a brush through my hair and pop over there with my camera ( if I'm around that day)... and of course my autograph pad- I'm sure Chris would love to have my autograph.  |
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MadeinSurrey
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3130
Location: The Beautiful South
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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Can I have your autograph please Rachel? 
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MiS |
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Rachel
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I've managed it only twice so far MiS - Once from the best time of the day show " bring our celebs back down to earth" campaign. When you see a celeb , you rush up to them, then offer them your autograph ( It was John Nicol - he took it too) .......and a second time when somebody in a pub, asked for mine, - not sure why though ( mistook me for someone else perhaps).... but I gave it to him anyway....... |
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Ian Robinson
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3609
Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| RockitRon wrote: | | I'm sure CE will be as good as his word. |
D'ya think? My girlfriend's still waiting for the invite to his 40th Birthday Party he promised her. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: UK
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Rachel
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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| yes he did - if you listen to last night's show - they had the manager of the store on the show in the second hour during Foxy's slot. |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, even I heard it..
I think he's expecting Foxy to go along with him too. Maybe he's on such a high after his good news he'd agree to almost anything right now...
But, all credit to the new owner of the store.. it's a big move and I admire her for sticking her neck out.
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Rachel
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Ian Robinson
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, I take it back. He's actually doing it! Although, strangely, the owner herself didn't seem too impressed... |
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Rachel
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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This no internet thing is just too hard! I'm having a mini break from Lent just for half an hour or so..
Well; Chris came to Dorchester this morning - I took about 90 pictures and had a long chat with his driver: being a local girl I knew he would arrive at the back door where there was a crowd of about 4 people ( including the security staff) It was different story out front though - I've never seen Dorchester so busy, crowds like this haven't happend since the Romans were here.
I'll post just one picture today... more later
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RockitRon
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Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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I didn't see anybody wearing hats Rachel
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Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
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iknewdavidjacobsmum
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 336
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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| On the local news they all to be more interested in the Pick an Mix. CE got about 10 seconds airtime |
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colby
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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| iknewdavidjacobsmum wrote: | | On the local news they all to be more interested in the Pick an Mix. CE got about 10 seconds airtime |
Yay! There's justice in this world!
Perhaps the Pick 'n Mix will be offered its own radio show - 5-7pm weekdays perhaps? It's bound to be more relaxing on the eardrums. |
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Angela W
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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Lovely pic Rachel! Now big decision, middle of dartboard for practising, mantlepiece to keep kids away from fire................
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009 |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:50 am Post subject: |
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There's a good long report of the opening, and of the store itself, in the Daily Mail - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1161363/How-Woolies-employee-refused-quietly--reopened-store-Wellworths.html
They've ditched the CD/DVD/Games and children's clothing, but not the cheap plastic toys. Clinton's next door will be pleased that they're selling greetings cards.
I'm still puzzled as to why, if it was so profitable (claimed to be 33% last year - just one example in comparison, Wilkinson's pre-tax profit percentage on sales last year was 3%), it wasn't picked up by another retail chain.
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gfloyd
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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| colby wrote: | | Perhaps the Pick 'n Mix will be offered its own radio show. |
But how would Pick of the Pops feel about that?
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colby
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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| RockitRon wrote: | | I'm still puzzled as to why, if it was so profitable (claimed to be 33% last year - just one example in comparison, Wilkinson's pre-tax profit percentage on sales last year was 3%), it wasn't picked up by another retail chain. |
Is your question referring to Woolworths? I guess the explanation for "profitable" is that they were earning more than they were spending - but since they were delaying payments to suppliers and other creditors by many months, that's hardly surprising. Mind you, when the proverbial did hit the fan the true extent of the company's indebtedness was revealed at over £350 million. That tells a story all of its own. Other retailers didn't pick it up because (a) the Woolworths brand isn't worth a jot in the UK anymore (one reason among many for its demise) and (b) the size of the debt due to appalling management standards.
Interesting, though, that some of its "own label" brands have been acquired - such as Chad Valley (kids' stuff) which has been acquired by Argos.
I assume the only real asset Woolies had was its real estate - many prominent high street locations acquired in the 50s and 60s which have, in many cases, been bought by other retailers. Primark has acquired a number of them, as has Argos. |
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RockitRon
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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The Daily Mail report that I cross-referenced on the other thread
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1161363/How-Woolies-employee-refused-quietly--reopened-store-Wellworths.html
refers to a profit figure of 33% for that individual store, used when Miss Robertson took her business plan to her backers.
One might have thought that attractive enough to one of the chains which have cherry-picked other Woolworth sites. The place does already have Argos, Iceland and Primark (which picked up the failed QS/Be Wise outlet); that leaves TJ Morris, Poundland and Wilkinsons of those which were said to be running the slide-rule over individual stores who sat on their hands. I know what Rachel said when I mentioned it before, but Wilkinsons is the closest fit.
(Of course, if Miss Robertson has done her homework properly, Wellworths is the exact fit. A* to her)
There wasn't much real estate left in the Woolworth balance sheet; it was all sold and leased back before it was demerged out of Kingfisher.
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Ron
Last edited by RockitRon on Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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colby
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, I mis-read your post therefore! |
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RockitRon
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Rachel
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| I was in there only yesterday- bought two single duvet covers. I was in at 9am - shop empty, and still quite a bit of empty space but I like that- feels roomy and relaxed. It's still going really well in there - and they said it wouldn't last 6 months. |
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Briant
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 964
Location: Liverpool England UK
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Only another three months to go to prove 'them' wrong then, Rach!  |
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Rachel
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:41 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe it just feels like 6-months, Briant. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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They apparently served their 100,000th customer this week.
Meanwhile the Woolworths name has been launched on the web as an online shop, owned by the Littlewoods Direct people (who have coincidentally renamed themselves "Very") and selling toys and childrenswear, entertainment products and, you guessed it, Pick 'n' Mix sweeties.
What you might not have guessed would ever happen is about to, though -
Marks and Spencer is launching Pick 'n' Mix into 100 stores
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/ms-introduces-picnmix-sweet-range-1719993.html
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Ron |
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Ian Robinson
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Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Our local Woolworths is now a B&M Bargains, a cheap food and toy shop. Glad it's reopened - as our Council spokesman said "It's better than nothing"  |
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Mark Mayhew
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 2897
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| Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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I visited this Wellworths store earlier this week whilst on holiday in the West Country.
Very Woolworths like in style/appearance but fair play to the lady that set it up.
Sadly the rest of the town this store is in (Dorchester) is a huge disappointment-got out of there quickly and went to Weymouth for the rest of the day. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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A Wellworths update
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8379710.stm
Evaded the "Are you making money?" question deftly, but the store does look very well stocked, still clean, shiny and new, and that's a good sign.
Elsewhere, a former Woolies executive has just this month opened a chain of five similar stores under the name Alworths, at Didcot, Wokingham, Evesham, Warminster and Amersham. Intriguingly, Shop Direct, which bought the Woolworth name, is threatening legal action because it says Alworths is too close.
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Ron |
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R2Icon
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 1444
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| Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| There's always loads of people in there buying stuff and it's always clean, tidy and with everything perfectly(to an anorack degree) "faced up". Sometimes I think oooh should I pick this up.. the lines won't be straight anymore. They undercharged me for something a couple of weeks ago, I'd bought two items ( along with a load of other stuff) that looked the same but in fact were different ( £2 different) .. later that day, I noticed on the receipt, so I went back with their £2 , showed them the receipt, explained what they'd done. " Our system can't cope with that, I'll call the supervisor"... she came along... same answer, so I said, well look, you undercharged me because you scanned the cheaper item twice and you didn't scan the more expensive item, this two pound coin is yours, do you want it or not? Well we have no way of putting it in the till they said together. Ok , I'm going to leave it here, and what you do with it is up to you...... |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 9:13 am Post subject: |
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Just can't help some people, can you?
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Ron |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| I noticed that she invaded the question are you making any money. She probarly has to pay off a large loan and having to see if she will be braking even by this time next year. |
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R2Icon
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 1444
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| mark occomore wrote: | | I noticed that she invaded the question |
Brace! Brace! Brace! Incoming!!!!! |
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