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Woolworths Memories

gary_m_walton said:
Hi Derek, I recall Woolworths on the Coventry Road Birmingham, at what is known as the Wheatsheaf (junction of Lode Lane and the A45 Coventry Road). I think Pep & Co. and Poundland now occupy that building judging by the brickwork. For me, the single item that made it so special was the vast range of Airfix kits. These were all made up, painted and pinned to a huge board over the model counter, maybe a dozen or more kits. Yes, they sold more than just wool! They were mostly WW2 planes both British and German as I recall. Of course, they were all done to a far superior standard than I could ever hope to do myself. Being around 7 or 8 at the time (and an avid Airfix modeller), this was a constant source of fascination to me whenever I went in with my Mom (which was a lot as we lived in Ventnor Road). I'm not sure whether a similar display was in all of their stores. However, the importance of Woolworths and model kits should not be underestimated! Kind Regards, Gary
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Hi Derek, I used to do my christmas shopping at that Sheldon Woolworths too when my sister and I were kids in the 1950"s/60"s, we went there to spend the pocket money we had saved and walked the shop for hours to find christmas gifts for each other and mum and dad and gran, I still remember the wooden floor boards and I still shopped there when I was an adult with my children.
Wendy
 
oldMohawk said:
I remember the Sutton Coldfield Woolworths as it was in the late 1960s.
image from another thread only visible if logged in
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from https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/old-street-pics.38737/post-629970
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What great picture, love the sports Argus van aswel l really miss paper that on a Saturday evening, hanging outside the news agent waiting for the delivery driver to drop them off
 
Great photo, at the time of demolition. Presumably this is a photo that's been coloured in - brings out lots of detail. Viv.
 
mw0njm. said:
View attachment 132208i liked the layout, all the goods were in a island that you walked around.you could see what you were after. not like todays shops. it could be anywere. you did not have to ask a shop shelf filler. "excuse me were is such and such"
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Good to see this photo as it supports a comment I made somewhere on BHF about Woolworth. The photo clearly shows their slogan the "3d. to 6d. stores". The first time I saw that slogan was on the Woolworth store in New Street near the Odeon cinema.
Generally folk refer to Woolworth stores as Woolworths but correctly it should be Woolworth's as there is no 's' n the name.
Their stores are greatly missed. Other places have now taken their places, most having a more warehouse feel, but they do not have the charisma of the Woolworth stores.
 
mw0njm. said:
View attachment 132208i liked the layout, all the goods were in a island that you walked around.you could see what you were after. not like todays shops. it could be anywere. you did not have to ask a shop shelf filler. "excuse me were is such and such"
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I.thought, earlier that the little cartoon was quite funny. I've just gone back for another look and I find that "a Scotch man" has been censored out.
A bit over-zealous, in my humble opinion.
 
A photo in the Merry Christmas thread reminded me of this thread. The picture is also here in post 44.
If you had a very tight Christmas present budget the Bull Ring was the place to shop. In the Woolworth store more or less everything you might want to buy was there. For many a trip into town on the 24/29/29A/31A/32/37/44/44A. Also 42/48 trams (later 10/49) 50 bus. 84 tram, later (2/48) 52 and 54 buses, plus the Coventry Road trolleybus routes 56/92/94/96/99 later (7/1951) replaced by 58/60 buses.
I firmly believe that the most missed stores, in recent times, were all those Woolworth ones, with the well known Winfield brand. Most other closures had alternative shops, but 'Woolies' was unique.
 
my memories are all of the old Woolworths down by the Bull Ring, went there with my dad every Christmas shopping not just for presents but trimmings and a cup of tea, being poor I some how always felt a bit rich in Woolworths, it was Christmas to me, later with both my boys we went every year at Christmas to Wooly's, and they treasure those memories, as I do.Paul
 
paul stacey said:
my memories are all of the old Woolworths down by the Bull Ring, went there with my dad every Christmas shopping not just for presents but trimmings and a cup of tea, being poor I some how always felt a bit rich in Woolworths, it was Christmas to me, later with both my boys we went every year at Christmas to Wooly's, and they treasure those memories, as I do.Paul
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Those special days in woolworth's in the Bullring could never be forgotten Paul, & unfortunately, could never replaced. As a worker at woolies, I really enjoyed every second at work. It was sometimes hard work in the kitchen in the cafeteria, but I still loved arriving at work every day.
 
Recorded in my diary for 8th February 1958 that I went to a self-service Woolworths in Yardley and later that day went to Woolworths in Acocks Green. Perhaps the self-service stores were just being introduced and still quite a novelty. Mention has been made on this thread that you could walk round an island with various items for sale and then presumably ask an assistant in the centre of the island that you were interested in buying a particular item. Can anyone confirm that this was the system before self-service? Thanks. Dave.
 
farmerdave said:
Recorded in my diary for 8th February 1958 that I went to a self-service Woolworths in Yardley and later that day went to Woolworths in Acocks Green. Perhaps the self-service stores were just being introduced and still quite a novelty. Mention has been made on this thread that you could walk round an island with various items for sale and then presumably ask an assistant in the centre of the island that you were interested in buying a particular item. Can anyone confirm that this was the system before self-service? Thanks. Dave.
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From my days working at the bull ring store, I believe you are quite correct. There was always some lady offering some assistance.
 
Yes there was an assistant surrounded by counters. Well at least in the 1960s which I remember most. They were flat, deep counters with long sections - not very deep - crammed with items for sale, from Robertson’s jams to sock and knickers. It was a browsers haven. Everything in front of you. They were glass counters edged with lots of chrome. Later the fittings were, I think, made up more of perspex. I don’t remember any sections for hanging clothes etc (like Ladybird children’s clothes) until much later on.

Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Yes there was an assistant surrounded by counters. Well at least in the 1960s which I remember most. They were flat, deep counters with long sections - not very deep - crammed with items for sale, from Robertson’s jams to sock and knickers. It was a browsers haven. Everything in front of you. They were glass counters edged with lots of chrome. Later the fittings were, I think, made up more of perspex. I don’t remember any sections for hanging clothes etc (like Ladybird children’s clothes) until much later on.

Viv.
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i was fasinated by the electrical section,all the bulb holders on a board on the wall, the assistent always tested a bulb,before you took it.away.... h&s would have a fit now,all them live sockets.
 
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In the Hawthorn Road, Kingstanding branch they had poles above the counters (was this the pneumatic payment system ?). The only reason I remember this is because the monkey they sold would be hung from this. I so wanted one but never got one. Viv.
 
Most Woolworth stores looked similar - only the size differed. That was one of their hallmarks. Another was what ever was the fashion or needs of the time e.g. Christmas, Spring Cleaning, Easter. summer holidays etc. items that you might want to but were always prominent as you entered the store.
Woolworth should not have failed, it is greatly missed by an awful lot of people.
 
Radiorails said:
Most Woolworth stores looked similar - only the size differed. That was one of their hallmarks. Another was what ever was the fashion or needs of the time e.g. Christmas, Spring Cleaning, Easter. summer holidays etc. items that you might want to but were always prominent as you entered the store.
Woolworth should not have failed, it is greatly missed by an awful lot of people.
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no neither do I Allan, it was always full of customers. perhaps they "were too cheap"
 
mw0njm. said:
i was fasinated by the electrical section,all the bulb holders on a board on the wall, the assistent always tested a bulb,before you took it.away.... h&s would have a fit now,all them live sockets.
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I do remember lots of shops around at the time having the same facility. You are correct, H & S would not allow that today, even though it was just a simple case of common sense in those days. Says a lot about how times have changed
 
farmerdave said:
Recorded in my diary for 8th February 1958 that I went to a self-service Woolworths in Yardley and later that day went to Woolworths in Acocks Green. Perhaps the self-service stores were just being introduced and still quite a novelty. Mention has been made on this thread that you could walk round an island with various items for sale and then presumably ask an assistant in the centre of the island that you were interested in buying a particular item. Can anyone confirm that this was the system before self-service? Thanks. Dave.
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Dave, I remember a Woolworths at Acocks Green and at Sheldon (Wheatsheaf) but can't recall one at Yardley. Do you mean the one at the Yew Tree? That of course was Yardley but to me as an 8 yr old in 1958 I associated Yardley with the Swan and Colliers Corner.
 
jmadone said:
Dave, I remember a Woolworths at Acocks Green and at Sheldon (Wheatsheaf) but can't recall one at Yardley. Do you mean the one at the Yew Tree? That of course was Yardley but to me as an 8 yr old in 1958 I associated Yardley with the Swan and Colliers Corner.
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Unfortunately my diary just says "Yardley" and being 62 years ago I cannot remember exactly where it was. Agree that I always associate the Swan with Yardley. Previously on that day I had been to Blakesley Hall, which I think is also in Yardley.
 
I got my wife from Woolworth. Or to put it a bit better, she was a shop assistant there late 60’s early 70’s. Sorry not Brum, but with Woolworth that is probably OK. You could always find what you wanted in a Woolies. The brand name Winfield still gives us an “Ooohh” feeling, especially when it turns up at home now in an old tin of bits and bobs. Andrew.
 
farmerdave said:
Unfortunately my diary just says "Yardley" and being 62 years ago I cannot remember exactly where it was. Agree that I always associate the Swan with Yardley. Previously on that day I had been to Blakesley Hall, which I think is also in Yardley.
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church rd branch, never a fat lot in that branch
 
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