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Lewis's Department Store

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kandor
  • Start date Start date
CaronBaynes said:
Name doesn’t ring a bell, I worked for a short time in soft furnishings and then a permanent job on the Wedgwood concession in the basement. Absolutely loved it!!!!
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she worked ground floor in the green grocery, near the minorees?..she served Noel Gordon, Crossroads, and her Mum regularly.
 
COMPRESSORMAN said:
she worked ground floor in the green grocery, near the minorees?..she served Noel Gordon, Crossroads, and her Mum regularly.
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Oh yes, thanks I saw that thread, I did see Noel Gordon from time to time as well as a few others from Crossroads, in fact the prop department purchased some of my China on occasions to use in scenes! However I still can not recollect this particular lady, I didn’t go over to grocery side, staying mainly in the main basement area. I worked with a lovely girl (then) Kim who worked for Royal Doulton, in fact she was my bridesmaid, was really hoping she was on her as sadly I moved away from the Birmingham area and lost touch
 
We seem to have strayed into Henry's Store (!), so I have moved posts to the Henry's Store thread here

catmum

Post in thread 'Henrys Stores'

Recently I came across a site where people were talking about the shops that had gone but were still missed. Henrys was one that came up but also someone mentioned Neatawear! It rings a bell but does anyone remember it and have I got the name right?
  • Appreciate
 
Imagine the scene back in September 1961? I was one of about fifteen (16/ 17 year old) new recruits to this icon of shopping delight, with the title of management trainee. As a group we had probably enjoyed our extended summer holidays as we were waiting for our GCE ‘O’ level results and Lewis’s were also waiting for some guarantee of our individual educational level. At that time we were offered the princely sum of £5 a week plus commission. Additional to our daily work, we were expected to reach a level of success with I think it was a twice weekly evening attendance at the Birmingham School of Economics which was the old building around Broad Street. The reward for a years study and a pass was £10, and one was then moved forward to the second year of study, towards our NRDC ( National Retail Distribution Certificate). I do remember that we used to gather at an old pub somewhere around the top of Hill Street.
Moving forward in time and our eduction we moved onto Aston University to continue with our studies after the old BSE closed. Our first and possibly only encounter with paternoster lifts.
Returning to our first day, we inducted into the working of electronic tills and sales books! Next came our allocation of working environments. For some reason the powers that be decided that my future lay in Kitchen furniture! I do remember my first experience of the New Year Sales, when the whole store went manic, or the shoppers did. I was ‘allocated ‘ to kitchen stools, which needed no salesmanship as they were in high demand and some reasonable commission!
As for that department my apologies for failing to remember any of the staff.
As my interest was in model railways I took the bold step to request a transfer to Toys. I do remember that the department head thought that I was crazy as I would lose a lot of commission. However, a transfer was arranged and I moved under the wing of the SM Derek Turner and his ASM Brian Adams. The incumbent sales lady on the models department was moving on and went to Barnabys ( toys) on Colmore Row.
I must add that after 6 months I was awarded with a ‘ long service’ badge, which I was proud to wear.
To be continued.
 
Toyboy said:
Imagine the scene back in September 1961? I was one of about fifteen (16/ 17 year old) new recruits to this icon of shopping delight, with the title of management trainee. As a group we had probably enjoyed our extended summer holidays as we were waiting for our GCE ‘O’ level results and Lewis’s were also waiting for some guarantee of our individual educational level. At that time we were offered the princely sum of £5 a week plus commission. Additional to our daily work, we were expected to reach a level of success with I think it was a twice weekly evening attendance at the Birmingham School of Economics which was the old building around Broad Street. The reward for a years study and a pass was £10, and one was then moved forward to the second year of study, towards our NRDC ( National Retail Distribution Certificate). I do remember that we used to gather at an old pub somewhere around the top of Hill Street.
Moving forward in time and our eduction we moved onto Aston University to continue with our studies after the old BSE closed. Our first and possibly only encounter with paternoster lifts.
Returning to our first day, we inducted into the working of electronic tills and sales books! Next came our allocation of working environments. For some reason the powers that be decided that my future lay in Kitchen furniture! I do remember my first experience of the New Year Sales, when the whole store went manic, or the shoppers did. I was ‘allocated ‘ to kitchen stools, which needed no salesmanship as they were in high demand and some reasonable commission!
As for that department my apologies for failing to remember any of the staff.
As my interest was in model railways I took the bold step to request a transfer to Toys. I do remember that the department head thought that I was crazy as I would lose a lot of commission. However, a transfer was arranged and I moved under the wing of the SM Derek Turner and his ASM Brian Adams. The incumbent sales lady on the models department was moving on and went to Barnabys ( toys) on Colmore Row.
I must add that after 6 months I was awarded with a ‘ long service’ badge, which I was proud to wear.
To be continued.
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Ah! Lewis's toy floor and Barnabys toy shop.Two of my favourite places as a youngster.
Happy days.

NoddKD
 
Lewis's the rich man's shopping domain, though I too loved the toy floor, especially the electric trains! (Heaven ). I read with interest #1153, I passed a scholarship exam for Birmingham art Collage, in 1961, but because I came from a poor family , my father could not afford to send me, not even the 3 bus 's passenger fare. I now in my later years sometimes dream of the way my life would have gone, had I gone, Tech coll, and possibly Uni,. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the life I have had, and been lucky in many ways, But!!!
 
paul stacey said:
Lewis's the rich man's shopping domain, though I too loved the toy floor, especially the electric trains! (Heaven ). I read with interest #1153, I passed a scholarship exam for Birmingham art Collage, in 1961, but because I came from a poor family , my father could not afford to send me, not even the 3 bus 's passenger fare. I now in my later years sometimes dream of the way my life would have gone, had I gone, Tech coll, and possibly Uni,. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the life I have had, and been lucky in many ways, But!!!
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Paul, many of us were there with you! Sometimes life does not seem fair, I try to look at the shiny side, thankful for what we have & family!
 
paul stacey said:
Lewis's the rich man's shopping domain, though I too loved the toy floor, especially the electric trains! (Heaven ). I read with interest #1153, I passed a scholarship exam for Birmingham art Collage, in 1961, but because I came from a poor family , my father could not afford to send me, not even the 3 bus 's passenger fare. I now in my later years sometimes dream of the way my life would have gone, had I gone, Tech coll, and possibly Uni,. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the life I have had, and been lucky in many ways, But!!!
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My father passed the exam for grammar school (so long ago that I don't know if it was called the 11-plus at that time), but his grandparents who brought him up couldn't afford it. It struck me as very unfair. But who knows...
 
I think many of us think that. Somewhat late in my career I had to choose research or cocoa buying, which would have involved travelling all over the world into many places. Someone who began at the firm the same year as me took that course and became Cadbury buying director. It certainly would have changed many of my outside personal contacts and resulted in a very different life for better or worse
 
mikejee said:
I think many of us think that. Somewhat late in my career I had to choose research or cocoa buying, which would have involved travelling all over the world into many places. Someone who began at the firm the same year as me took that course and became Cadbury buying director. It certainly would have changed many of my outside personal contacts and resulted in a very different life for better or worse
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At least Mike it was your choice and it has seemed to have worked out quite well!
 
Having left school and moving into the working environment It was very strange when talking to colleagues by using their Christian names! I considered myself to be a polite young man and was only used to referring to my elders by their surname. I remember Maisie White and Silvana amongst many. Not everything was taken seriously, as I do once remember taking on the role of Manager for the Day. A carnation was pinned to my lapel, and all meals were taken in the silver service managers dining room, as well as being addressed as sir!

If one remembers the goods lift? On many occasions I was sent down to the basement to collect items required on the floor. Trying many times to level the lift to the floor in order to open the metal lift gates, but also turning off the lights to indicate that the lift was in use. Accepted that each floor did possess its own porter, it was often speedier to go and get it yourself, or for the manager.

I do recall that on this forum there was posted a photograph of “all us hopeful future managers” at a presentation evening in the restaurant possibly taken in 1962/3?

During most of the year the Toys department occupied about half of the floor room in the B block on the fifth floor. Carpets and Lino were on the bridge between blocks, whilst Sports occupied the top end and across the other bridge. However, as Christmas time approached it was all change as miraculously the Toy Department took over the whole of the 5th floor in B block.

The bridge was transformed into the fabulous Father Christmas Grotto. The display department really managed to convert this space into a wonderland. Amazingly, although we were on the same floor , we were forbidden to have a peak during construction, but were allowed a preview prior to its official opening. I could see why so many people queued for so long to visit this truly magnificent site......I will stand corrected, but it is my belief that admission was free , but to speak to Father Christmas and get a present was 2/6 p. The queues went from the stairs in the A block down to the Old Square entrance.....more to follow.









 
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