Welcome to the Original Virtual Museum - celebrating Woolworths' century at the heart of British High Street Shopping
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please click a menu button Original Virtual Museum Home Page please click a menu button The Woolworth value store concept is born in the USA please click a menu button Laying the foundations as the first British Woolworth store opens in Liverpool in November 1909 please click a menu button Woolworths rapidly open forty-four stores in Britain and Ireland before facing a World War please click a menu button Bigger, brighter and bolder Woolworth stores in the Roaring Twenties please click a menu button Woolworths go to amazing lengths to keep all prices under sixpence in the Thirties please click a menu button Bravery and defiance during World War II in Woolworths' finest hour. We pay tribute to the sacrifices made and look behind the scenes please click a menu button Redefining the Woolworth brand for modern times in the 1950s, as prices go up and stores get bigger and bigger please click a menu button Superstores in and out of town, a new own brand and the opening of overseas Commonwealth stores during the 1960s please click a menu button Woolworth struggles to keep up during the rapid inflation and change of the 1970s please click a menu button Woolworth stores in more recent times, covering the period 1980-2008 please click a menu button
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Background to the Original Virtual Museum and copyright information about the contents Origins of the firm's legendary pic'n'mix and a century of chocolate, candy and confectionery in the High Street A century of music and entertainment in the High Street from sheet music and gramophone records to CDs and blu-ray discs A century of toys, games and fun in the High Street stores of F. W. Woolworth A century of fashion in the High Street, from paper patterns and sixpenny knickers to an extensive range of award-winning Ladybird clothing A century of cards, pens, pads and books from the shelves of F. W. Woolworth stores Pots and pans, paint and brushes, bulbs and compost and even toiletries - all in High Street Woolworth stores for much of the twentieth century Woolworths pioneered Christmas decorations in the 19th century and supplied presents for our parents, grandparents and great grandparents from their High Street stores Working conditions and pay rates at Woolworths over a hundred years and some of the people behind the brand-name Our cinema, quiz and picture gallery features Visit the new look 21st century Woolworths on line, on the site operated by Shop Direct Group
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Keith the Alien - superstar salesman for Woolworths in a TV advertising campaign from 1995 to 1998 when business profits were rocketing

One of the all-time favourite characters from Woolies' Advertising. In 1998 Keith the Alien landed from Mars and
went exploring, finding that the stores were an aber-dabber-dabber-dabber-a-mazing place!
     
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Videography by The Moving Picture Company and Bates Dorland
         

Shortcuts to other exhibits in the Original Virtual Museum

1990s Gallery Exhibits

Limited Story Stores     Ladybird Store Gallery    Virtual 1990s Store    Exploiting new technology     1994-5 Profits Bath

Spectacular £100m profits in 1997   Talks about talks    American Woolies "retires" after 118 years    Asda merger fails

Big W Out-of-Town    Woolworths Direct    90s people     Keith the Alien    The lighter side of the 90s     What millennium bug?

Museum Navigation

1970s Gallery    1980-2009 Gallery   Museum Home Page