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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The lighter side of the 2000s
 
Billie Piper cutting a special cake to mark the first anniversary of the Kids First charity

 

 

Despite the sad events of 2008, Woolworths enjoyed a rich cultural and social life during the 'noughties'. Within eighteen months of its launch, the firm's registered charity Kids First had already launched more than 2,000 projects in communities around the UK. The chain's staff had raised more than £600,000 as well as giving lots of practical help in their own time.

Kids First quickly established itself as the heart of the organisation, building strong links into local communities and helping to change children's lives for good around the British Isles. See Kids First in action.

The Kids First idea was one of very few innovations from the Kingfisher years that was nurtured and developed after demerger. It aligned well to the firm's new 'Kids and Celebrations' strategy, and channelled the inate generosity and commitment of both staff and customers into community projects.

During the 'noughties' colleagues went on to raise over £7m, and continued to give time and energy to support many good causes. Many still continue as Kids First survived the collapse of the business and was re-born as Kids First Trust to continue the good work. Visit the new Kids First Trust on-line.

The Castleton Risk Management Team hand over a cheque for £2700 for Belle View School to the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale

 

The team at the administration, distribution and computing centre in Castleton near Rochdale consistently blaized the trail for Kids First, running a series of fund-raising events, some large and some small. Over nine years they were able to provide much needed funds for many initiatives and organisations across the North West.

Pictured are members of the Risk Management team taking time out from their day job of keeping stores safe and minimising losses of stock and cash, to hand over the proceeds of one of their fund-raising initiatives, with a cheque for £2,700 for Belle View School.
 
Classless culture in action as the Woolworths Chief Executive joins four colleagues who successfully completed the London Marathon in 2003 (Left to right Andrew Mann, Ed(ward) Preston, Joanna Mills, CEO Trevor Bish-Jones and Gerry McEvoy

 

 

The core classless value was back in action when CEO Trevor Bish-Jones joined four colleagues in entering and completing the 2003 London Marathon. The firm fielded runners each year during the noughties.

Pictured (left to right) are Andrew Mann 4:31:19, Ed(ward) Preston 4:10:48, Joanna Mills 5:41:43, Trevor Bish-Jones 4:54:38 and Gerry McEvoy 5:00:26.

Perhaps most remarkable was that five runners maintained resolve and ran for the renamed Kids First Trust three months after losing their jobs in 2009 and repeated the feat in 2010.
 
Head Office colleagues posed for window banners to mark Fathers' Day in 2000, much to the amusement of their families
 

Long-serving Woolworths stalwart John Farrow - the brains behind many successful store refurbishments - was among a group of managers who featured in celebrity roles on window posters for Fathers' Day (2000)
Six head office managers appeared on 'Fathers' Day wishes' banners in the windows of the 800 stores in 2000. The larger-than-life images showed the colleagues 'in the flesh' and made up as their favourite celebrities. John Farrow's Elvis Presley (shown, right, in the window of the flagship store in London's Edgware Road) got particularly high approval ratings from the public and won plaudits from his workmates at nearby Marylebone Road.

Above (left to right) Mark Wood, Richard Gange, Gary Firth (Bezier Creative Print), Barrie Lucas, Karl Oldham and John Farrow.
 
A 'Posh' magical event as Victoria Beckham and Dane Bowers signed copies of their video at the Oldham store, accompanied by legendary footballer and husband David Beckham
 

Matt Lucas and David Walliams attracted huge crowds at Woolworths in the Mander Centre at Wolverhampton on a visit to promote their Little Britain Series 1 DVD (published by 2|Entertain Ltd)Sir Cliff Richard and Maggie Philbin proved a big hit with the public at a book signing in the Broad Street, Reading storeThe Group's wholesale division attracted many celebrities to appear in Woolworths stores and at conferences.

In 2002 Sir Cliff Richard signed more than 200 copies of his book in a short visit to Reading, Berks. In 2008 he did it all again, also signing books in nearby Staines, Middx.
 
Other show-stoppers included a personal appearance of Victoria Beckham with her friend, record and video producer Dane Bowers and 'some footballer' who proved immensely popular with the public. The Lancashire Constabulary were on hand to regulate a huge queue of customers waiting to meet the celebrities. Matt Lucas and David Walliams almost brought Wolverhampton's Mander Centre to a halt as fans of their hit series Little Britain packed the Woolworths store. 300 unique mugs specially made for the occasion were soon given away, helping to ensure a sell-out of the Series One DVD and book, and generating a bumper sales day right across the store. Colleagues also remember a book promotion visit by Shane Ritchie with great fondness. Despite intense time pressure he took time to talk to each customer and made many friends at Woolies.
 
Is Harry in the store? Little wonder that Woolworths customers couldn't quite believe their eyes when they happened upon this publicity stunt to mark the launch of the latest Harry Potter book

 

 

Definitive proof that even wizards need their pic'n'mix came when seven 'Harry Potters' were photographed leaving the Edgware Road store, each carrying one of the famous bags!

The publicity stunt (which was widely covered in the media) helped to secure record sales of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
 

Trendy Handbag Designer Anya Hindmarsh shows off her latest creation - a sequined Woolworths bag - a snip at £370! The bags were offered in seven shops around the world, including New York and Paris

 

 

One item that was never offered in-store was trendy handbag designer Anya Hindmarsh's sequin-encrusted Woolies bag. At £370 the company-appproved design was offered for sale in Hindmarsh's seven exclusive designer stores across the world, including showrooms in New York and Paris.
 

Pokemon Trading Card events were a big hit at half term

 

 

Back down to earth, an initiative that caught the imaginations of younger customers was the launch of Trading Card days shortly before demerger. Scheduled to coincide with the half-term holidays, larger stores soon found that they needed security guards on hand to cope with the crowds.
 

(Do) nuts about Woolworths - Matt Groening. The Simpsons creator kindly allowed Wooly and Worth to appear in a Simpson's style commercial, while Homer's donuts found their way on to the fascia of fity stores, promoting the Simpsons MovieWoolworths' unique expertise at selling character-branded products led to a number of sign-up deals. The legendary cartoonist Matt Groening generously drew Wooly and Worth on his famous Simpsons sofa, while Homer's donuts made a surprise appearance on the fascias of fifty stores across the UK - leading to exceptional sales of Simpsons The Movie at Christmas 2007. Groening also included a reference to Woolworths in his other smash hit cartoon - Futurama. Fry's feeble disguise on the robot planet was put down to the lack of Woolworths stores in that part of the galaxy!

Ace film-maker George Lucas liked a company Star Wars video (made by our very own 3D and 6D Pictures) so much that he screened it to a brand marketing conference at the Hollywood Bowl, and gave a light sabre from the original Star Wars Movie to the Kids First charity. It was auctioned on eBay, fetching a jaw-dropping £17,000, which was enough to help Kids First to fund several Playground Partnerships projects.
 
Whatever their other shotcomings between 2002 and 2008, the Woolworths Board's corporate social responsibility was exemplary and was widely acknowledged across the retail industry and among the suppliers. They inspired many of their 30,000 people to think about others who were less well off than themselves. The dedication and commitment of store colleagues that kept putting something back will be a hard act for Shop Direct to follow.

Shortcuts to other Exhibits in the Original Virtual Museum

2000s Gallery

2000s Overview    Death by Demerger    New values and a new direction    Visit a Big W store

Market Towns and City Centres     The Smaller Stores    Multi-Channel Retail    Wholesale & Media    WorthIt! Value Comeback

Launch of the Virtual Museum    Meet the team    The Lighter Side    Wooly & Worth    Collapse and Rescue

 

Museum Navigation

Home Page    Recent History Gallery     Visit the new Woolworths on-line

 
If you have enjoyed our Virtual Museum website, why not check out our complete history of Woolworths in a 194 page, richly illustrated paperback book? A Sixpenny Romance is just £10.99, with free delivery in our on-line shop.
The special DVD, the Wonder of Advertising, is now available in our on-line shop for £7.50 in our on-line shop. A fully illustrated 194 page history of Woolworths, or a selection of professionally authored DVDs in our on-line shop