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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Welcome to the Virtual Museum

The Founding Directors of F.W. Woolworth Co., who shared a $65m bounty when the company listed on Wall Street in February 1912F. W. Woolworth opened a store in Croydon, Surrey, UK in May 1912. It went on to serve the South London suburb for ninety-six yearsThis independent fan-site celebrates the unique heritage of F.W. Woolworth in the High Streets of Great Britain and Ireland and the Main Streets of North America. There is a gallery for each decade of the value store's 129 years of bricks and mortar trading, as well as for the key ranges.

Our featured year, 1912, was a turning point. After years as a syndicate of friendly rivals, five great 5 & 10¢ Store chains merged to form F. W. Woolworth Co. It had 600 branches, spanning the USA and Canada and had embarked on a rapid opening programme in the British Isles. Total turnover was $52.6m, generating annual profits of amost $5m.

 

The Woolworth Building in Broadway Place, New York, officially became the world's tallest building at its topping out ceremony in June 1912.F.W. Woolworth Co. stores in North America launched a 'third of a century' sale on 21 June 1912, the 33rd Anniversary of the opening of the first branch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1879.

The Founders shared a $65m bounty when the shares were listed in New York on February 14. Most went to Frank Woolworth, who insisted that the new company must carry his name. He promised investors that the firm was 'bigger than one man', and to prove it devoted much of his time to another project. His skyscraper in Broadway Place, New York was to be 'the highest in the world', and was paid for in cash !

Just two years later, when war broke out, Frank found himself trapped behind enemy lines. How would the Five-and-Ten survive without its President and its European fancy goods?

 
Please choose a gallery from the menu at the top of the page



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