#1
I certainly do miss Woolies, I dunno about the rest of you. I know Woolies isn't new, topical news or anything but it's been a while now since the stores closed and I was wondering if anyone else is missing them? I've seen on the Woolies Blog recently that the business is going to rise from the ashes as a dedicated online retailer (Ebay and Amazon better watch out
), with no actual stores anywhere but the same old Woolies stuff (including their classic pick n mix by the looks of things). So, look out this summer for the usual ironing board covers, micro-fibre dusters, toys, CDs, kids clothes and of course sweets! I wouldn't mind betting that there is a long term plan afoot to keep the Woolies brand alive by any means possible with the potential for a high street resurrection in years to come. Hopefully I'll get the chance to rummage through those cheap Woolies DVDs again one day in the future....
http://www.woolworthsblog.co.uk#2
I never liked Woolies! It seemed to do lots of stuff, none of it very well. Before I get slapped, it is only my opinion. I feel the same about WHSmiths.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#3
It's a shame that dear old Woolies is no longer with us, it's a part of our heritage, but I suppose also a store of the past, shame
. I wonder if the Wellworth brand will expand further.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#4
Rick
I'm afraid I don't miss it, like the post office before it, it wasn't in the right place.and although it was tragic to see more local jobs go in Dover.
The store wasn't over appealing.
I hope the staff involved got re employment in the days of job losses.
Think the town centre needs help.
But keep encouraging big business to whitfield will only help to kill the town centre.
This is not meant as a negative comment but you do need to look at the town and see how bad it has got.
I feel sorry for the shops still there trying to survive.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
#5
I don't miss the modern day Woolworths, but I do have fond memories of being taken into our local one as a child and my Dad and I getting our Pick and mix sweets.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#6
I think Keith's comments are very apt
"Think the town centre needs help, but keep encouraging big business to whitfield will only help to kill the town centre.
This is not meant as a negative comment but you do need to look at the town and see how bad it has got.
I feel sorry for the shops still there trying to survive."
The Town needs support now, more than ever before.
The shops that are here need re-assuring that help is at hand - on every level.
Shops that are not here need to be told what we are doing to support the Town.
The Town itself needs brightening up,especially the upper part of the buildings, above the shops.
Expenses like rates and London-rated rents, needs addressing, so does promoting the Town and its businesses to France, as we are so close, with the Pound and Euro almost on parity, there's never been a better time.
So much more to do than than just the above, but who's going to be given the task and when ?
Roger
#7
Totally agree with most of keiths post, but I do miss Woolies. You could get a vast array of stuff there, and my girls always enjoyed spending their pocket money in there, and was brilliant for getting good quality school wear made by ladybird.
You can still buy school stuff in Dover but it's either over priced, or cheap and lasts a fraction of the time.
Some of our local shops don't always help themselves by being competative in price, and a prime example of this is Dixons. Went there the other day to get a black ink jet cartridge for my printer. £17.22 for a black cartridge. I walk up to Argos and get the Exact same one for £8.49. Is it any wonder when there is such a huge difference in price that people choose to go somewhere like Argos, instead of using our smaller shops?
Roger's post hits the nail on the head about Dover and what it needs, and he finishes by saying "who's going to be given the task and when?"
Well in my opinion the town is missing out BIG TIME by not asking Roger to take on the job. His track record
with the loyalty scheme speaks for itself, he dragged it up by it's boot straps and made it work. Yes I know he called it a day, but that was down to people not using the service to full advantage, but you cannot say that Roger didn't promote every business within the scheme. Even now he sends regular updates on special offers being run, or special events at places like Sal Verte.
The town has a great assest in Roger and we are not making full use of his talent, and it is time we should
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#8
There is work going on behind the scenes .A property in Cannon Street we are talking to the Land lord .The former taxi office in Worthington Street has been refurbished .I think its nine flats .
Last week I attended a landlords forum where we gave out advice on renting out property .We need these people and at the same time ensure that the property let out is up to a decent standard .They were told how to apply for grants etc ..
Work in progress .Nigel sits on The Street Scene Committee .
#9
"They were told how to apply for grants"
Being told how to apply for grants isn't always the answer as I have found out with DCAL. Is there no-one who can show people what needs to be written in some of these grant forms to get a successful application???
Just a couple of wrong bits and you blow it.
For me someone like Roger could do all of this stuff with our local businesses.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#10
Thanks Mandie - much appreciated, it really is. The decision will be made by the Dover Chamber of Commerce.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#11
when wil this decision be made roger?
the issue is getting rather urgent now.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#12
No idea Howard, I'm not in the loop - soon I hope though.
Roger
#13
Has the chamber of commerce lost the plot or something?????? The one man they should be including, and he isn't even in the loop. UNBELIEVEABLE!!!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#14
They do have all my info. Mandie including the paper I've written, highlighting the 21 (can be added to as and when) different areas of responsibility, that I feel should be addressed.
I'm not going to say too much as a Board-Member posts on here and it would be wrong of me to do so.
Roger
#15
I don't think our high streets have a future anymore, we're probably going to be witnesses to the final three or four generations of people who will be able to use high streets. Out-of-town megastores and the Internet are both gradually gnawing away at the high street. I think the Woolworth website is a good symptom/victim/example (call it what you will) of this.
CDs are rapidly vanishing from shops (has anyone seen the CD department in HMV lately? Or what's left of it) as more people download MP3 music. Home delivery networks from supermarkets are rapidly growing as more and more order their weekly shopping online (and what a blessing that service is). Book stores, DIY stores, clothes shops, and movie sales are all feeling the nasty pinch from the web's often cheaper competition.
When you think about it, the "high street" as a market concept is Medieval and has changed little over several hundred years. Maybe it is time it changed? High street shops don't close because of some evil force of nature preventing people from using them, they close because people choose not to use them, or businesses choose not to move in (which refers back to people not using them I guess). Our modern shoppers LOVE the big out-of-town megastores and online shopping so much that this is where we mostly opt to spend our cash. It is WE, the shoppers, who are forcing the changes that are happening, nobody else. If we hated the giant stores at Whitfield so much or all those huge shopping temples at Westwood Cross then we'd simply avoid using them. Truth is, we bloody love it and we vote with our feet!
I do think that in reality any sense of rescuing high street shops is steeped in feelings of nostalgia (exactly as I feel for Woolies). Change is happening, and I don't really believe we should complain about it because we are the ones causing it. I confess I do most of my shopping online or in big stores outside of the high street. It saves me money and gives me better choice.
I can see a future where shops will become nothing more than walk-in showrooms attached to giant warehouse-based online retailers and the "high street" will be a collection of old photos in our local museums.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#16
You may well be right Rick in your scenario of Town centres and their High Streets - but I hope it is a long way away in terms of time.
I know I said it when I ran the Loyalty Scheme and have done many times since - USE IT OR LOSE IT.
If, in gradually increasing numbers, we stop using our High Streets, then it is inevitable that we will lose them, but I will be happy to work my socks off to prevent it.
It's not always just about money though, a lot of people don't find shopping in Dover Town a happy and rewarding experience, so we must try to brighten up the Town as well - the buildings themselves; closed shops left in a disgraceful state; flower tubs with just weeds in, instead of flowers all year round; promoting events with a big re-usable, across-the-road banner, at the Market Square end and at the Town Hall end (can you make one Rick and how much would it cost, the letters on it will need to be able to be changed for each event).
Having a data base of people who love this Town and want to shop here and want to know what's going on - whether events or shops' offers.
Lots of things can be done to help the High Street carry on for a few more generations, many more than I've listed above - but it is as you say Rick, up to the people where to spend their money - either in Town, on the web, or in the big stores like Tesco's or the Westwood Cross's of this World.
The businesses must do their bit too of course - some are and some aren't.
Roger
#17
It is simply too important to let our towns go.......mega-stores and people with vested interests will always prefer us to shop online or out of town - it suits their purpose. But we need to have choices and variety and a community, and the best way to do those things is to support our towns: Roger says it all - use it or lose it. I walked through town today - it was glorious. The blossom in the churchyard, the flowers in the park, I had a chat with some visitors from abroad and gave them directions and advice about what to see....let's not lose it chaps!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#18
A way forward are for more specialist shops to begin occupying our towns.An extensive spices from around the world type shop as the boom in all things cooking continues .There is a rise in vinyl sales this could be reflected by a second hand record store.A wet fish shop.A comprehensive reasonably priced general store.Where the less mobile can pop in for there daily household needs.Attracting shops and goods that you normally wouldn't want to trudge out of town for and be in the masses who appear to shop as if there is no tomorrow or that rationing is suddenly going to reintroduced.These would be a great addition to any town centre and could be the way forward.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#19
marek,talking of rationing our stewart had petrol coupons in his pocket over the easter weekend.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#20
Good ideas Marek - there was a vinyl shop in either Worthington or Priory Street, but sadly it didn't last long.
I'll talk to the others as soon as I can.
Roger