Croydon's Mayor Peter Hopson helps Rose Turner and Andrew Coverdale to cut Croydon store's 90th birthday cake in May 2002. (A dress rehearsal for the centenary)

A birthday party like no other

Store Manager Andrew Coverdale layed on a 90th birthday party for his Croydon store in 2002. There was a huge turnout of retirees and customers, and the Mayor and Mayoress graciously agreed to come to cut the cake. The local papers turned out in force resulting in lots of coverage (even the Daily Express), and - guess what - sales and footfall went up!

In the news - foreground, Daily Express, background Croydon Advertiser. 2002.

Andrew Coverdale and his store featured both in the Croydon Advertiser group of newspapers and shortly afterwards in a full page feature in the Daily Express

 

100 reasons why : through the customer's eyes

  1. reminds me of when I was a child and my first visit
  2. I must take the kids
  3. so much has changed, but so much has stayed the same
  4. Woolies is all over the TV, radio and papers
  5. many famous people started their careers there
  6. in real terms many of their items are cheaper than the old sixpence
  7. WorthIt! is brilliant value, just like Winfield and Diamond W before
  8. my camera / doll / tin plate car was the best toy I ever had
  9. the celebrations and freebies will help the kids with their schoolwork
  10. incredible collectables - the best of Chad Valley heritage range is amazing
  11. did the man who illustrated Dickens really design their first Xmas cards?
  12. they should rename the "Big Red Book" the "Most Read Book" with all those great old pictures and stories. Now those were the days!
  13. awesome local pictures on display at my store - how the years go by
  14. those china and glass patterns are really classy - classic styling at great prices
  15. I never knew Woolies pioneered the paperback book
  16. music ??? - those Embassy records were rubbish! (...but we still bought them)
  17. did they really offering an ordering and delivery service in 1929?
  18. why did they stop those very long adverts? it's how you knew it was Xmas
  19. where can you buy a Wooly or a Worth?
  20. do they still sell extra large support tights?
  21. what about foot socks? ("well "insoles" to you too!")
  22. are the WorthIt! toffees really the same recipe great grandad used to buy?
  23. have you heard, every month throughout 2009 Woolies are selling one item at two for 5p? (The old sixpence each, the same price as a hundred years ago)
  24. the till mottos on the receipt are cool (Mr Woolworth sounds a great laugh)!
  25. I love Woolies - always have, always will!

       Could it be our most read book?