Down the slide with Woolies

13.11.2009, 12:40

Skipweasel

Just been to our local Wilkinsons in Wellington. Dreadful. Much of the
useful stuff seems to have vanished in a refit. The shop has around a
third of its floorspace devoted to Christmas tat and the gardening
section - the bit I went for - has gone completely.

It's almost indistinguishable from what a Woolies would have looked like
two or three years ago. They're chasing the quick penny but will loose
the people who go there because they know that's where they can reliably
get a whatever. Once their core of steady if not regular customers goes
they're no longer anchored. A gust of the economic winds will just puff
them away.

What a waste.

13.11.2009, 12:47

Richard Robinson

Skipweasel said:
> Just been to our local Wilkinsons in Wellington. Dreadful. Much of the
> useful stuff seems to have vanished in a refit. The shop has around a
> third of its floorspace devoted to Christmas tat and the gardening
> section - the bit I went for - has gone completely.
>
> It's almost indistinguishable from what a Woolies would have looked like
> two or three years ago. They're chasing the quick penny but will loose
> the people who go there because they know that's where they can reliably
> get a whatever. Once their core of steady if not regular customers goes
> they're no longer anchored. A gust of the economic winds will just puff
> them away.
>
> What a waste.

Yes.

And I see Insanesbury's are offering a lot more cheapish houseystuff these
days, instead of the food one goes there for.

Wilkos have alwayws tended to fryy santapenc stuff though ? And they could
have less with the 'background' music & advertising, too.

13.11.2009, 13:45

Kate XXXXXX

Skipweasel wrote:
> Just been to our local Wilkinsons in Wellington. Dreadful. Much of the
> useful stuff seems to have vanished in a refit. The shop has around a
> third of its floorspace devoted to Christmas tat and the gardening
> section - the bit I went for - has gone completely.

That's a shame. Ours is quite good. The food area has expanded quite a
bit. More real food than wollies ever had.
>
> It's almost indistinguishable from what a Woolies would have looked like
> two or three years ago. They're chasing the quick penny but will loose
> the people who go there because they know that's where they can reliably
> get a whatever. Once their core of steady if not regular customers goes
> they're no longer anchored. A gust of the economic winds will just puff
> them away.

Woolies shop has turned into an emporium for ultra cheap tat.
Everything is 99p. There are some bargains, if you know what you are
looking for, but there's an awful lot of crap. Still, it seems to be
busy, and it's better than a gaping hole in the high street shop frontage.
>
> What a waste.

Yup.

13.11.2009, 14:20

Richard Robinson

Kate XXXXXX said:
> Skipweasel wrote:
>> Just been to our local Wilkinsons in Wellington. Dreadful. Much of the
>> useful stuff seems to have vanished in a refit. The shop has around a
>> third of its floorspace devoted to Christmas tat and the gardening
>> section - the bit I went for - has gone completely.
>
> That's a shame. Ours is quite good. The food area has expanded quite a
> bit. More real food than wollies ever had.

Food ? Wilkos ?

13.11.2009, 14:47

Dr Ivan D. Reid

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:49:25 +0000, Kate XXXXXX
<kate>
wrote in <JbadnRJjI8C1_2DXnZ2dnUVZ8lRi4p2d>:

> Woolies shop has turned into an emporium for ultra cheap tat.
> Everything is 99p. There are some bargains, if you know what you are
> looking for, but there's an awful lot of crap. Still, it seems to be
> busy, and it's better than a gaping hole in the high street shop frontage.

Ours has been taken over by Poundland. Much bigger than the old
one[1], but almost exactly the same layout. Just expanded in both
dimensions so you can actually get past people in the aisles.

[1] Which remained, last I looked, but I don't expect two to co-exist
forever within 100 m of each other.

13.11.2009, 15:43

Skipweasel

The message <JbadnRJjI8C1_2DXnZ2dnUVZ8lRi4p2d>
from Kate XXXXXX <kate> contains these words:

> That's a shame. Ours is quite good. The food area has expanded quite a
> bit. More real food than wollies ever had.

Yebbut why? Food is miles from their core business.

14.11.2009, 05:50

Sn!pe

Skipweasel <skipweasel> wrote:

> They're chasing the quick penny but will loose the people who go there
> because they know that's where they can reliably get a whatever.

Which part of the people will they loosen? Reference to
a quick penny suggests that it might perhaps be their bowels.

14.11.2009, 10:13

Skipweasel

The message <1j95pgw.bkn9d31iwnru7N%snipe>
from snipe (Sn!pe) contains these words:

> > They're chasing the quick penny but will loose the people who go there
> > because they know that's where they can reliably get a whatever.

> Which part of the people will they loosen? Reference to
> a quick penny suggests that it might perhaps be their bowels.

Bum. And I got it right several times elsewhere lately.

14.11.2009, 14:18

Judith

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:20:16 -0600, Richard Robinson
<richardR> wrote:

>> That's a shame. Ours is quite good. The food area has expanded quite a
>> bit. More real food than wollies ever had.
>
>Food ? Wilkos ?

Yes, but you couldn't do your weekly shop there. I buy my Tunnock's
caramel wafer bars there. I've also been known to buy coleslaw,
biscuits, cup a soups (which are cheaper than the price printed on the
box) and crisps/nuts. So I'm not sure you can buy "proper" food
there, but there's enough to make my jbex-day lunch a little more
interesting when I'm in one of my funny moods. ie when I've taken a
perfectly good lunch with me but just don't fancy it.

Judith

#10

15.11.2009, 00:51

Kate XXXXXX

On Nov 14, 2:18 pm, Judith <nospamforgoofifple> wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:20:16 -0600, Richard Robinson
>
> <richa> wrote:
>> Yes, but you couldn't do your weekly shop there. I buy my Tunnock's
> caramel wafer bars there. I've also been known to buy coleslaw,
> biscuits, cup a soups (which are cheaper than the price printed on the
> box) and crisps/nuts. So I'm not sure you can buy "proper" food
> there, but there's enough to make my jbex-day lunch a little more
> interesting when I'm in one of my funny moods. ie when I've taken a
> perfectly good lunch with me but just don't fancy it.
>
> Judith

Also good for the occasional emergency loaf and marge, and simla.

#11

15.11.2009, 05:14

Roger Hunt

Skipweasel <skipweasel> wrote
>Just been to our local Wilkinsons in Wellington. Dreadful. Much of the
>useful stuff seems to have vanished in a refit. The shop has around a
>third of its floorspace devoted to Christmas tat and the gardening
>section - the bit I went for - has gone completely.
>
>It's almost indistinguishable from what a Woolies would have looked like
>two or three years ago. They're chasing the quick penny but will loose
>the people who go there because they know that's where they can reliably
>get a whatever. Once their core of steady if not regular customers goes
>they're no longer anchored. A gust of the economic winds will just puff
>them away.
>
I'm looking forward to the Wilkos Christmas ad. Just change a word here
and there -
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6shObswJPw>

#12

15.11.2009, 08:22

Frank Erskine

On Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:51:48 -0800 (PST), Kate XXXXXX
<kate> wrote:

>On Nov 14, 2:18 pm, Judith <nospamforgoofifple> wrote:
>
>Also good for the occasional emergency loaf and marge, and simla.

IRTA:- 'emergency loofah and mango'.

#13

15.11.2009, 20:36

bobharvey

On 13 Nov, 12:47, Richard Robinson <richa> wrote:

> Wilkos have alwayws tended to fryy santapenc stuff though ? And they could
> have less with the 'background' music & advertising, too.

I no longer shop in any establishment that has its own private "radio
station" on the tannoy, with a playlist of 4 songs and interminable
adverts. I politely ask the management to turn it off so I can shop
undisturbed, and when they say they are not allowed to I leave.

I now have a blacklist of McColls, Wilcos, and Frasiers. I am sure it
will grow. Things are beterer on the internet anyway.

#14

15.11.2009, 20:41

John Williamson

bobharvey wrote:
> On 13 Nov, 12:47, Richard Robinson <richa> wrote:
>
>> Wilkos have alwayws tended to fryy santapenc stuff though ? And they could
>> have less with the 'background' music & advertising, too.
>
> I no longer shop in any establishment that has its own private "radio
> station" on the tannoy, with a playlist of 4 songs and interminable
> adverts. I politely ask the management to turn it off so I can shop
> undisturbed, and when they say they are not allowed to I leave.
>
> I now have a blacklist of McColls, Wilcos, and Frasiers. I am sure it
> will grow. Things are beterer on the internet anyway.

If you're on the Motorway, you may as well add Welcome Break to your list.

And Moto, who stream Virgin with their own adverts inserted.

#15

15.11.2009, 20:50

Rob

John Williamson <johnwilliamson> wrote:

> bobharvey wrote:
>
> If you're on the Motorway, you may as well add Welcome Break to your list.
>
> And Moto, who stream Virgin with their own adverts inserted.

You can kick Poundland into touch too.

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