Woolworths to start "closing down sale" tomorrow

[tubbystu]

Apparently all attempts to find a buyer have failed and they are flogging off everything they can to raise as much cash as possible to pay creditors.

30,000+ redundancies coming.

This might be the first, I bet it will not be the last.

[rinker]

This is such a shame. Horrid times for some.

[130R]

When supermarkets started selling stuff other than just food it was the end for them.

[hornetrider]

I'm gonna go crazy at the pick n mix

[Bree]

The store in our town is making a profit, and always has done. It will be such a loss to the town if they close.

[g4ry13]

Does this mean that PS3's and Xbox 360's are going to be going out of the door for £20? That's the only thing of value that useless store sells.

[miniman]

bbc said:

It is thought that ... discount chain Poundland are still interested in picking up some of the retailer's prime stores.

Oh deep joy, just what the high street needs. The only things you can buy in Poundland are things you simply don't need.

[gtr-gaz]

Alan Sugar has the midas touch.....Could this be his first almighty cock up?

[tubbystu]

130R said:

When supermarkets started selling stuff other than just food it was the end for them.

Oh, don't get me wrong. Woolworths business model has hardly changed in years decades and it is, at least in part, of their own making. Death by Tesco / Sainsbury / Asda etc. Delete as applicable.

They used to sell more 7" singles in the UK than the everybody else combined, then the 7" single became the download and a large portion of their previous customers didn't even need to darken the doors anymore etc.

People have said its been cold these last couple of weeks - that my friends is the chill wind of recession.

Now then, about a dumper truck and the pick'n'mix aisle............

[whirligig]

Bree said:

The store in our town is making a profit, and always has done. It will be such a loss to the town if they close.

Same here - it will be a real loss to small towns all over.

[Carpie]

I've had a quick think and I'm not sure there's much they have to offer that I would want, even at a discount.

Maybe this has something to do with their demise.

Reckon you'll be able to go up and offer your price for something towards the end?

The website is down at the moment, that is quite unprofessional.

[chris watton]

My last emory of Woolies isn't a good one. Just before we left the UK, I went there to buy the latest Medal of Honour game (Airbourne), and I was wxpected to wait to pay until the spotty cashier finished their text on their mobile! I left the box there and went home to order it from Amazon.

Still, the thought of thousands of jobs being lost is quite depressing.

[A1GOY]

We had one in Cambridge for years (several decades), but it was bought out by Next about 5 years back. I miss the Pick 'n' Mix. Used to go their with my dad when I was wee...

[tubbystu]

Carpie said:

The website is down at the moment, that is quite unprofessional.

Woolworths website said:

Our site is currently undergoing essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Please check back later.

I guess they could be busy with formal press releases / information etc. They suspended their online shopping service last week IIRC.

Or perhaps the webmasters have just gone to get legless as they have realised they'll be out of a job by Christmas.

[smack]

gtr-gaz said:

Alan Sugar has the midas touch.....Could this be his first almighty cock up?

Heard of the Em@iler?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mailer

http://www.amstrad.com/products/emailers/

[Neil_H]

g4ry13 said:

Does this mean that PS3's and Xbox 360's are going to be going out of the door for £20? That's the only thing of value that useless store sells.

!0% off I think (might be 20% actually?)

[hornetrider]

Neil_H said:

g4ry13 said:

Does this mean that PS3's and Xbox 360's are going to be going out of the door for £20? That's the only thing of value that useless store sells.

!0% off I think

Are we supposed to guess?!

[Ron Burgundy]

i think whats actually happening is that they will reduce stock in some stores then move the remaining stock to other stores, and continue reducing in time so they can revenue as much money as possible

[Twincharged]

hornetrider said:

I'm gonna go crazy at the pick n mix

Make sure you get in there- otherwise the cinema will be the only place you can go to get your RDA of bogies.

Horrible I know, but why else do they call it pick and mix?

[g4ry13]

Neil_H said:

g4ry13 said:

Does this mean that PS3's and Xbox 360's are going to be going out of the door for £20? That's the only thing of value that useless store sells.

!0% off I think (might be 20% actually?)

Well I was there on saturday and they were clearing the stuff out at 10% off so I wasn't too impressed. I guess they're not going to improve on it - it's not worth it, everything seemed so over-priced even with 40% off on the goods. It's understandable why they failed.