Here's a photo of the brand new National Lottery kiosks by the way. I saw two of them at Asda on Wednesday. Can't decide if I like them yet, but they're better than the old ones which tried too hard to look modern they just looked ridiculous in my opinion.
Regarding Woolworths, I've noticed in a lot of places I've visited, the old Woolworths stores have been replaced by new stores such as 'SaverCentre' and 'Bargain World' - and even the famous Wellworths.
Woolworths can't have had that much of a flawed business model, if all these new companies can afford to start up and replicate Woolworths, especially during a recession.
The whole company might have had problems but that doesn't mean that all the branches did. The point behind the Wellworths launch was that the branch in Dorchester was profitable and had no competition for what it did. Also Wellworths, being just one branch can tailor their stock to what the locals need rather than carry a national range
I spent my holiday in Weymouth last week and visited Dorchester, completely ignorant of the fact it was the location of Wellworths. I am now the proud owner of a Wellworth's mug!
Chie's words were "they're better than the old ones which tried too hard to look modern". If this one isn't trying too hard to look modern I don't know what is. And to be honest, out of the two, the old one looks positively restrained.
Alexia wrote:Chie's words were "they're better than the old ones which tried too hard to look modern". If this one isn't trying too hard to look modern I don't know what is. And to be honest, out of the two, the old one looks positively restrained.
Alexia wrote:Whereas those of course don't look ridiculous in any way :roll:
Well they're far too tall and the base looks very silly. The shape is a bit awkward as well. But I really like the bit in the middle with the tickets, and overall I think it's a good improvement on the old design.
I'm not keen on the lower platform, which while designed with the best of intentions for wheelchair users, is a bit pointless when you consider that due to the rest of the design they wouldn't be able to reach the main Lotto tickets anyway.
Crikey, I should really post here more. This is exactly my kind of thread...
Re: The co-operative
The internal politics of the Coop and the various societies has lead to them pretty much missing the 'convenience' boat, whilst Tesco and Sainsbury's have sailed ahead with their Express and Local formats. Customers have had to endure a seemingly never ending cycle of brand names. The main group has now taken over many of the previous societies, and hopefully the brand will be able to properly reestablish itself. I should love the Coop, but the vast inconsistencies between shops and stock issues mean that more often than not I'll end up elsewhere.
Re: HMV Nottingham
It doesn't have nipper, no. I was very surprised at how cheap the rebranding of this ex-Zavvi shop was, they've literally taken off the panels which bore the former brand and replaced them with pink HMV ones. Inside, the fittings are all the same as the Zavvi ones, but with mis-sized HMV signage. Probably only me who'd notice though. Lord alone knows what their long-term plans are with Nottingham, as including the Fopp shop they bought not so long ago they've 4 branches!! Surely overkill for a retailer in a mid-sized city centre!?
Kind of related, I went in to Zavvi in Norwich in January (before it closed) and was surprised to find it was exactly how it was when I'd last visited in the mid-90s; old old old Virgin Megastore branding and all. Took a few pictures if anybody would like to see them.
Re: Sainsbury's branding
The rebrand initiated in 1999 has to be longest roll out of a rebrand ever. I work in a little Local branch now, and still stock comes in with the 60's/70's "SAINSBURY'S" typeface, a full decade after the first shop bore the new fascia.
Re: Woolworths
Woolworths Group was doomed from the start - it was an absolutely crap package brought together by Kingfisher. The reason the shops fell stagnant was the anticipated takeover of ASDA in the late 90s; the group had planned to combine elements of the chains owned by Kingfisher (e.g. Woolies would have got George clothing, ASDA would have had Ladybird and Comet electricals). The whole thing didn't happen, and Kingfisher had to ram the 'Big W' format out to try and make all the time wasted worth while. It was a total mess. Woolworths Group inherited a chain of faded Woolworths stores, a collection of completely unprofitable (and unworkable without group support) Big W stores and a dead in the water entertainment retailer - MCV. Even with EUK, they didn't stand a chance.
Contrary to what people are saying on here, I was under the impression that Woolies had a particularly crap sale and leaseback deal going in all or most of the stores they owned in the 80s. Probably a bit of fragrant asset stripping by Kingfisher.
Alexia wrote:Whereas those of course don't look ridiculous in any way :roll:
Well they're far too tall and the base looks very silly. The shape is a bit awkward as well. But I really like the bit in the middle with the tickets, and overall I think it's a good improvement on the old design.
I'm not keen on the lower platform, which while designed with the best of intentions for wheelchair users, is a bit pointless when you consider that due to the rest of the design they wouldn't be able to reach the main Lotto tickets anyway.
Having seen one today in my local newsagents, they do have one advantage - they are a lot thinner and as such fit between their fridge full of bottles and the stationary shelf.