Almost a decade after its collapse from out high streets, Woolworths could make a comeback according to the former director of the company Tony Page.
In an interview with The Daily Star, Mr Page said: “I am still emotionally attached to it.”
“I still think it has got a role in the future,” he added.
Famous for pick ‘n’ mix and school uniforms, at its peak, the brand had over 800 branches in the UK with around 27,000 staff. Around this number of staff were made redundant, each getting awarded compensation of £2,800 each on average in 2012.
When the company crashed in November 2008, it had racked up over £800 million of debt.
Following the crash Shop Direct, owned by the Barclay brothers launched the brand as an online store in 2009 before it closed six years later.
Tony Page believes it is ready for a comeback. “They have taken the website down, so I’m curious now as to what might happen next because I still think the brand has got some propriety in spite of what happened in the past.
“I feel as though if the brand name was available it would still be a possibility to bring it back [to our high streets]. I would want it to be much more a part of the community.
“The stores that really used to do well were those that were at the heart of the community, rather than being in the big shopping centres. It is much easier to walk down the road than order on Amazon.”
Former director of the store told the Daily Star how the brand’s collapse was still painful for him.
“It was traumatic, without a shadow of a doubt, and it would take half a day to explain why we couldn’t survive. Fundamentally I think there were just some things that didn’t work, such as larger shops in the wrong place.
“I strongly believe the core of Woolworths, however, was – and still could be – a strong and prosperous business.”