
Woolworths Group plc is principally a UK retailer focused on the home, family and entertainment. Woolworths offers its customers value-for-money on an extended range of products. It is built around the well known Woolworths brand which is represented in towns and cities throughout the UK.
The Group also operates the entertainment businesses E.UK, 2 Entertain and Streets Online. E.UK is Britain's largest wholesale distributor of home entertainment products whilst 2 Entertain is an audio-visual publishing group. Streets Online, one of the UK's leading specialist online retailers was acquired in December 2000.
The Mainchain stores comprise of the traditional Woolworths outlets located in small towns and city suburbs, targeted at meeting basic everyday shopping requirements, as well as larger stores located on prime shopping streets in major regional shopping centres and out of town stores. The product offer covers Toys, Children’s Clothing, Events, Confectionery, Home and Entertainment; larger stores include a more comprehensive range of Home and Children’s Clothing.
As of March 2007 there where 818 Stores
Click here to find / locate your nearest Woolworth store
| Group History |
|
| |
| • |
F.W. Woolworths, a subsidiary of its US parent, was founded in the UK in 1909. The first store opened in Liverpool. |
| |
|
| • |
During the 1980s, management rationalised the offer into clearly defined categories: entertainment, home, kids (toys and clothing) and confectionery. |
| |
|
| • |
In the late 1990s, the management extended the Woolworths brand into other retail formats and alternative channels to accelerate growth by taking advantage of changing retail trends. This resulted in the opening of the first big W store in 1999 and Woolworths General Store in 2000. |
| |
|
| • |
E.UK was founded as Record Merchandisers Limited in 1966, and subsequently became a joint venture between a number of record companies. Woolworths became E.UK's largest customer and, in 1986, E.UK was acquired by the Kingfisher Group. |
| |
|
| • |
Streets Online was founded in 1996 and has attracted over 450,000 registered customers since its launch. Woolworths Group now owns 91.4 per cent. of Streets Online. |
| |
|
| • |
Woolworths Group plc began trading as a listed company on the London Stock Exchange on 28 August 2001 after its demerger from Kingfisher plc. |
|
|
Ladybird |
|
| |
Ladybird is one of the best selling childrenswear brands in the UK. Focusing on clothing for children age 0-10 years, the brand offers fun, fashionable clothing at affordable prices. Over the past few years, the brand has gone from strength to strength, introducing buggies, toiletries and bedding, with many new, exciting ventures in the pipeline.
In 2007, Ladybird will be opening stand-alone stores in the UK, increasing marketshare and brand awareness. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Ladybird history |
|
| |
The Ladybird brand has an extensive history within the clothing market, making its heritage one of its strongest selling points. The Ladybird story stretches back to 18th century when the Pasold family came up with the idea of Ladybird clothing. In 1938 the Ladybird company was established by Eric and Rolf Pasold. Their aim was to make the Ladybird brand the leading name in the childrenswear market. The brand was later brought by Coats Viyella.In 1984 Woolworths signed a licensing agreement to stock the Ladybird band exclusively, and they purchased the brand outright in 2000.In 2002 the brand launched a major licensing programme to give the brand global presence. Today the brand has stores in Ireland, Dubai and China, with stores opening in other new territories this year. A franchise agreement has also been signed, allowing Ladybird to open stand-alone stores within the UK marketplace – showing that the brand is only getting stronger with time. |
Ladybird exclusively at Woolworths
Ladybird is a childrenswear clothing brand sold exclusively at Woolworths. Woolworths acquired the Ladybird brand that clothes children age 0-9 years. Ladybird clothes are popular, modern and appealing to today's children. Ladybird is ranked third overall in the childrenswear market and the market share is 5% and growing. There are thousands of lines in the Ladybird range, which is priced competitively from £1.99 - £29.99.
Gloss - Exclusive to Woolworths
Gloss is a funky fashion collection designed specifically with tweens in mind. Aimed at fashion conscious girls aged seven to 11, Gloss is inspired by the season's hottest looks, combining catwalk and pop fashions at affordable prices without being over the top so that mums are happy too!
Chad Valley
Chad Valley launched in 1991 in response to research that identified a gap in the market for a range of high quality, safe toys that offered good value for money. It was decided to utilise the Chad Valley brand name, which had been in existence since 1860, to create an own label range of merchandise. Chad Valley comprises an extensive range of toys and games suitable for all children from babies and toddlers to boys and girls under 8 years old.