WWW Group Ltd present a 3D and 6D Pictures film for the Woolworths Museum
(Geoffrey Rodgers speaking). I'm the new Chairman of Woolworth, and I believe in 1981
we're going to offer you better value than we've ever done before.
That's why I've introduced these new Crackdown Prices throughout all Woolworth stores.
Come in and see for yourself just how good these Crackdown Prices really are. I can promise you this...
(Jingle, male voice with guitar accompaniment) You'll love the change at Woolworth, you'll love the change.
(John Beckett speaking) I'm confident that we will restore Woolworth to its rightful place as the major force in British retailing.
(Colin Brown speaking) The reality is that Woolworth's has not kept pace with this changing marketplace.
(Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy speaking) We thought we could turn the company around because Woolworth is a great brand name. It was obvious from looking at the shops that it had lost direction.
(Mair Barnes CBE speaking) We spent a lot of time ensuring that the quality of our childrenswear, particularly things like the Ladybird Dressing gown and all that range of Ladybird merchandise,
is up to date, is very good value, and is of exceptionally high quality.
(Mike Sommers speaking) Quite simply it's selling more of the things we're good at, and selling much more of the things we have strengths in like Toys, like Records and Tapes.
and by having a much broader range, we do two things. One, we take a larger share of what our customers have got to spend in those markets, which is a good thing, they come back regularly,
and two, we get a much better productivity for every foot of shelf space.
(Chris French speaking) We have implemented an ordering system in 850 stores in seven months; that's no mean achievement.
(Jonathan Weeks speaking) The position when we took over was that it was clear there was inadequate control. The Stores had at least ten different ways of ordering product.
The way we've tackled the problem is to adopt a complete supply chain approach.
(Don Rose speaking) The staff meetings are really important. We did have this communication problem, which was highlighted in the Attitude Survey,
and I think this more caring style of management, which we're attempting to show as 'Leadership' is fundamental in bringing about a change within Woolworths.
(Richard Harker speaking) The customer appreciates the change. She's spending more time and more money in the store.
She appreciates the better-trained staff, the better laid-out store and the improved merchandise. But at the end of the day, it's the product that counts.
(Narrator John Humphrys voiceover) Every week another old Woolworth store reopens with a bright new face, a symbol of a brighter future.
(Geoff Mulcahy speaking) Two weeks ago this was an old Woolworth store. Next week it will be opening as a new store, with a new design, new merchandise and retrained staff.
It's the beginning of an exciting, new future for Woolworth.
(A jazz band plays a lively song, which forms the outro music. Thanks for watching.)