Categories: uncategorized
Date: 27 November 2008 10:59:43
Ok, so there has been alot of talk about why people want Woolworths to have a buyer to save it, from a sentimental point of view, and in relation to jobs but I'm going to argue its importance from a slightly different angle. (For foreign readers not clear on story read the BBC report). I want to argue it's role in preventing social exclusion.
Woolworths is one of the few major retailers, along with New Look and Boots which hasn't long since disappeared from the high street of many small towns in this country. It is a store which has provided a range of low price products, ranging from stationary to DVD's to bedding and finally clothing. It's been a lifeline to many of us on lower incomes. It's also provided some competition to the one smaller supermarket that these towns generally have. (Think Tesco Express, or smaller Morrisons size).
Those on lower incomes and the elderly are less likely to have access to cars; for us popping to the local superstore is a trek involving quite abit of expense and time. However, popping down to the local high street, particularly in small towns is far easier. It is something we are likely to fit in with other activities we need to do, like popping into the post-office (remembering the nearest post-office is now likely to be a centrally located one). So it is that Woolworths has been a store that has provided for our needs without requiring us to negotiate the, often expensive, bus journey to a larger town or out of town shopping centre.
When I was living in Herne Bay the return bus fare to Canterbury was just under £5. As such if I wanted to buy something for £5, (like a cheap DVD to keep Third Party occupied) I had to spend about £10. Having Woolworths around the corner meant this was avoided and more treats were possible as £5 was available far more than £10 would have been. Similarly stationary is very important in our house; Woolworths provided it, often on 3 for 2, without the extra cost of a bus being involved. Additionally, Woolies was somewhere Third Party could shop for many of her needs without having to go out of town.
I firmly believe that having Woolworths nearby has saved me a large amount of time and money over the years. It has enabled me to shop in away which has provided us with what I would describe as quite a good life on a shoe-string budget. As a lone parent it has enabled me to give my daughter appropriate treats which I may not otherwise of have had.
The loss of Woolworths will mean that many of our smaller towns lose one of the few stores that they have left. The hole left will be larger than I think many people realise, particularly as fuel prices continue to rise and people have to think again about some of their basic car useage.