Woolworths: Wooly and Worth in 'Seize the Light'

[zaksoradecal]

HOW DARE YOU ELECTROCUTE WOOLIE them two are the best tv characters in the world

[JMMultimedia2009]

hmm copyrights designs and patents act anyone?? lol surprised woolworths didnt try and make money back by sueing you for using their trademark and copyright infringment as well as libelous comments...

[slowdazzles]

yes, I expect it's this spoof ad that pushed them over the edge into backruptcy - though it's more likely related to the fact that they stocked a load of crap that nobody wanted to buy...

[mega18b]

yeh .how dare you defame wooly and worth.......hello is that the French Secret Service ..

[gammamonkey]

crap! This is a rubbish imitation of the legendary wooly and worth!

[mega18b]

you mean the energy efficient bulbs that cost more to produce and when broken contain mercury vapour that is toxin.

[emse2009]

i think the worth it brand is excellent! and i love wooly and worth! i feel really sorry for the job losses! its not fair

[anxresi]

I don't like the new voice artists :(

[anxresi]

JOKE!! I know this is a parody.

[ajwrangler1977]

This spoof is gay

[lurancyvenom]

...before you make any snide comments, maybe you should check up on woolies stock. Maybe you'll notice that we do sell them, and have for a while now.

[GreenpeaceUK]

Yes we did notice lurancyvenom - Woolworth has been selling them since we started lobbying the company to do so. Perhaps you noticed that this video is over a year old?

[lurancyvenom]

This is actually really pathetic...but at least you gave money to the Kids First charity by buying the puppets...

Yes, I do work for woolworths, and before you make any snide comments,

[chibihara]

haha i remember wen greenpeace came in the woolies where i work, albiet i hadnt started work yet lolz

[Twickerz2]

get A REAL job instead of pestering the pubilc to sign your bits of paper of which most could not give a rats backside to the 'issue' at the top. How about stop standing in public and yapping at us it may cut down your own co2 footprint

[PrettyKittyKathryn]

Oh dear. I work for Woolworths and we sell a lot of energy efficient lightbulbs. It is a shame that we can't replace all our bulbs with energy efficient ones, we could if the public/our costumers realise how much these bulbs will benefit themselves and others.

There are energy efficient lights in our "worth it" range, we also have promotions where we give away free energy efficient light bulbs to our costumers - ALL businesses need to drive the sales of these bulbs, not just Woolworths.

[scottswift27]

I work at woolworths and we've started selling energy efficant worth it lightbulbs for 50p.

A whole 24p and 0.95 increase in price.

No promises that they wont electrocute you still though.

[niallswand]

where did you buy the dog puppet???

[GreenpeaceUK]

Woollies - where else?

[niallswand]

when did you get it, there isnt any in my local store...

[Sotonmatt]

If more people buy energy efficient lightbulbs, then they will stock up to meet demand. How many of the customers who signed your petition actually took the step of buying energy efficient lightbulbs that day?

Anyone can sign a bit of paper if you pester them enough - but are they bothered enough to take action? I doubt it.

[rangers150988]

MEH

[rangers150988]

This is absurd! I work for Woolworths and we do sell energy efficent bulbs! Not "1 or 2" and they are reasonably priced PFFFFFFFFT 2u

[GreenpeaceUK]

Good news! After our visit to Woolworths' head office earlier this month, the company announced that they'll stop selling energy hungry incandescent bulbs by 2010, a big step forward from their previous refusal to set any date at all. So Woolly the sheep didn't get electrocuted in vain!

[LinziRich]

By the sounds of things Woolies might also need to invest in a little staff training, product knowledge is integral to sales in any *good* business.

[jamesmakin2002]

It's not the knowledge that is the issue for me, I am against the type of direct action that is employed by Greenpeace.

As employees we are aware of the good/bad points of certain products but to target individual stores (as Greenpeace seems to enjoy doing) for something that is beyond our control seems rather unfair.

[jamesmakin2002]

This is hilarious!

I work at Woolies and once we had Greenpeace "activists" (LOL) in who removed all the inefficient lightbulbs from the shelves and dumped them at the till! We had a good laugh at that stunt! Now the Greenpeace 'activists' come in and put stickers on our lightbulbs - as if that's going to change the world!

Here's an idea - Why not make Head Office more aware of your lightbulb crusade, the people who ACTUALLY make the decisions in this company Lol!

Lovely ad though!

[GreenpeaceUK]

Already part of the plan, James. We visited Woolies stores so that we could engage your customers. We gathered hundreds of signatures in support of taking power crazy bulbs of Woolworths' shelves, which we delivered to your head office today because there was a board meeting, so hopefully the people who make the decisions will have got the message. Let's all hope so, eh?

[willrayneruk2007rj]

I think this ad is awesome.... as a woolies collegue i was pissing myself laughing... this is not going to make woolies stop selling there gr8 bargin light bulbs... Mr Woolworths will no doubt be laughing tooo, hahaha

[deltaofdreams]

Yeah I'm a Woolies collegue myself and when I said to the others about this - they thought I was off my head as I found it so funny telling them

[RabidLeroy]

I knew Wooly should have thought twice before putting in a new incandescent lightbulb. ^^;

[motherlodeuk]

Nice one daffy - the more CFC bulbs we all buy, the cheaper they'll get and the faster we'll phase out the old ones. Maybe even Woolies will get the message and rediscover its mysterious plans "for its light bulb range that the campaign group was previously unaware of..."

[daffybint321]

I've changed all my bulbs! Morrisons had them on offer at 39p each for the philips ones! So I bought loads for the family! we should all do are bit and help close two power stations! check out what you can do to save energy and reduce your fuel bills and cut your carbon footprint! Greenpeace do good work!

[snabe1]

well said "didymograptus" i couldnt agree more! please start listening greenpeace for once!

[didymograptus]

Fair enough, I've read the page on their site, ( I didn't find plenty of info, I found one comment that had some really valid points in support of CFL's, and I think I said often enough that I support them), but the way they're going about this is what gets me, and the lack of fair arguments which would make their point stronger, and that they cant seem to accept that sometimes there are problems or arguments about these CFL's, and also don't tell anyone what Woolworths have already said.

[didymograptus]

The people in my local store not long ago told the member of staff they talked to that they had spoken to head office already-a good move, but if head office hasn't done anything yet, what can the staff instore do? They get their instructions from head office.

Here's a statement from Woolworths:

"The company has written to Greenpeace to make its position clear and to share plans it has for its light bulb range that the campaign group was previously unaware of.

[didymograptus]

A spokesperson for Woolworths said, "In the letter we have outlined that we anticipate that consumer demand will change in the next few years and technology will advance. "Woolworths will be supportive of this and therefore expects not to be selling incandescent lightbulbs by 2011. We also said that Woolworths had already planned to increase the number of CFL light bulbs it sells."

[didymograptus]

"As of the end of September, 23 per cent of our light bulb range will be CFL. It is our understanding that this is well ahead of our competitors. Also already planned is a range of Worthit! (our low price brand) CFL light bulbs. These will be in stores before the end of the year and will significantly reduce the price of CFL light bulbs in our stores, giving customers even more choice without a price premium. This is part of a larger, ongoing piece of work to review pricing at Woolworths."

[didymograptus]

Thanks to those people who have said the rest of what I wanted to say, "woolies has made no commitment to remove power crazy inefficient lightbulbs from their shelves", erm actually, I even heard they wanted to reduce and hopefully get rid of them, by 2011.

Your arguments just aren't as strong this time Greenpeace.

[shrinkydinky]

i think the key word there is 'hopefully' - is that the kind of language you use when you're definitely going to do something?

didymorgraptus - plenty of info on all those issues you raise on the Greenpeace site (URL in the video description box).

[snabe1]

Another question for you!

DID you get permission to take the photos on your website in woolworths stores????

If you didnt then you have actually broken the law I'm afraid!!!

If you did (which I doubt very much) who gave you this permission??

[snabe1]

On your website you state "Woolies competitors are ahead in the change to CFL's" - well sorry to disapoint you but there is not a sign anywhere of a woolies "competitor" on your site!!! secondly woolies have said they are looking to remove their lines and replace with cfl's by 2012 the year EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO! LEAVE THEM THE HELL ALONE!

[snabe1]

Well greenpeace. in answer to your question to misskathyxy - if you would take a time out to look at the way business are run then you might understand!

Contracts contracts & contracts at the end of the day! it currently takes woolies anything from 12 months to change what they stock (so i dont believe emptying the shelves is gonna do the trick!!)

[GreenpeaceUK]

Sorry if we made a mess for you to clean up, misskathyxy - it's true that Woolworths do sell CFL bulbs, but the cheapest ones we could find there were 10 times more expensive than the incandescents. Why is this the case when places like Morrisons (currently selling Philips CFLs for 39p each) and Currys (found pretty much all over the country) can do it so much cheaper?

[misskathyxy]

i agree if greenpeace spent more time in woolworths looking instead of just pulling the stock of the shelf(which some of us have to clean up, when you have gone btw.)they would find a range of energy efficient lightbulbs. Also not every place has a local john lewis i don't even think there is one in the county i'm from.

[didymograptus]

I'd like to say well done Greenpeace, as I thought I supported you, but after watching this, and having seen you enter Woolworths stores and be so rude and immature as to actually remove lightbulbs from the shelves, I've changed my mind slightly. (Don't worry, we use energy saving bulbs, and are more than aware of climate change and our massive carbon footprint, and I've also supported Greenpeace in its other "fights").

However, as much as I thought I was a Greenpeace fan, I have to say this:

[didymograptus]

(Continued) You omit to state any arguments for CFL's apart from the saving energy part, well duuh I think we all know that by now and most people are aware of the problems caused by wasted energy. However, you don't back anything else up, and fail to mention the debates about the raw materials used to make these bulbs, and the debates on some of the materials used in them, such as Mercury. Also, many people are concerned about possibly health side effects, such as eye problems and migraines.

[didymograptus]

(Continued) Some people just plain don't like them as they do not all produce a full light spectrum. Each to their own there.

Also, there are a couple of problems with comparing the 2 types, most things have a variable and these must be compensated for, or at least acknowledged, such as: more energy is used to make CFL's than normal incandescent bulbs, I see nothing mentioned about that, and also that the lovely long life-span we expect from CFL's can depend on conditions around it.

[didymograptus]

(Continued) It's these kinds of things that make the CFL more expensive. Most consumers prefer the choice over the 2, I expect the higher price of the CFL is due to its manufacture-it's more expensive and this is compensated through its marketing.

This doesn't mean I don't agree entirely with you and your cause, I just think the way you've gone about this one is a little...less 'Greenpeace' than usual.

Oh and "Category: Comedy"? Oh please....

[snabe1]

well said andrew00172004!!!!!

yes peasentfarmer - Woolies alone are responsible for the floods arent they???

you so need to get out of your house and open your eyes to take a look at the bigger picture! Because of course the 150,000 bulbs that woolies sell every year has had such a massive impact on climate change!!!

really, cant wait til september and your all back at school! (your not? - thats where you should be!)

[peasantfarmer]

Peasant farmers are having a tough time this year with all the rain causing blight on potato and tomato crops, spoiled hay, etc. No doubt this is the result of climate change caused by Woolleys refusing to replace incandescent light bulbs with energy saving ones. Enjoyed the 'Introduction to Glastonbury' video too.

[snabe1]

Im more concerned about my wages, my home and my job to give too much of a shit about climate change - especially after watching this vid, it does NOT make me support you, if youd have approached the subject differently then it would be a different story!

SHAME ON YOU!

[snabe1]

well it looks like your taking it soo seriously yourself with a video that looks like a 5 year olds school project - NOT the sort of thing youd expect from greenpeace!!!

Climate change - yeah sorry its TOP of the list at the moment on peoples worries isnt it???

[GreenpeaceUK]

I rest my case - you make it for me far more eloquently than I ever could. Good luck with your 20p lightbulb stockpiling - it's reassuring to know you're taking this climate change threat seriously...

[snabe1]

Greenpeace should be sent to somewhere like China to tackle the most polluting country IN THE WORLD then to be bothering Woolies!

I love Woolies, and think theyre great! Im gonna stockpile their 20p lightbulbs and give them to everyone i know!

LONG LIVE WOOLWORTHS AND LONG LIVE THE 20P BULB!

GOOD LUCK TO TREVOR BISH-JONES!

[andrew00172004]

Hear Hear - LONG LIVE WOOLIES!

Greenpeace should worry about the bigger picture

[Compost666]

Morrisons have low energy bulbs for 39p. Cute small ones too.

[snabe1]

ohhhhhhh woolies dont sell lightbulbs for 30mins Im sure they give a shit?????????

Ever though greenpeace need to tackle the government (you know the people that run the country! ever heard of them???) and maybe petition them to bring in legislation to MAKE retailers go to energy efficient bulbs? but no they wont do it do i hear you cry? why? because people want to buy what they want to buy! simple as that mate!

[snabe1]

If you were to open your eyes motherlodeuk you would see my point!! but your obviously a greenpeace activist and cant see past the end of your nose! People want choice, thats what there is - the greenpeace website even shows some answers from woolies stating about removing bulbs by 2011 (inline with everyone else) so wheres the problem? ahh thats it the sad IDIOTS of greenpeace have nothing better to do with their time then to go into woolies stores and empty the shelves for what? 30 mins?

[motherlodeuk]

what's your point snabe1 - work for Woolworth, by any chance? If anyone's comments are full of shit round here, yours are.

[snabe1]

shrinkydinky seems to be just full of shit. also how crap are the "energy efficient bulbs"? not as bright not as good!!

Woolworths are NOT giants. just check out their trading figures mate. THEY MADE NO PROFIT LAST YEAR!!

but yeah theyre "giants" arent they!

check out your businesses before you comment.

+ it also takes woolies 12 months or more to change stock! you cant expect it overnight!

[snabe1]

shrinkydinky. woolworths could buy from the same manufacturers as john lewis but that doesnt mean to say that they would get it as cheap! and it doesnt mean just because they have more stores they get it cheaper, its all about the quantity of UNITS sold, and woolworths doesnt perform very well on lightbulb sales! can you get that into your head now?

John Lewis are a blue chip company woolies is not. Only making £11m profit Ly, woolies are NOT giants!

[shrinkydinky]

Sigh. Well, yes they could get them as cheap but they seem to be bound to stocking bulbs from General Electric rather than offering a range of brands. They manage to sell incandescent bulbs at absurdly cheap prices so sales must be doing well enough to warrant that.

[shrinkydinky]

But think about the two companies for a second - on the one hand, Woolworths: a chain pitching itself as value-for-money, everyday goods type of place. On the other, John Lewis: a company pitching itself at the medium to higher end of the market. And yet it sells CFL bulbs much, much cheaper than Woolworths. Why on earth would they do that?

[shrinkydinky]

And sorry, but more stores means you do get it cheaper - it's called 'buying in bulk', to fill all those branches. That's the whole point of having a massive, nationwide chain. Whether those savings are passed on to customers is another matter. 'Not giants'? Rubbish.

[relex109]

lol

[shrinkydinky]

But surely Woolworths can buy from the same manufacturers as John Lewis or any other chain of stores. And with around 700 branches in the UK (compared to the handful in the John Lewis chain), the economies of scale mean they could buy them even cheaper. Are you saying Woolies has less buying power than any other high-street retailer?

[snabe1]

The reason the energy efficient bulbs are expensive at Woolworths is because they can not buy them in as cheap as the likes of John Lewis! I know first hand, so as for reading between the lines shrinkydinky i do, and i know how much woolies pay for the energy efficient bulbs! so surly this is a concern that should be highlighted to the manufacturer NOT to WOOLWORTHS!!!

20p bulbs forever!

[shrinkydinky]

Jeez, lighten up - what's so bad about being immature? Seems like you've got no qualms about it, snabe1.

John Lewis was used as an example not because everyone should rush out to buy light bulbs there, but to demonstrate how unnecessarily expensive the efficient CFL bulbs are at Woolworths. But then perhaps you need to be a bit more mature to read between the lines.

[snabe1]

Such an Immature video from "greenpeace" I think.

Let me see??? How many John Lewis's are there?? not in every town i think???? Lets travel to John Lewis and buy this lightbulb. Thats a good idea how much CO2 from the traveling???? more then to just buy the 20p bulb at woolworths!!!!!!

I'm sorry but because of this I'm now tempted to go into Woolies and buy as MANY of these 20p bulbs as I could get my hands on!!!

[phill6985]

haha what a really rubbish atempt to prove a point and be funny, oh dear ! , think you should see the light , pun was intended

[mcdryetilbury]

To be honest, a rather immature method of arguing the point. Especially since your point was not about people being electrocuted.

[slackr]

LOL! I love it! Poor sheep though...

[masterofdespise]

I've never liked Woolworth's.

But this is something different!