The Wonder of Wellworths

The Wonder of Wellworths - DJ Chris Evans opens Dorchester's newest store - Wellworths - amid the biggest media scramble the town has seen in years.

Less than three months after the closure of the former Woolworths store it has been transformed with a new look and a bright new image by the inspirational former Woolworths manager Claire Robertson.

With independent backing, she has refitted the store, stocked it with 8000 new lines and recruited 20 of her former staff to run it.

"When Woolworths closed it left a big gap in the High Street - now we have a fantastic new store - it definitely is the wonder of Wellies," said town crier and Chamber of Commerce President Alastair Chisholm.

The band is the excellent infraSky - find them on Myspace.

technical note: These clips were filmed on a tiny Flip Mino pocket video camera which we have been trialling. View in HQ to get an idea of the quality it can produce - not as good as a proper DV camera but surprisingly acceptable.

September 2011 update: Wellworths has now rebranded itself Wellchester after Shop Direct -- which bought the Woolworths brand out of administration -- would not agree to terms that would allow the company to expand as Wellworths. The move has been condemned by business leaders.

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8480761.Wellworths_forced_to_become_Wellches...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Wellworths
• wellies
• Dorchester
• Alastair
• Chisholm
• Claire
• Robertson
• wonder
• of
• Woolworths
• Chris
• Evans

[harryplesta]

haha i bet people still shoplift there

lmao

x

[NisbetMedia]

and probably get a free ride in a Police car

[woolworthsdotcom]

Comin' atcha!! We're back.....It's true. Watch this space.

The Chairman

[NisbetMedia]

Hmmm... an anonymous chairman with hat and shades - not entirely convincing I'm afraid. But if you need any help with publicity, let me know!

[gabiwell]

Thanks NisbetMedia for recording this. Im putting it on my blog for posterity ! Well done Claire Robertson for taking such an entrepreneurial step - I hope the people around Dorch will give it support, as I hope they will with all the independent traders who are struggling for their livelihoods.

After youve shopped, do come & visit our coffeeshop in Tudor Arcade, next to Waitrose. Were serving probably the best coffee in Dorset. Really appreciate it !

[NisbetMedia]

Thanks for your comment - yes feel free to embed it in your blog. I hadn't intended to film it but I was just so staggered to see so many TV crews in Dorch. Chris Evans was really friendly, holding babies, posing for snaps, giving autographs. They couldn't have better publicity.

[nje36]

Well done that lady for not just giving up.

Now all we need is other old wollworths managers in other towns and cities to do the same and it will be just the way it was.

I miss woolworths.

[diapersrok]

Wellworth- PLEASE SET UP A SHOP WHERE I LIVE!

[lowestoftbus]

It will not last old woolworths failed. No C.D's or DVDs!

[GWRtom]

take it you live in Dorchester too then?

[GWRtom]

Nice i Live in Dorchester i always go down to wellworths avery weekend

[mattsteam12]

this is on bbc iplayer but only till tomorrow. its well worth a watch ; )

[evealexsis]

I live in London and the next time I go to Dorchester, I'm going into Wellworth's to enjoy that "Woolies" feeling again!!!!

[rajaboy]

All I can say is what a smart move, Good luck to Claire & lets hope it the rebirth of what we once loved