Woolies in the community in the 1920s
       

Colleagues from the Torquay store (No. 88) prepare their entry for the town's carnival in the 1920s. Most stores entered a float in their local procession, winning many gold awards. (Image: Paul Seaton)
       
We are  proud that the team at Woolworths has always supported and worked with the local communities in the towns that we serve. As the Company expanded in the 1920s, many Managers found themselves taking on the Chairmanship of the local Rotary Club or other fund-raising organisations, and many others accepted roles on town councils, as Justices of the Peace or as School Governors.

But the best fund-raising activities were run by colleagues in the stores

  • dressing floats for the local carnival or procession
  • running sports matches, often against other retailers like the arch-rivals M&S
  • dressing up in-store and for local events
  • delivering Easter Eggs and other goodies to local hospitals (at a time before the National Health service when hospital depended on contributions to treat the needy)

Most of the charities chosen by the Stores were related to Children - orphanages, rehabilitation centres and the RNIB were particular favourites in the stores.

       

1920s Gallery Home

20s overview: stepping up the pace   Visit a 1920s store  
Rapid expansion -  an opening every 17 days   Supplier partnerships and product development
The first gramophone records   Play the Little Marvel record "What'll you do"  
Woolies in the community    Alice White in "The Girl from Woolworths"
Sixpenny pops "We'll have a Woolworth Wedding"
50th birthday of the American Woolworth
Price quiz - dateline 1929