* You are viewing Posts Tagged ‘Darlington’

Soult’s Retail Loo: Darlington House of Fraser spruces up its facilities

Graham Soult January 06, 2012 Customer Service, Department Stores No Comments

Tags: , , ,

House of Fraser (Binns), Darlington (1 Mar 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult

House of Fraser (Binns), Darlington (1 Mar 2011)

It’s not one of my most well-read posts, but some of you may remember my blog from last March about the disappointing state of the toilet facilities in Darlington’s landmark House of Fraser (Binns) store.

While at first glance it might … Continue Reading

Next and New Look open up in Perth’s former Woolworths premises

Graham Soult November 25, 2011 Fashion Stores, Woolworths No Comments

Tags: , , , , , ,

New Look and Next (formerly Woolworths), Perth (24 Nov 2011). Photograph by Steve Hack

New Look and Next (formerly Woolworths), Perth (24 Nov 2011). Photograph by Steve Hack

The fashion retailers Next and New Look opened the doors to their new stores in Perth yesterday (24 November), on the site of the town’s former Woolworths store (#197). My friend Steve … Continue Reading

Houghton has a le-Spring in its step – the changing fortunes of the North East’s ex-Woolies sites

Graham Soult March 03, 2011 Property, Woolworths 5 Comments

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Former Woolworths, Newton Aycliffe (1 Mar 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult

Former Woolworths, Newton Aycliffe (1 Mar 2011)

With a dwindling number of empty Woolworths stores remaining in the North East, it doesn’t take too long to check out whether anything’s happening on the ground.

I … Continue Reading

How to loos customers – and send your brand image down the pan

Graham Soult March 02, 2011 Customer Service, Department Stores 1 Comment

Tags: , ,

Not what you expect in an upmarket department store. Photograph by Graham Soult

Not what you expect in an upmarket department store

Apologies for the Richard Whiteley-style headline and the rather gruesome photograph, but if Mary Portas was looking for another retail-related programme idea she could do worse than turn her attention to customer toilet facilities – celebrating the good and exposing the horrible.

Customer loos are a staple of most department stores, and a necessity for those that … Continue Reading

Boyes takes over Bishop Auckland’s old Woolies – could more follow?

Graham Soult August 27, 2010 Department Stores, Market Towns, Property, Retail History, Variety Stores, Woolworths 4 Comments

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Former Woolworths, Bishop Auckland (6 Feb 2010). Photograph by Graham Soult

Former Woolworths, Bishop Auckland (6 Feb 2010)

When I blogged about the remaining vacant Woolies stores in the North East a few days ago, I’d failed to spot that yet another is about to be reoccupied, with Boyes – the iconic northern variety retailer – … Continue Reading

From Stanley to Spennymoor – another gallery of North East former Woolies stores

Graham Soult June 04, 2010 Property, Retail History, Woolworths 13 Comments

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Former Woolworths, Peterlee (12 March 2010). Photograph by Graham Soult

Former Woolworths, Peterlee (12 March 2010)

Only counting the (33) North East Woolworths stores that closed down following the company’s 2008 administration, my quest to photograph the full set is nearing completion – with five more new ones featured in this post, only Berwick, Billingham and Stockton’s Portrack Lane are left to get.

However, the ever-expanding list of … Continue Reading