Ex-Woolies staff open 'Wellworths'

A former Woolworths manager has defied the recession by reopening the store under the name Wellworths and handing colleagues their jobs back.

DJ Chris Evans right and manager Claire Robertson open the Wellworths shop in Dorchester DJ Chris Evans (right) and manager Claire Robertson open the Wellworths shop in Dorchester

Claire Robertson recruited 20 of her former Woolworths staff to join her new shop - nicknamed "Wellies" - in Dorchester, Dorset.

"It gives people a bit of inspiration to go out and do something new or change direction especially in these gloomy economic times when all the news is depressing," she said.

The 34-year-old worked for the chain for 18 years, working her way up from Saturday girl in Yeovil, Somerset, to manage the Dorchester store for the last five years.

Broadcaster Chris Evans officially opened the store along with Dorchester's town crier Alistair Chisholm.

The branch was one of 815 that closed after Woolworths went into administration last November with debts of £385m.

Miss Robertson said: "Dorchester was always a profitable store. The sales were always good even though Woolworths as a company wasn't profitable. It is a prime location and really left a hole in the high street. Plus there isn't a lot of competition for a general retailer here."

The mother-of-two from Somerset gained the financial backing of a consortium led by the Ireland-based owner of the premises.

But Miss Robertson, who has a 12-year-old son Daniel and two-year-old daughter Alice, added: "I wouldn't have had the confidence to do it without the backing of my staff."

The store has pick and mix but has abandoned CDs, DVDs and children's clothing. Instead it has new lines including a craft and pet section with a stronger focus on products by local firms, including one which makes wooden toys.

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