What a difference eight months make!
Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date published: 07 September 2009
SHAW town centre has been given a boost — almost eight months to the day after its Woolies closed.
Shoppers queued to splash the cash at its new Ethel Austin store which has opened in the former Woolworth branch in Market Street.
And the move has created seven jobs, which includes one member of staff who worked at the doomed store.
Thousands of workers were made redundant and 807 stores closed when Woolworths became a high-profile victim of the credit crunch. The loss left empty spaces in high streets across the country, with fears that the former Shaw shop could be turned into a fast food restaurant or takeaway.
But Ethel Austin opened its new store there on Thursday as the business celebrates its 75th year.
The company was founded by Ethel Austin in the front room of her terrace house in Liverpool. Within five years she had opened three shops and it grew into a national high street brand.
It was bought out of administration earlier this year by former boss of clothing chain MK One, Elaine McPherson, who said: “Ethel Austin is a strong high street brand with a loyal customer base and we are sure Shaw customers will be delighted with what they find.
“The retail market can be very unforgiving to those who do not diversify and innovate, but we have been improving the brand image and reviewing our product ranges — and I think it shows. I think people will be pleasantly surprised by the changes we’ve made.”
