As the final 200 Woolworths UK stores closed their doors for good yesterday, it was an emotional farewell for many customers and over 27,000 employees.

Woolworths formally held 807 stores that have been closing in stages since the end of December. Tuesday was the final day for the remaining 200 stores to shut up shop forever.

After mounting debts of £385 million, Woolworths was put into administration in November. However, with such a large debt to be paid, the administration company Deloitte was unable to find a buyer.

Deloitte is currently continuing its negotiations to sell of individual sites to other High Street chains, and many of the prime location sites are expected to re-open.

Shopworkers’ Union, Usdaw, is said to be contacting companies looking into buying the sites and asking them to prioritise applications from the redundant Woolworths employees in order to maximise their chances of employment.

John Harnnett, General Secretary of Usdaw said: ‘The union will also be in contact with local colleges, which will be offering free Skills for Life Training.
‘We will be providing as much support as necessary and would recommend all Woolworths staff to use JobCentre Plus and Next Steps to find alternative employment.’

In its final days, the stores were not only selling off their stock, but also fixtures and fittings, such as staff lockers, at discounted prices. Customers have also reported such reductions as bottled water at 4p, and DVDs and CDs for pennies.

Professor Alan Wilson from Strathclyde Business School, believes that the company didn’t survive due to its lack of quality compared to other store, and couldn’t offer the discounted prices of other stores.

One shopper from Staffordshire said: ‘It is so sad to see the shop like this.
‘Woolworths used to be the heart of Lichfield. It used to be the heart of every high street.
‘We are all happy while we are getting the bargains but we won’t be so pleased when all the other shops are wiped out too.’

Deloitte wouldn’t confirm how much money had been raised by the clearance sales, though the Glasgow Argyll Street store was forced to shut at midday yesterday as the manager said there was nothing left to sell.

One customer reported that: ‘People in there are fighting to get at empty shelves, there is nothing left.
‘I’ve been shopping at Woolies all my life. I remember going to the pick and mix when I was a girl and lately I would buy clothes for my grandchildren.
‘There was always a bargain to be had at Woolies, I just don’t understand where it all went wrong.’

Woolworths is just the highest profiled of many High Street casualties that have been caught out by the recent economic problems. Its problems were heightened when it was forced to pay in cash for goods bought from suppliers due to trade credit insurers no longer covering its suppliers.