Dixons
The home of brands such as Prinz and Saisho. Summary Founded by Charles Kalms and Michael Mindel. Dixons started life in 1937 as a small photographic studio in the High Street in Southend. The company was branded Dixons Studios Limited a name reprtably picked at random from a telephone directory as it was deemed to […]
Rumbelows
Once on nearly every high street Rumbelows was said to rival the big players in the market at the time: Currys, Dixons and Comet. Summary Rumbelows had their origins when Fred Dawes established a chain of TV and radio rental shops that he named after himself in the 1950’s. The stores built on their success […]
Lunn Poly
It’s that time of year when people’s thoughts turn to the annual holiday. Like anything else here in the UK Travel Agents once a mainstay of any British High Street have changed. In this post we remember Lunn Poly, remember? Lunn Poly…Get away Summary Lunn Poly was, once, the largest chain of Travel Agents in the UK, […]
Radio Rentals
In this day of HP and flat screen TV’s renting seems like a strange option, or is it? At the time of Radio Rentals and the other TV rental companies (another story for another day) TV’s and other home appliances could be quite costly. Summary Radio Rentals was founded in 1930 by Percy Perring-Thoms in Boyces Street, […]
Kwik Save
Once a major player in the supermarket world with it’s concentration on best selling named brands and no frills stores. Summary Kwik Save seemed to be in most major towns in the 1980’s, but their history goes much further back. Founded as Value Foods by Welsh entrepreneur Albert Gubay on 11th May 1959 and based in Prestatyn. The company […]
VG Stores
Remember the little self service grocery store on most high streets?, sadly no longer with us. Summary There is not much information on these little shops. You’d have seen them on Britain’s high streets from around the 1950’s. Most research we did found the initials stood for Value Grocers and formed the company slogan “Very […]
Woolworths
Whilst not exhaustive it’s a bity of a long post dedicated to the memory of a much loved brand. Famous for it’s pick and mix and Ladybird clothing range, many readers will remember buying records and looking at the top 75 singles chart displayed in it’s impressive record departments to see what was going to […]
Brentford Nylons
Famous for it’s nylon sheets and TV ad featuring legendary DJ Alan Freeman. Summary Brentford Nylons was founded by Harry Pambakian who came to London (Brentford) from Armenia. The company had a base in Chiswick and shops in many of the larger UK towns and cities. Driven by value-lead customers who bought it’s nylon sheets […]
Richard Shops
Richard Shops were a well known British retailer of women’s fashion. Between the 1960’s and 1990’s the company were a part of almost every British high Street and shopping centre. Anyone of a certain age will remember the ads.“Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things” Summary Richard Shops was formed in 1958 as […]
Midland Bank
Remember the ads? “Come and talk to the listening bank” Summary Midland Bank was founded in Union Street ,Birmingham in August 1836 by Charles Geach. It was originally known as The Birmingham and Midland Bank. Following a a period of nationwide expansion, including the acquisition of many smaller banks, in 1923 Birmingham and Midland Bank […]