DIYWEEK.net

Woolies store in Selsdon gets new lease of life today after standing empty for a year and a half.
Ex-Woolworths managers Asad Khan and Ken Holdway open the doors on their new venture today. After taking over the lease on the former Woolies site in Selsdon high street, the duo have spent weeks getting the store ready to start trading under its new name, Smallworths at 10am today.

When asked what prompted the decision to open the business, Mr Holdway explained: "The sheer amount of people who say that they miss Woolies. There seems to be a need for something like this locally. So we just decided to go for it."

The store will stock many of the same ranges as Woolworths, with a DIY and homewares offer, children's clothing, toys and CDs and DVDs -not to mention the pick-n-mix that Woolies was famous for.

Mr Khan told DIY Week: "The model is the same as Woolworths. It's what it was famous for. We're both ex-woolies managers so we know the business.

"Sometimes it's difficult if you're a corporate to go out and meet customers need but it's just the two of us. If you get the basics right and keep it simple, it should work."

The duo admitted that it had been a lot of hard work to get the store ready for its launch today but were excited, if not a bit nervous, about the grand opening, when DIY Week spoke to them earlier this morning. They also have big hopes for Christmas and Mr Holdway explained that the business will be going "big on toys and entertainment" over the festive season.

To mark Smallworth's debut on the high street, two members of staff will be dressed as Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. "We've got a bit of drama - something to catch customers' eyes", laughed Mr Khan.