hocus

The message from soft ayperth brought back memories. That way of rolling the patterns out on the counter, slightly staggered, was how we taught to serve. It was essential in the nissen hut shop. Space was so limited. There could be three or four assistants serving each side. The first question you had to ask a customer was, "Anything in the window you like". The current seasons best sellers had to be prominently displayed and heaven forbid that you ran out of stock. Yes we did close a sale by gradually reducing the number showing. Customers were always told to take an extra roll, which they were able to return if un-used, but I would say only about one in ten did bring one back. I think that alone boosted the sales. Is there anyone who remembers the brothers, or who worked at Blaskeys in the 50s and 60s ?

I'm a new member. I remember Blaskeys well, as I worked for them for nearly ten years. Started in Mansfield, then Leicester, Ilkeston, Sheffield and Nottingham. I actually left twice and re-joined. In Sheffield I worked in an old nissen hut shop in the centre, but then managed the new shop at the Moor. The old trams stopped running while I was there. Three brothers ran the business. Lionel at Head Office and Michael and Ellis supervised about thirty shops between them. Ellis was the one with a cigar and the Bentley. It was he who employed me. As a young manager I dreaded his visits, but actually he was the finest boss I ever had. I learned how to run a business successfully. The story about having his car damaged was typical of his generosity. As a newly married man when I moved to Sheffield, he let me buy furniture on his account and pay him back as I could. Looking back (I'm 82) he was like a 2nd father figure. When I decided to emigrate, he didn't want me to go, but I finished up working six months notice, before my papers came through.