Did the new Chief Executive of Woolworths wake up one morning with that thought resounding through his head?

Did nobody notice that sales had been slipping for years?

Whilst I agree with many of Mary Portas’ comments on what she found on a recent visit to Woolworths’ branch in Finchley Road, I disagree with those about the staff.

I happened to pop in on the off chance to that same branch only last Saturday. Yes, the layout is confusing, signposts are non-existent and I couldn’t find what I was looking for.

The chap I asked, though, couldn’t have been more helpful: He didn’t just tell me where to look: he walked me to it. Once there I found that choice was very limited, however, price and quality compared favourably with what I’d previously bought elsewhere.

When I went to the checkout the young lad there was courteous and carefully wrapped my purchase.

By all means have a go at Woolies where it gets things wrong. But don’t blanket pan the company where they get it right. Maybe I was lucky, and two helpful staff certainly can’t change the fortunes of a chain of stores that’s lost its way but would I go back on the off chance again?

Yes. I would.