Do you remember going to the shops on a Saturday afternoon buying a cheap record of the week and pic'n'mix?  

Founded by American businessmen, Woolworths – or ‘Woolies’ as it was affectionately known – was a shopping experience to satisfy every man, woman and child.

The company went into administration in 2008, forcing the closure of all 807 stores in the country. Its downfall was considered a symbol of the credit crunch and financial turmoil of the time.

Glasgow Times: Woolworths Pic n Mix.Woolworths Pic n Mix.

Sarah Swain, a former reporter at the Herald, watched as the shutters of the Argyle Street store came down for the last time, shelves emptied.

For many, the closing down sales seem like yesterday, and younger generations will still remember choosing Christmas presents and having free rein with the little shovels at the pic'n'mix stand.

Glasgow Times: Shawlands store closing, 2000s.Shawlands store closing, 2000s.

Of the dozens across the city, two Glasgow stores would have turned 100 this year. The Argyle Street and Charing Cross branches opened in 1922, seven years after the first on Union Street.

Youngsters would run towards Toytown, stocked to the brim with teddy bears, space hoppers, toy trains and more. Along with favourites like Fisher Price and Mattel, Woolworths introduced an exclusive brand, Chad Valley.

Glasgow Times: Cosmetics counter, Woolworths Partick. 1956.Cosmetics counter, Woolworths Partick. 1956.

Now owned by Argos, it quickly became the leading choice and won awards for its quality, with well-made building blocks and jigsaws showcasing stunning landscapes.

The teens and young adults meanwhile, headed towards the music department. The store had its own music label, Embassy Records, and sold singles featuring their own versions of well-known songs at much lower prices.

Woolworths had its own top 40, with a record of the week featuring at a special price. Occasionally, Woolworths would outsell the real thing, and were strong competition for Virgin Megastores and HMV in the 1990s.

Glasgow Times: Cosmetics counter, Woolworths Argyle Street, 1973.Cosmetics counter, Woolworths Argyle Street, 1973.

At the cosmetics counter, piles upon piles of lipsticks, powders, shadows, and more were stacked in huge rows with little picket signs reading the prices in bold lettering.

Baby Doll, styled as ‘fun, shiny makeup’, dominated the counters in the 1960s with psychedelic posters showcasing their ‘shiny’ eyeliner, lipstick and ‘face shaders’.

Selling everything and anything, Woolworths was a staple of a high street long gone, and an all-rounder with the quality but not the pretence and price of a luxury department store.