Always ask for C.W.S. Productions : publicity folder of a 'pop up' shop' issued by the Cooperative Wholesale Society : nd [c.1935]
A delightful item of Co-op ephemera and issued to push the sales of the Co-operative Wholesale Society's own goods and services. The Manchester based CWS was the organisation set up by affilicated Co-operative retail societies to produce, obtain and manufacture their own 'brand' of goods and at the time of this item they had over 180 separate factories, works and agricultural estates producing a wide range of foodstuffs and products.
The cover shows the CWS 'Wheatsheaf' that after WW2 would be more genrally adopted as the brand name for many CWS productions. The back cover is an unusual use of a commercial artist by the CWS as this anthropomorphic family of rabbits buying CWS goods is by the prolific artist and designer Harry Rountree (1878 - 1950).
The real treat is when the folder opens as it reveals a die-cut 'ppo-up' Co-op store complete with counter, saleman and shopper. A wide range of CWS goods are advertised including Pelaw Polishes, Avondale and Friary dairy products, CWS Jams, Sauces, Jellies and Pickles, CWS Lowestoft fish products, Co-operative bread and flours and CWS Paint. To add to the effect the lino floor and CWS floor mat (yes, they made their own mats and brushes) is designed to hlep to the look of the store. The banner mentions the important 'divi' or dividend that made membership of a local Co-operative Society a valuable thing.
The folder in the whole is aimed at 'childern who love playing shop' as noted on the interior foldout and this would have been distributed at fairs, fetes or Co-operative events.
Always ask for C.W.S. Productions : publicity folder of a 'pop up' shop' issued by the Cooperative Wholesale Society : nd [c.1935]
A delightful item of Co-op ephemera and issued to push the sales of the Co-operative Wholesale Society's own goods and services. The Manchester based CWS was the organisation set up by affilicated Co-operative retail societies to produce, obtain and manufacture their own 'brand' of goods and at the time of this item they had over 180 separate factories, works and agricultural estates producing a wide range of foodstuffs and products.
The cover shows the CWS 'Wheatsheaf' that after WW2 would be more genrally adopted as the brand name for many CWS productions. The back cover is an unusual use of a commercial artist by the CWS as this anthropomorphic family of rabbits buying CWS goods is by the prolific artist and designer Harry Rountree (1878 - 1950).
The real treat is when the folder opens as it reveals a die-cut 'ppo-up' Co-op store complete with counter, saleman and shopper. A wide range of CWS goods are advertised including Pelaw Polishes, Avondale and Friary dairy products, CWS Jams, Sauces, Jellies and Pickles, CWS Lowestoft fish products, Co-operative bread and flours and CWS Paint. To add to the effect the lino floor and CWS floor mat (yes, they made their own mats and brushes) is designed to hlep to the look of the store. The banner mentions the important 'divi' or dividend that made membership of a local Co-operative Society a valuable thing.
The folder in the whole is aimed at 'childern who love playing shop' as noted on the interior foldout and this would have been distributed at fairs, fetes or Co-operative events.