This building is currently a Farmfoods store, but it once housed both the local Co-operative shop and its offices. Co-op members would queue outside the offices every year for their share dividends, or "divvys", which they would receive back for shopping there throughout the year. Members could buy items on credit and pay at the end of the week on payday. Paying for items in the store was much different than in stores today:
BETTY: "In those days when you went in... supposing you spent four and sixpence, as it was then. They wrote you out a token and you gave them, perhaps, a ten shilling note. So they had a wee cup and they put the note and your token in this cup, clipped it above them, pulled a handle, and it went whizzing along the line to the cashdesk! The girl in the cashdesk opened it, looked at the token... put the change in the cup, pulled the handle, and it went whizzing back! I mean, people must have been honest in those days - [the shop assistant] just said [the member number] out loud, and you stepped in and got your change back."
The Co-op supplied almost everything that local residents might need, including catering for events, holidays, and housing. Any items that were not stocked in Thornliebank, such as furniture, were available on a "line" from the shops in Glasgow. At the same time, people were rewarded for their purchases with the "divvy". In return, they were very loyal customers.
Created by
Paula Cuccurullo and Howard
Mitchell
Updated 1 September 1999
© 1999 WEA Scotland
