This is an invitation from Rushden Co­operative Society following the re-opening last Saturday of the Central High Street Departments, re-built and re-equipped to a standard worthy of any town. It took two years to plan this transformation and a five figure sum to carry it through. Beginning on January 3, the contractors took on a difficult job which some had even thought impossible.

It was a condition that service to the public should carry on  during the alterations: there must be access to the first-floor  showrooms where the staff would make a point of meeting all demands.

Continuous floor

There were two shops—built in 1903—with a covered alley­way in between. Milton Place had to go—but the floors built over it had to stand.

There were three ground floor levels, dark corners, and windows which took up too much room. What R.C.S. wanted was one continuous floor, generous modern light­ing, and shallower windows ideal tor display. Milton Place duly disappeared—you can hardly guess its old location now. The entire shop fronts were ripped away. On winter evenings lights were seen within the premises as workmen sought to keep within the contract date.

Today, along a frontage of eighty feet, the shop, is demonstrably one. One word—Co-operative—suffices on its cream-tiled fascia, and below are handsome windows and wide glass doors to attract and invite.

It is indeed a handsome exterior—the largest in the town. Inside, the setting is at once luxurious and practical. All the smartest ideas in show cases, counters and customer comfort have been employed. The sub-departments are picked put at a glance. It is the easiest thing to contact the right assistant, and equally easy to walk round free of persuasion to buy.

It may prove less easy to avoid a temptation to purchase, for the stock is attractive, chosen carefully for the tastes of Rushden and district shoppers, and priced fairly.

The footwear section, managed by Mr. S. J. Brown, seems just right for comfort and quick service. The large drapery section, under Mr. S. P. Downing, includes a corsetry fitting room with the most thoughtful arrangements.

Standard for town

When Mr. Harry Bailey, the society's president, unlocked the premies in the presence of committee members others on Saturday, he was able to say: "We believe that this standard we are setting is the standard for the town. Many shops are altering their fronts, and we believe they are doing it because of the standard we are setting in the street".

An hour later R.C.S. entertained delegates from 15 other retail societies. It was the first gathering of its kind at Rushden since the war. The contractors (E. Pollard and Co., London) and the society's employees were represented. A theme soon emerged from the speech making. It was "a more modern approach to marketing".

The president told the visitors: "We have always felt that the Co-operative was the most important organisation in Rushden. We have 13 shops on the A6 road, and we believe that by making our shops modern we shall then have the major portion of the trade in the town. Other projects are in view. Other tradesmen in the town are fearing the increased competition that will come now that we have modern premises".

Customers looking for lingerie or nightwear can quickly make their own selection in the new department, where glass counters and glass-fronted shelves display the wide C.W.S. range. To the right of this picture is the baby linen department, brought down to the ground floor for the convenience of mothers who bring small children or prams on their shopping expeditions. The bright new facade of the Rushden Co-operatve Society has been described as an asset to High Street. The wide display windows and plate glass swing doors offer a welcome to every shopper.

Mentioning the fine new staircase, Mr. Bailey announced that a scheme to modernise the first floor is already in hand. "We hope to sell our goods on merit alone— never mind the dividend", he added.

Extraordinary job

Of the staff, he declared: "Our girls have done an extra­ordinary job in dealing with the problems arising from the alterations ....

"The loss of trade through the alterations has been no where near as high as we anticipated". Contractors, shop managers and secretary-manager Mr. R. R. Griffiths, shared in the congratulations.

Mr. Bailey then summed up: “Rushden society has complete faith. We believe there are many more empires to be conquered. We believe that this kind of development is a wise way of using our capital".

Mr. Kenneth Noble, a C.W.S. director, said he had been greatly impressed, by the society's confidence. Other speakers were the society's former president, Mr. E. A. Sugars, chairman of Rushden Urban Council, vice-president of the society, Mr. A. Green, and the contractors' representative, Mr. F. L. Vizor.

The fancy department holds the centre of the floor with a display of gloves and lily coloured scarves. In the background is the corsetry department, which now boasts its own fitting room, equipped with central heating, running hot and cold water and built-in mirrors.	The fabric room is one of several departments planned on a self-selection basis. Curtain materials, nets and dress materials are displayed on low shelves easily reached by the shopper, who can make her own choice while she waits to be served. Fluorescent lighting has been chosen with the utmost care, so that there is no danger of distortion in colours.

A feature of the children's section of the shoe department will be an X-ray machine which is to be installed shortly. Note the lighted Interior displays, which are a feature throughout the whole of the department.	Conveniently placed just inside the armour plated glass doors Is the men's shoe department, where the majority of the shoes are made by local craftsmen at the C.W.S. Footwear Works, Portland Road, Rushden.
Handbags will be sold in future at the Repairs and Sundries counter in addition to all the usual polishes, creams, etc.