Stornoway’s Wee W faces closure 17/6/13
WeeW, which occupies one of the largest retail spaces in the heart of Stornoway town
centre, is likely to close within weeks.
The store will cease trading unless a last minute buyer for the business comes forward.
The building on Cromwell Street is owned by Western Isles Council and leased to WeeW.
The closure plans follows the tragic death of one of the main entrepreneurs behind
the store.
Ann MacCallum, an investor in the business, was found dead on a shingle beach at
Swordale Bay, Point, Lewis, last month.
The 51-year-old of Upper Bayble kept a horse on a croft nearby.
He body was discovered by a dog walker who alerted police.
A Wee W spokesman said: “It is with the utmost regret that we announce that the Wee
W store in Stornoway town centre will be closing down in the next few weeks unless
a buyer is found to take it forward.
“Wee W was Ann McCallum’s vision - she birthed the store and she built it up during
one of the worst trading periods in our history.
“Ann was a constant inspiration with new ideas and displays, she was always exploring
ways of bringing new products to Stornoway and was recently successful with the Wee
Fudge Shop.
“Ann’s tragic and untimely death has left an unfillable void for Wee W and as a result
the family and existing shareholders do not have the heart or desire to try and fill
Ann’s shoes.
“We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported Wee W and
who will be impacted by this announcement.”
Ann McCallum was a former manageress of Woolworth’s very successful store in Cromwell
Street, Stornoway.
She was a shareholder in WeeW which opened in 2009 and took on a raft of former workers
made redundant by the collapse of Woolworths the previous year.
In 2010, Mrs McCallum became the first woman in the history of Harris Tweed to become
manager of a industry textile mill.
The talented fabric designer also made a white Harris Tweed dress and coat which
she designed for Gaelic singer Alyth McCormack's wedding in 2009.
Originally from near Biggar in the Scottish Borders, she also worked for Edinburgh
Woollen Mill, Asda, C&A and Marks & Spencer.