What did the Coles orb even mean? It always looked like the most random logo…
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The supermarket chain was originally known as Coles New World, from 1962 to 1991.
I assume the orb was supposed to symbolise a planet or a “new world” when the supermarket became known as Coles.
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One of my local supermarkets is still a Safeway, in Epping Plaza. While it still features the same look it had since it originally opened in the late 90s, I doubt it will close down. IIRC, they are planning to re-develop the store when Epping Plaza gets another extension.
There’s also a Coles nearby that has the 90s-era signage, although I haven’t been inside that one in a while.
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Where about is that Coles located?
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I don’t remember the orb featuring in the Coles New World branding, although I do recall it being adopted when the “New World” part of the name was dropped. I remember the big red “C” that looked like a magnet during the “New World” era.
There were at least two different logos in the Coles New World era that I’ve seen but the one with the big red “C” is the one I remember as a child. I thought it was a red C in a blue shape but I could be remembering that incorrectly.
The orb came later when it became simply “coles”. I’m thinking that the orb was put there as a visual reminder of the “new world” in the former name.
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I vaguely remember this logo.
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That one incorporates the Coles logo they were using on Coles Variety Stores. I’m sure there was an older one with Coles written in the same font as New World. Then there was the variation below before the orb.
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Since we are on the topic of older retail signage, I recently come across some very old shopping trolleys in Mirrabooka Square. There was large amount of them that looked like they hadn’t been taken out from storage in years.
Found this 1990s era Coles trolley probably dated before the Serving You Better period in the trolley bay. This was around the time when Aldi had just opened their Mirrabooka store in June, so I’d imagine they were taken out of storage to keep up with demand as there were large amounts of people using them. There was also a handful 1990s and late 2000s Woolworths trolleys.
4 weeks later, I came across this relic of Australian Supermarkets, a Newmart trolley. Not sure if it came from Mirrabooka, as there was a Progressive Action there before it was converted to a Progressive Supa IGA, now The Reject Shop currently resides there.
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I liked the orb.
Indeed I can’t think of many logo modernisations for major chains that I do like - BigW and Woolworths are both also steps back.
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With a then-unknown Lisa McCune starring as a check-out chick in the TV ads
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On the topic of Woolworths with older branding, there are only 2 Woolworths stores that I’ve seen in recent months that have old pre-2008 signage.
One of them is in Walkerston, 15km west of Mackay in Central QLD. Which opened just before the new branding came in. The interior has since been updated, but the signage is still the old style.
Another funny quirk of this store, there’s a massive trading hours sign on the side, pointing towards the highway to show the open times.
When the store originally opened up, it was Closed on Sunday’s.
A few years after, they began opening on Sunday’s, but instead of listing times (like all other days of the week), they just plastered the word “Open” over the top of the “Closed” and it’s still like that now, about 6 years later.
The other store I know that looks ancient is the Sturt St, Townsville City store. I went into it for the first time about 2 months ago and noticed that it still has old signage, old layout, the old style aisle signs and no self serve. It doesn’t look like it’s been updated for at least 10 years.
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The Woolworths in the Fremantle CBD has had its cards marked for years, internally. The company was promised delevopment around it that never happened. Worst performing store in WA AFAIK
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The store on Epping Rd in North Ryde (or possibly Marsfield, not exactly sure what the suburb is there) still has the old branding but would definitely not be at risk of being shut down. The interior has been updated though it’s not as nice as some other locations.
And just down the road from that store, the Macquarie Centre store was only updated last year. From memory it actually received a refresh (with the old branding) just after the new logo was revealed so they waited until Coles and Aldi opened new stores in the centre last year before spending any more money.
When was it updated? Haven’t been for years but definitely one of the worst supermarkets in the state before then.
Just shows how lazy both major chains have been in Perth store refurbishments. Large stores located in major shopping centres untouched for years.
The Northlands store doesn’t seem to have been modified in at least 25 years.
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9th of September last year according to Mirrabooka Square’s Facebook page. It had been still using all the early 1990s aisle signs with the Orb taken out (or painted on) a few years ago, as well as the older layout with the freezer in the centre of the store. The picture taken was around 2012 according to Yelp. The asiles themselves still have the “It all Counts” advertising however. The walk-in hallway that was connected to the Kmart on the other side has been blocked off now. Shame, I always liked walking around there.
My local Woolworths has the old branding, is it going to get the chop?
It’s the only supermarket in the area so it wouldn’t make sense but it they do close it I guess Coles could capitalise.
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AFAIK there’s only a couple of Woolies in Canberra with the old logo - Kambah, Belconnen and Woden. There’s possibly a few others with the old logo on the exterior of the centre -Erindale I think. Belconnen is an interesting one because the roof in that part of Westfield is quite low and there’s no room for “banner” style signage.
From what I’ve heard, ones in major centres may be slow to update because there’s some agreement to do with signage for major tenants.