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Edinburgh Live
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David McLean

The 80s Edinburgh Jenners staff training video that was compulsory viewing for new starts

For almost 200 years, Jenners department store was at the very forefront of shopping in Edinburgh - and it was renowned as a great place to work too.

The tragedy of last month's fatal fire at the famous old department store left us all in shock and wishing we could turn the clock back to much happier times, when Jenners was still the capital's number one shopping experience.

Prior to the House of Fraser takeover of Jenners in 2005, it really was regarded as the pinnacle of shopping in the city.

READ MORE: How day at the races created Edinburgh's iconic Jenners department store

And if you happened to be a new start at the Princes Street emporium in the 1990s, there was one thing you'd need to sit through before you got to wear the uniform.

Produced in 1989 by the Jenners Training Department, 'The Jenners Story' was the family-run firm's in house induction video that ensured all new employees were sufficiently briefed on the company's illustrious history and their long-standing commitment to delivering a "high tradition of service and quality".

Anyone who fancied a job at Jenners needed to know that this was no run-of-the-mill department store, this was a place of work where only the highest possible standards would suffice. It didn't earn its famous tag, 'The Harrods of the north' for nothing.

Narrating the video is the late Scottish broadcaster Colin Somerville, who explains Jenners' incredible beginnings in the 1830s, when two Edinburgh drapers started the business after striking it rich at the Musselburgh Races.

We're then told about the terrible fire that struck the original Jenners building in 1892 and paved the way for the architecturally stunning department store that generations of shoppers would know and love.

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The video is interlaced with fascinating illustrations and images from the early years of the 'new' Jenners, which was Scotland's largest department store when it opened its doors in 1895.

Colin Somerville also explained how the store, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1988, had managed to evolve over the decades to keep up with the changing demands of shoppers.

He said: "Our buyers travel the world to find the unique range of merchandise which gives the store its distinction over competitors to maintain the high standards of workmanship and quality for which Jenners has become famous.

"We now offer over 150 departments, constantly being refurbished to keep the store in the forefront of new trends in retailing, while offering customers the chance to experience an individual style of shopping in contrast to the high street multiples."

The latter part of the video goes on to discuss Jenners' solid commitment to training and developing their employees and ensure that ambitious staff are given opportunities to progress up the ladder.

The viewer is also given glimpses of inside the Jenners Depository at Balgreen and the main store's famous Santa's grotto which was popular for generations of Edinburgh kids.

The clip was shared by the Lost Edinburgh Facebook page, prompting dozens of local shoppers and ex-staff members to share their Jenners memories.

Craig Wood said "Blast from the past! Was shown this video at my induction in 1995. Was a special place to work with many employees staying their whole working lives there!"

Carolyn Mills wrote: "Loved Jenners - worked there in 1969!!! Great staff, great customers and a great canteen!"

Helen Persighetti commented: "Lovely memories of Jenner’s, especially having tea there. Still have a carrier bag!"

John Peter Kelly added: "I worked there in the late sixties as a furniture porter, based in the Rose Street premises. It was indeed unique."

You can watch the full video here.

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