Fashion Icon Vera Weisfeld, Co-Founder of What Every Woman Wants, Passes Away at 87

Vera Weisfeld, the founder of the well-known fashion retailer 'What Every Woman Wants', has passed away at the age of 87. Alongside her husband Gerald, Vera launched the first store in Glasgow in 1971, and together they expanded the business across the United Kingdom. Their stores appeared in towns such as Irvine, Blackburn, Hartlepool, Ormskirk, Leyland, Swansea, and even on the Isle of Man. Vera was born in 1938 in a modest basement flat in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, which lacked basic amenities like electricity and an indoor toilet. Despite her later success and wealth, she always cherished the memories of her humble beginnings.

Vera's career in retail began at C&A on Argyle Street in Glasgow when she was just 15 years old. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the head of the Marking Off room within a year. Vera was known for her incredible memory, able to recall details about every garment in stock, including how long it had been there, its buying and selling price, color, and size. When she and Gerald opened 'What Every Woman Wants', Vera brought these skills and systems with her, helping the store become a major success. The chain was famous for offering London fashion at affordable prices, making stylish clothing accessible to women across the country. Staff would sing the company song each morning, and the store's TV adverts featured the tune of Status Quo's hit 'Whatever You Want'. The opening of the Argyle Street store was marked by a visit from comedian Billy Connolly, who arrived in a horse and cart.

In 1990, the Weisfelds sold their business for £50 million, which was believed to be the highest price ever paid for a Scottish fashion house. The original store building was demolished in 2020 after being empty for 16 years. Through their charity, The Weisfeld Foundation, Vera and Gerald donated millions to causes that helped children, including traveling to Bosnia in 1994 to distribute aid to refugees and establishing homes for children with HIV in Romania. Gerald passed away in 2020 after a long illness, and now Vera has died peacefully, surrounded by her family. Vera Weisfeld will be remembered not only for her business achievements but also for her generosity and commitment to helping others.