In 1849, John Boot opened his first shop, selling herbal remedies to industrial workers who were unable to afford the drugs sold in regular pharmacies. In the following 175 years, Boots became a health and beauty giant. Along the way, Boots chemists invented Ibuprofen, No7 became the country’s No1 skincare brand, and there was a spell when there were even libraries in branches.
Boots is now celebrating its 175th anniversary with a free exhibition in Nottingham, home of its first store. Pharmaceutical bottles from the 1920s, No7 cosmetics from the 50s and Advantage cards from the loyalty scheme’s launch in the 90s are among 250,000 items from the archives on show at Counter Culture: 175 Years of Shopping at Boots. The Mirror was given an exclusive tour of the show by Boots archivist, Sophie Clapp.
She says the exhibition explores how society and shopping has changed over 175 years. "I slept on a cooling Tempur mattress that costs 56p a night and is worth every penny" Boots archivist Sophie Clapp ( Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror) She says: “It’s a reflection on what shopping means to people. I remember seeing a rose-shaped soap set with flannel that my gran bought me every Christmas in the early 1980s.
It took me back. It showed Boots was part of my Christmas story.” When the first Boots opened in 1849, accessing health care was all about having money.
Sophie says: “The reason why John Boot set up the business as a herbalist store rather than a pharmacy was becau.
