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SHOPPING online... John Lowe works on this creation, the world’s biggest internet shopping site.
Old boy allows you to shop ‘till’ you drop
Michael Byrne24/ 3/2006
ROCHDALE town centre has inspired former Rochdale Grammar School boy John Lowe to create the world's biggest online shopping centre.
Mr Lowe, who was born in Spotland, has created a cyberspace shopping centre that already houses more than 3,000 stores from around the world.
Top retail names such as Marks and Spencer, Next, Argos and Mothercare have taken space in the virtual mall.
During the past four months Mr Lowe has spent more than 1,000 hours creating his website, which recreates the shopping mall experience on-line.
He said: "When I was a child in Rochdale, mum used to take me shopping up Yorkshire Street, the top market and Toad Lane.
"I used to love looking in the different shop windows and be drawn into different stores.
"At the moment on the internet if you want to buy something you have to type in a specific product so you don't go shopping in the same way.
This is a genuine shopping experience, like going window shopping at Meadowhall or the Trafford Centre, but on the internet.
"I have pictures on my wall that I've painted of Rochdale based on old photographs from the turn of the century, which were an inspiration for the website.
"These were painted nearly 30 years ago and things have changed."
Mr Lowe also lived in Royton and Bamford and is now based in Lincolnshire.
The father-of-two first started building websites when he was working as a general manager for a food company when it asked him to set up a company website.
He now works as a website designer.
Customers can click on each store, get a description of what it sells and buy products.
He said: "The fact that I've had so many major retailers agree to take part must mean it's good idea and I'm adding more shops every day.
"Time will tell whether I make much money out of it or not, but whatever happens I'm proud of what I created."
Mr Lowe's wife, Lesley, said: "I've hardly seen John these past three months as he has been sat in the back bedroom day and night making this shopping mall.
"The strange thing is I actually hate shopping."
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27/03/2006 at 08:52
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27/03/2006 at 10:32