The Victoria Street arcade in 1955 as work began on its removal.

On January 12th 1960, Beatties acquired Number 15 Darlington Street, then on August 25th 1960 Beatties acquired F. J. Bradford’s store at number 11 to 14 Darlington Street, adding another 20,000 square feet to Beatties store and greatly extending the store’s Darlington Street frontage. At the time, Beatties employed over 1,000 people and had an annual turnover of over £3 million. Beatties had a profit sharing scheme for the staff that started in 1947. By 1966 when the firm’s profit was over £500,000, the profit sharing scheme benefitted the staff with an increase of over 4¼ weeks wages.

In 1961 James Beattie junior became the company’s president when Mr. R. J. McAlpine, the firm’s first president retired.

In February 1962 the store started to close on Thursdays, giving the staff a 5 day working week. In February 1966 the staff returned to a 6 day week when the store again opened on Thursdays. In August of that year, Beatties again began to close on a Thursday.

Beatties in the 1960s. From an old postcard.

The company policy, known as 'the four corners of responsibility' stated that each member of staff was expected to provide every customer with a good range of well chosen, good value merchandise and to offer this in attractive surroundings along with a pleasant and effective service. This would be done with complete integrity and a genuine desire to please.

Each new member of staff was presented with a copy of the members' guide that included information about the company, its policies, the condition of service offered, the facilities available and the rules to be followed. Employees were known as 'members'. Departmental managers were known as Grade 1 members and assistant managers were Grade 2 members.

Beatties also employed concession managers and staff, mainly in the perfume department, ladies fashions and the jewellery department.