One for you rural folk
Our village shop has been struggling for a while and was bought by a couple of keen, experienced guys about 6 months ago. Despite a big increase in range, extending opening hours etc the initial surge has fallen to below sustainable levels. Now we all know convenience has a price. We have a wine merchant, several supermarkets, a BP garage with an MnS all in easy driving distance. We are polling the village as below. Any other ideas to increase footfall. Already reverted back to paper rounds. Love to hear your ideas. Below is our flyer to all homes
Your Village Shop
Needs your support. Like many small businesses our shop is struggling to survive in the current climate of rising costs. Despite having nearly 1800 potential customers within xxxxxxx, only around 200 and falling, use the shop – only 11% To ensure we keep this important village asset it is vital more of the village use the store. Another 60-80 daily customers will make all the difference and enable the rising costs to be managed.
We are a very diverse village and we are keen to understand what the all the village wants – what will encourage more of the residents to visit the shop on a regular basis? We would very much like your feedback and ideas. It would be great if you could put some notes on the back of this flyer and drop it into the shop, or you can email us at xxxxxxxx It would be particularly encouraging to hear from residents within a short walking distance, say 500 yards from the shop, as we do recognise parking can be a problem.
There are already some ideas floating about. Here are 2
1. Monthly payment. More than anything the shop needs some certainty of revenue. One idea is that some people may be prepared to pay a monthly amount to the shop account and build up a credit against which they can then shop whenever it suits them. If you would potentially be interested in this, can you note below. We know this is an idea that is already operational in some other village shops in the area.
2. Wine Club. One product the shop stocks that will appeal to many is wine. The shop currently sells around 2500 bottles a year. It would be great to double this and is one way of spending your credit!
Fancy an interesting wine to drink at the weekend? Then look out for our xxxxxxx Stores ‘Wines of the Week’. Every fortnightwe’ll bring you two wines, usually a red and a white, with tasting notes and food pairing recommendations that you can pick up from the shop. We’ll bring you interesting wines from around the world. No need to go to the supermarket or wine merchant, we’ll do the hard work and bring them to xxxxx for you at a good price. If there is a particular style of wine you would like to see us stock, please let us know. We are keen to offer a range of wines, beers and spirits that will appeal to you.
Village shops are never going to be a supermarket, either from a range or price perspective, but if residents want the convenience of a local store it needs all of us to support it.
---------------------------------------------------------TEAR OFF FEEDBACK-------------------------------------------------
My feedback --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would be interested in making a monthly payment of £ Name ------------------------------------------
I am interested in the wine club My wine/drinks preferences are -----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our village shop has been struggling for a while and was bought by a couple of keen, experienced guys about 6 months ago. Despite a big increase in range, extending opening hours etc the initial surge has fallen to below sustainable levels. Now we all know convenience has a price. We have a wine merchant, several supermarkets, a BP garage with an MnS all in easy driving distance. We are polling the village as below. Any other ideas to increase footfall. Already reverted back to paper rounds. Love to hear your ideas. Below is our flyer to all homes
Your Village Shop
Needs your support. Like many small businesses our shop is struggling to survive in the current climate of rising costs. Despite having nearly 1800 potential customers within xxxxxxx, only around 200 and falling, use the shop – only 11% To ensure we keep this important village asset it is vital more of the village use the store. Another 60-80 daily customers will make all the difference and enable the rising costs to be managed.
We are a very diverse village and we are keen to understand what the all the village wants – what will encourage more of the residents to visit the shop on a regular basis? We would very much like your feedback and ideas. It would be great if you could put some notes on the back of this flyer and drop it into the shop, or you can email us at xxxxxxxx It would be particularly encouraging to hear from residents within a short walking distance, say 500 yards from the shop, as we do recognise parking can be a problem.
There are already some ideas floating about. Here are 2
1. Monthly payment. More than anything the shop needs some certainty of revenue. One idea is that some people may be prepared to pay a monthly amount to the shop account and build up a credit against which they can then shop whenever it suits them. If you would potentially be interested in this, can you note below. We know this is an idea that is already operational in some other village shops in the area.
2. Wine Club. One product the shop stocks that will appeal to many is wine. The shop currently sells around 2500 bottles a year. It would be great to double this and is one way of spending your credit!
Fancy an interesting wine to drink at the weekend? Then look out for our xxxxxxx Stores ‘Wines of the Week’. Every fortnightwe’ll bring you two wines, usually a red and a white, with tasting notes and food pairing recommendations that you can pick up from the shop. We’ll bring you interesting wines from around the world. No need to go to the supermarket or wine merchant, we’ll do the hard work and bring them to xxxxx for you at a good price. If there is a particular style of wine you would like to see us stock, please let us know. We are keen to offer a range of wines, beers and spirits that will appeal to you.
Village shops are never going to be a supermarket, either from a range or price perspective, but if residents want the convenience of a local store it needs all of us to support it.
---------------------------------------------------------TEAR OFF FEEDBACK-------------------------------------------------
My feedback --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would be interested in making a monthly payment of £ Name ------------------------------------------
I am interested in the wine club My wine/drinks preferences are -----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
