For some time now I have wanted to design a concept store.  When the local Council eventually decided to grant me permission for a new Greenfield Petrol Station in Littleport, the opportunity arose to fulfill my dream.

I have always struggled with the idea that in order to go from an Independent Retailer to a symbol group, I had to make my store look like everyone else’s.  Of course, as a symbol group certain “brand identity” needed to be adhered to but that should not be to the detriment of my own.  Therefore, my new store at Littleport is being designed primarily as an Independent store and the symbol group being “bolted on”.  The intention is to celebrate and focus upon all that a local family owned store is good at.  From the moment the customer enters the forecourt or car park they will know that the store is family owned and independently operated.

They will be able to see just how many local businesses and charities we support and the Littleport community will be able to use the facilities of the store as their own.  We will tell the story of our 150 year old history, as well as the “green” methods of energy that we have adopted.  Radically, I am putting doors back on chillers as I believe we have gone too far with the temperature of the fresh and chilled aisle.  All modern stores that I have recently visited have given great importance to ensure that customers browse the fresh and chilled section but then blasted them with uncomfortably cold air whilst doing so.  First aisle shopping missions are now “raids” as customers quickly grab what they want and hurriedly move on.  When given the “blank canvas” of a Greenfield site and the desire to have a totally different store to any other, you will be amazed at what fun it can be!

Being totally Independent and geared to the community that we serve is something to be proud of and I’m certainly going to shout about it.

I will keep you posted!