After 18 months of planning and preparation we finally were able to open our doors for trading on Wednesday 31 March. For a couple of days we had a limited range as we awaited delivery of various local products from our wholesaler and we were without newspapers.
The opening created news with BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester sending along a reporter to conduct a live interview and later we were mentioned on BBC TV who were running a feature on Community Shops. We also received coverage in the Hereford Times.
Two weeks later we had to close for a day to have the new windows installed. The old soft wood windows were rotting and when removed were found to have woodworm, they have been replaced by hardwood windows. The alterations and replacement of windows has been carried out in consultation with the Conservation Officer, Planning and the Dovecote Trustees. The appearance of the building, protecting it’s fabric and integrity have been uppermost in our plans. All the internal works have been completed so that they can be easily removed in future, if required, with minimum disruption.
On Saturday 1st May we held our official opening ceremony. We chose Paul Jones, our village postman, to carry out the tape cutting ceremony as we felt as a committee that Paul demonstrates all the characteristics and qualities of reliability, availability, service and customer focus that we as your community shop aim to replicate. Many villagers attended the event and on the day we had ‘goodie’ bags for all children who came into the shop and all Customers were entered into a raffle for shopping vouchers.
We are grateful for the many positive comments we have had both on the appearance of the shop and the range that is stocked. The shop has been described by some as like a Tardis, as people cannot believe we have so much in there. We are still though receiving requests for products not currently stocked and if we can supply them at a reasonably competitive price we will do.
There have been inevitably some teething problems to overcome, most notably with newspapers.
Our newspaper wholesaler seems to be incapable of sending to us the papers we require and in sufficient quantities. We are sorry if we have failed to meet your order and we are striving to get this working efficiently.
We have similar challenges with Alex Gooch bread on a Saturday, though we order in advance, it all comes down to what Alex bakes on a Saturday morning and again we have not always been able to fulfill orders. As a new and currently small customer of Alex we cannot influence his production too much, yet.
We have amended the opening hours slightly to: 8am to 5pm for Monday to Saturday and 10am to 2pm on Sunday in line with customer visits.
We are still seeking volunteers. It is not a requirement to commit to the same slot week after week, or do more than an hour or to find a replacement if you have to cancel. Just call in the shop, put your name on the rota and if you need to cancel phone the shop.
We thank everybody who has supported us either by volunteering, or with their custom and in many cases both. We particularly wish to thank the Dovecote Trustees for allowing us to set up in the Dovecote, to Barry Freeman for his invaluable input into our grant success and general good advice and wisdom and the Eardisland Parish Council for their support.
We also wish to thank the members of the Eardisland Community Shop Association for their financial and general support and entrusting the committee with the task of setting up and operating this venture.
As Chair of the Committee I wish to thank all my fellow committee members for their tremendous efforts, David,Joyce,Margaret,Ruth and Shelley who continue to put in untold hours.
Look out for upcoming features of your village shop in Country Life and Herefordshire Life.
Albert Sheffield
Chair - Eardisland Community Shop Association
