East Tisted Village Stores

Overview

East Tisted Village Stores is on the Rotherfield Park Estate owned by Sir James Scott. Colin (known as ‘Sam’) and Bridget Samuels took over in 2006 and have a 12-year lease remaining on the property. East Tisted Post Office was reduced to Outreach (need to clarify what this means) in 2008. Having sought retail advice, the couple identified multiple revenue channels which were having a positive effect on turnover, but the shop was shabby and in dire need of a refit.

Background

East Tisted Village Stores is on Station Road, in a small village just off the A32 in the Meon Valley East Tisted is a small village off the A32 in the Meon Valley, with no other shops in the immediate vicinity. It is clearly signed off the A32. There is a small farm shop in the village, Bowtell’s, which sells meat, but it is not a convenience store.

The Samuels originally applied to refurbish their B&B business, having relocated from London, where Bridget, who grew up in Haslemere and has since discovered historical family links to the immediate area, worked as a legal secretary and Sam as an office manager. They were advised that the Hampshire County Council/SEEDA funded Village Community Grant Scheme (VCGS) could only fund shop improvements (not the B&B part of the business as it was not a community facility).

Impact on community

East Tisted Village Stores is five miles from Alton with no other village shops in the surrounding villages of Farringdon, Monkwood, Privett, Colemore, Prior’s Dean and Newton Valence (all one to four iles away). The nearest alternative larger shopping centres are at Petersfield or Liphook (both 11 miles). Parking is available outside the shop or at the B&B, Flossies.

The PO offers the same core services as Droxford (six miles away) including vehicle licensing; the Samuels are paid for eight hours’ PO work at East Tisted and nine at Froxfield, but in reality, they will accept PO items during most of the shop’s opening hours.

Funding

The Samuels submitted an application for £20,000 to the Hampshire County Council/SEEDA funded Village Community Grant Scheme, subject to funding just being used for the improvement and upgrade of the shop facilities and not for any aspect of B&B. East Hampshire District Council also awarded the shop a grant of £10,000 toward the refit whilst the A32 signage was put in place by Hampshire County Council.

Outcome

After Sam gutted the premises, the refit was carried out in April 2009 by contractors from Southampton, with flyers distributed and a website developed which promotes both the B&B business and store. With an alcove altered and new racking throughout, it was business as usual – albeit with some of the produce stacked on tables outside and a screened off approach to the PO.

Bridget and Sam have a spacious, immaculate and well stocked shop, featuring a wide range of food and household products. They sell everything from fresh local produce, including honey, bread, cakes, eggs, jam, vegetables, flowers and meat, to newspapers and magazines, sweets, alcohol, pet food and bird seed. Stationery, cards and wrapping paper are available, plus toys, DVD rentals, logs and the shop offers a dry cleaning drop off service. Seasonal stock is catered for, such as Christmas trees and wreaths. Orders can be placed online at www.easttistedpostoffice.co.uk although locals have not used it yet, and the website has all the relevant shop information.

East Tisted Village Stores hours are 7.30am to 6pm weekdays, 8am to 5.30pm Saturdays and 9am-1pm Sundays, with Bridget working as Postmistress at Froxfield PO on Monday and Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons. Sam is full time with counter sales help when required (e.g.: holidays).

Feedback

Sam Samuels: “The village is not as supportive as it could be; we’ve surveyed our customers and they know what we have here, yet strangely there is a certain apathy. However, we’re well used by villagers from Farringdon and Newton Valence, both of which lost their village shops. Footfall is increasing and our customers like what we have. The modernisation has made a huge difference and we have a good relationship with our regulars in the community.”

Bridget Samuels: “There is more space which makes it a much nicer overall shopping experience. It feels like a proper shop now and is tidy with a good display of groceries. Year on year we have noted a big difference. We’re up 10% and 37% up on the PO side.”

Emma Dillnutt, East Tisted Parish Clerk: “Having lived in East Tisted for 15 years I have seenour village shop go through a few changes, some better than others!The money spent on the recent refit, however, has reinforced my view that East Tisted Post Office and Stores iscentral to our community and the busiest I have seen it as a result.Sam and Bridget havea great range of local products; Sam is a cheerful and helpfulPostmaster and Bridget's B&B is locally renowned as one of the best.Their community-based business seems to be going from strength to strength and in this economic climate, that is praise indeed.My only observation is that the Post Office should reinstate a full time service instead of the reduced service we have as a result of streamlining measures a few years ago.”

Future

The Samuels would like a year or two to let the shop side of their business develop before contemplating any major changes, recognising that since the refit they need to consolidate the business. They are considering more competitive suppliers, something which would allow them increased profit margin with certain stock. They supply alcohol for local licensed village halls which hold functions on Friday nights, thus the handling fee (not a big mark up) is an additional revenue stream.

Funding facts and contacts

The Hampshire County Council/SEEDA funded Village Community Grant Scheme is targeted primarily at villages with fewer than 5,000 residents, with applications welcome from community associations, village shop associations, parish or district councils and formal voluntary associations. Private businesses may apply if they have the written support of their parish council. Hampshire County Council, in partnership with Community Action Hampshire, the Hampshire Association of Local Councils and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), is running the scheme until June 2011. 12 grants were awarded in year one, 2008/9.

For more information: www3.hants.gov.uk/business/rural-initiatives/villagegrant.htm

Or contact:

Published in June 2010 by HCC Economic Development Office www.hants.gov.uk/business

Pix: interior, exterior, Sam Samuels and Bridget Samuels, and Lucy Forde customer at PO (with permission)