The recent Hambledon Village Shop AGM at the Village Hall, reviewing 2021/2022, produced some interesting information and the highlights are reproduced here for a wider audience.
Moving out of Covid restrictions was more challenging than being under them. Emma Dunn, part of the management committee, said that shutting the shop in 2020 and only doing home deliveries was a hard decision for the heart, but in practical terms was relatively easy.
Managing risks coming out of lockdown, keeping customers, staff and volunteers safe, and adhering to ever-changing guidelines, was much more difficult.
A shop WhatsApp group proved useful to exchange information, from issues arising from a broken- down fridge to how many sausage rolls to order. It was not until April last year that the shop was able to serve “eat-in” food and drinks on the terrace, with QR codes and track and trace in operation.
“It is hard to remember just how difficult life was back then”, Emma said. In July 2021, when the shop featured in the TV programme “Escape to the Country”, customers were allowed back inside, and Carole Davies was the first customer. “For some of the more vulnerable, the shop was their first experience since lockdown of walking into a shop once again”.
Autumn 2021 saw restrictions re-introduced and, following a very successful scaled-down fete and BBQ, with the shop playing a central role, there was a return to mask wearing, limitations on gatherings, and the Christmas singalong was called off.
A visit by Waverley Borough Council food safety officers resulted in the shop retaining its 5-star rating. The storms of early 2022 saw trees down, power cuts and, unrelated to all this, Bron retired after many years of great service.
At this year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the return of the Hambledon Midsummer Festival weekend, the shop had a central role.
Tradespeople working in the area bring in valued business, as do the “TWATS”, a lockdown trend of people who are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday commuters, but work from home and visit the shop on Mondays and Fridays.
Walkers and cyclists add to the varied customer base, and Covid trends have led to an increase of both. “Even a tiny village shop in Hambledon is reflective of the new working patterns which have emerged throughout the country”, Emma said.
The shop relies heavily on volunteers and a recruitment drive saw new arrivals, but more are needed as this wonderful community venture approaches its 30th anniversary and a celebration end-of-summer barbecue on Saturday August 27th. Please consider helping, even if just for a few hours a week or month.
Sean Sinnott reported on trading. Currently the shop averages 150 customers a day in the summer but Covid conditions impacted overall sales, yet gross profit held firm. The deli was required to have more paid, professional staff and expenditure on repairs and replacement rose, with new – but much more efficient – chillers required at considerable cost.
The shop received £2.600 in donations of which £1.500 came from Hambledon Festival funds. The shop, despite all of the difficulties, reported a pre-tax profit of £488. Sean thanked Alison Wilson and Liz Scannell who do the payroll, accounts and budgeting, assisted by Martin Thompson and Jon Petersen.
Finally, the message was “please use the shop whenever you can”. Did you know that the shop benefits every time you use the Post Office counter, even if it is to withdraw money?