Happy New Year to all of you. Let's hope that 2011 will be kinder to us all.
The weather in December created an absolutely magical landscape, trees glistening with frost and everything cloaked in powdery snow. But, as you will have read in the Press, the reality for retailers, especially rural ones, was deadly! Snowfalls in the first week of December meant that many of our customers could not get to us and, panicked by the loss of time, resorted to shopping in town centres or on the internet. Our gift sales were badly hit. Then the second snowfall in the week leading up to Christmas Eve meant that our cheese, charcuterie and food sales took a nosedive as well. These lost sales are unrecoverable. So we are starting a new year at a disadvantage. However, we have some loyal customers and are asking even more of you to support us in the coming months. We are registered on Trip Advisor so do please post your comments about us. Your views will help to reach a wider audience and raise our profile. Favourably, I hope!
Mary Portas is always saying that we have lost the spirit of Retail in this country and that we are left with bland product and disinterested service. Not so in Colston Bassett Store. We love to tell you what is new and to remind you of staunch favourites on our deli counter. The atmosphere in our Store is one of vitality and individuality and armed with all the latest forecasting on the fashion front, we can guide you to the best gifts for you and your friends.
I noticed the slogan on the Ocado home delivery van as it travelled through our village the other day: 'Cheaper than you think!.' I would urge you to look at some of our prices. By weight our cheeses, bacon, sausages and delicatessen stand up pretty well. And the quality is usually superior and often from local producers. If we are positioned between you and the local supermarket, you may find that with increasing petrol prices, it's cheaper to come to us for your interim shopping! And far more pleasurable.
Need I remind you that Valentine's Day is approaching fast on February 14th.? Our display is awash with reds and pinks. We have chocolate bars gilded with edible gold, giant lollipop hearts, unusual carved stone heart paperweights, glittery keyrings..and, of course, the classic box of chocolates. Valentine cards are selling fast and we have some good ones!
You will know that we have become a nation of wine drinkers. And this has had an effect on the nibbles we have with a glass of the noble grape! The packet of peanuts is no longer appropriate. Instead we are dipping into olives of every sort. Particularly the mixed ones and those stuffed with garlic or sundried tomato, for example. Last year £66 million worth of olives was sold and they are much better for us than saltier crisps and nuts. We have always been amazed at how many children are partial to olives when they come to the Store. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, so this has to be good news.
Our Saturday evening openings are going from strength to strength and our next dates are on FEBRUARY 19th., MARCH 5th., MARCH 19th. and APRIL 2nd. Customers continue to enjoy the food and love the ambience.
We also had a booking for a private party this month...an Investors Club! Do you belong to a group or have an event to celebrate? Then invest in us! Garden Cafe makes a fabulous venue for a booking of 20+ guests.
The A46 dualling is moving on apace but many of our customers have become confused by the opening and shutting of roads off this main route over the past months. We are about to move into the most intrusive phase yet so FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED! As from this month ALL the roads leading directly to Kinoulton, Owthorpe and Colston Bassett will be closed for 14 MONTHS. You can access us quite easily by turning off at the Cropwell Bishop/ Stragglethorpe roundabout, driving down to Cropwell Bishop and taking the first turning right which will bring you back to the Lime Kiln Crossroads where you turn left into the Village. We will be petitioning for adequate signage from Balfour Beatty to guide you to us.
Many of you plan your walking around a lunch or well deserved pot of tea at Garden Cafe. We were amused when a group tied their beautiful dogs to our apple tree in our garden last Saturday while they enjoyed refreshments in our cafe. Much admired by passing customers, the dogs were enjoying the attention. Eventually boredom set in and the flat coat retriever decided enough was enough and proceeded to chew through the terrier's lead to break up the party. He certainly succeeded!
It's little things like that which make you all remember us and come again.
See you soon.
Jan
