Appleton Community Shop was founded in May 2000 when Rod and Tricia Clayton could not sell the business. A meeting was held in the Village Hall and attended by over 250 villagers; they decided that the community would run the shop. It now has a turnover of between £180,000 and £220,000 per annum and has approximately 90 volunteers involved in the running, management and maintenance of the shop. It is a non-profit making Limited Company with a Board of eight Directors. The ethos of the shop is to be a general “convenience” store serving the Community and providing a wide variety of goods (there are about 2000 lines). It is also intended to be a social and community service to the Village and to encourage as much volunteer participation as possible. It is a community shop ‘run by the community, for the community’. More information is available on our vision for the shop

• November 1999 – the then owners of Appleton Shop and Post Office, Rod and Tricia Clayton, informed the Parish Council that they were advertising the sale of the business but felt that it was no longer viable.
• Parish Council were alarmed – they knew that a number of residents were very reliant on the Shop and Post Office.
• Small business group formed to set out the alternatives.
• Public meeting called in March 2000 to establish how much interest and commitment there would be from the village to keep the shop open.
• Over 250 people out of a population of less that 1000 attended the meeting. Margaret Reading, then Chairman of the Parish Council, presented the alternatives.
• Many people said they were willing to volunteer to work in the shop.
• Many people pledged donations of money to get the shop started.
• With this amount of interest and support the Parish Council felt that a Community Shop might be a viable option, particularly as it seemed unlikely that we could keep the Shop and Post Office going any other way.

How did we do it?

• The Shop was due to close at the end of April!
• We had six weeks to get the Shop up and running – it was important not to have a period with no village shop.
• Management team was formed – seven people with varying skills and none in retail!
• Very valuable help and advice from Helen Datsun at the ORCC and the Village Shop Retailing Association.
• Great enthusiasm from many people in the village volunteering their time and money.
• We struck and agreement with the Claytons to rent the premises for a year.
• Somerfields agreed to partner us and set us up with much of our initial stock, allowing us a period of grace before we had to pay for it.
• One paid member of staff working part-time from the previous shop – the only person who knew anything about shop keeping!
• Superb and dedicated bunch of volunteers.
• Dedicated, but amateur, Management team.

We opened on 1 MAY 2000 – and are still very much in business to this day! 

What are our concerns?

• Financial viability – we need to keep prices down.  The most vulnerable to price rises are those who are most dependent on the shop - such as people without transport, pensioners, mothers with small children and the disabled.
• Management of the shop – it is very hard work for those who manage the shop – we have been lucky in the number and quality of our volunteers.  Many people are not keen to take on the responsibility of a management role.
• Premises – how long can we continue in our present premises – we have a few years left on our lease, but what then?
• Post Office – the Post Office is an integral part of the Community Shop – there were threats of closure but we have increased our services and it is much appreciated by everyone.

Positive outcomes

• Community Spirit – the Shop has brought a greater sense of community to the village.
• Many people work in the shop
• Many people patronise it to ensure its future
• It is a great topic of conversation in all strata of village life.
• Employment – provides employment for quite a few teenagers: paper rounds, weekend working, occasional other jobs.  The teenagers get to know the village people and their parents do not have to ferry them to other places.
• Helping Ourselves – given some help it shows that people are keen to help themselves to improve their community and are willing to give up their time to a worthwhile project.

Why are we still going?

• We have a lot of dedicated volunteers (about 80) and they enjoy it!
• Working in the shop for 2-3 hours per week puts you in contact with other people and we feel we are fulfilling a need in the village.
• We did a count one Monday morning (9-12.30) and 85 different people came into the shop!
• Some of our volunteers do not belong to any other organisation in the village.
• Newcomers in the village find volunteering a good way to meet people.
• We have a suggestions book and we try to stock what people want.
• We stock a good selection of fresh fruit and vegetables which people need to buy frequently.
• We are open 7am to 7pm – people can shop on their way to or from work.  We do need many volunteers to cover these hours.
• Provides a social contact for people living alone – there is always someone to talk to – and it will be a different person each day!