Appleton Community Shop celebrates 10 years

April 27th 2010 Appleton, Oxfordshire: On 1st May 2000 Appleton Community Shop was opened and villagers will be celebrating the tenth anniversary between 10:00am and mid-day on Saturday 1st May.

Jerry Uren, chairman of the Appleton Community Shop, commented: “It is fantastic to celebrate our tenth birthday and the community should be very proud indeed of the success of this venture. The two major keys of success are, undoubtedly, our customers and the terrific 90 or so volunteers who have given so freely and willingly of their time for the past 10 years.

“I must also record our thanks to the Mid Counties Co-operative Society who have supported us from the start and from whom we buy about 30 per cent of our products. They replaced our original suppliers in 2002 and have given us the framework within which we can offer a wide range of stock at sensible prices.

“Our other independent suppliers,” added Jerry, “must also be thanked – fresh vegetables, bread, milk, meat, cheeses, wines and spirits, greetings cards and so on. Many of these suppliers are local and we always look to support other small businesses. I must also thank the Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire Rural Community Council who have fully supported this initiative from the outset”

The Appleton Community Shop was formed when the previous owners decided to retire and cease trading, and the decision was made by the community to attempt to run the business themselves with, in the main, volunteers. The main principles set at the outset were: -

• That the shop should have a Post Office (now two mornings a week and run very efficiently by villager Juliet Carter)

• The opening hours should reflect the needs of customers and be open before people left the village for work and be open when they returned in the evening. (Monday to Fridays 7:00 am to 7:00pm)

• Stock should be inclusive of products and at a price that those unable to travel regularly to the supermarkets could afford to purchase (nearly 2,000 line items)

• That any profits should be used for the benefit of the local community (last year £5,000 was distributed to a range of local groups).

Graham Rose, a villager who was involved in setting up the venture in the year 2000, said: “Celebrating ten years is beyond my wildest dreams! Those of us involved at formation thought it might have a five-year life and fizzle away and I am delighted to say how wrong I was. Those involved as volunteers deserve an accolade of thanks from us all, and I hesitate to suggest … “here’s to the next ten years”!”

Notes to Editors

Saturday 1st May 2010 and celebrations will be held outside the Appleton Community Shop in Eaton Road between 10:00am and mid-day!

Appleton is a village to the West of Oxford and between Cumnor and Faringdon. It has a population of about 1,000.

The volunteers carry out functions such as: newspaper sorting in the early mornings for the delivery rounds, going to the Co-operative store in Botley and selecting products, sourcing and collecting other products, pricing products, stock taking, serving behind the counter etc.

For further information contact: Graham Rose Thistledown, Park Lane, Appleton, Oxfordshire OX13 5JT Tel: 01865 864026 Email: g.rose@dsl.pipex.com -Ends-