1. Community Shops: The Better Business Model James Alcock: Community Retail Manager Plunkett Foundation

2. Overview Introduction to Community Shops Best Practice from Kirdford, Sussex Best Practice from Brockweir and Hewelsfield, Gloucestershire Further support available Group Discussion 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net

3. Introduction Definition: Shop which is owned and/or managed by the community, for the community Legal Structure: Industrial and Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community Start-up Capital: £20,000 - £200,000+ Premises: Original shop premises, New build, Portable Buildings, Church, Village Halls Stakeholders: 150 members, 7 committee members, 2 employees, 30 regular volunteers, Customer base: Immediate population, plus passing trade Turnover: £7,000 – £900,000 (avg: £130,000) Year Started: 1984 Stage of Development: 271 shops trading, opening at a rate of 20 per year

5. Better Resilience 96% success rate Increasing rate of shop openings 400 village shop closures each year 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net

6. Better Governance Robust legal structures: genuine community ownership 65% IPS Bencom: Prioritise community benefit Democratically elected committees: answerable to the community Avg of 150 members: resource pool * Caveat CLG and CICs 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net

7. Better Finances Community Shops are (or should be) profit focused! Collective turnover: £32million pa Turnover range: £7,000 - £900,000 Average Net profit: £3,654 –Reduced staffing costs - Volunteer hours Avg 30 – saving of £6.2m –Favourable terms on other overheads –Trading for community not commercial purpose –Inclusion of Share Capital: e.g. Dunsfold and Tewin Local Food – £1 = £1.76 to local economy 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net

8. Better services Retain essential retail service Local Food: village shops number one platform to purchase local Safeguard Post Office services: 56% have Post Offices Cafes: 40% have cafes Community Spaces: 15 in Village Halls, 5 in Churches, 3 in Pubs 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net

9. Better communities and Lives Social value of community shops Inclusion of cafes, volunteers, events Support the elderly, less mobile and more vulnerable Active citizens, supporting citizens Profit reallocated for community use: 22% £197,754 annually Volunteer opportunities: 30 volunteers Employment: 1.8 employees Training: all ages 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net

10. Better Environmentally Less Travel Reduced food miles Influenced by modern day behaviours and values e.g. Thorncombe –Food re-use –Composting –Recycling –Bag loans 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net

11. Kirdford

12. Gutted

13. Fit Out starts – mid April 2010

14. Late Evening 14 th May 2010 – eve of trading (soft opening)

15. 5 th June 2010 Official Opening

16. Chichester Observer Community Award for Best Shopworker

18. CLA/AiRS Success in Rural Business Award 2011 South East Region Winner 2011

19. Creating ownership

20. Involve your community Regular dialogue Newsletters Emails Events Press coverage Website Facebook Twitter Create ownership and pride

21. How do you reach and communicate with all sections of your community?

22. Support Available Central Support Service –Telephone, Email, Face-to-Face Adviser Network –Community Advisers, Specialist Advisers and Mentors Online Community Shop Network –Forum, Directory, Tools and Resources –Advice Sheets Legal structures advice and registrations service –Community Shares and Fundraising Membership Services –Representation and Purchasing Press and Publicity.

23. Summary Community shops: –Are more resilient and financially robust –Promote inclusively –Address social exclusion –Support the local economy –Reduce carbon footprint 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net