Notes on visit by Paul Harwood and Peter Keggin, Wednesday 22nd January 2025.
Community Shop Company was set up in 2013 when previous owner left.
With advice from the Plunkett Foundation, the Rural Shops Foundation and Aster, they set up a Community Enterprise to acquire the freehold of the house, the existing shop and Post Office.
The company then set up as an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) following Plunkett Foundation guidelines. This means that anyone in the village will be able to buy shares in the Company at £10 each, up to a maximum investment of £20,000.
In 2013 the Community Shares raised £50,000 with £10 shares. They bought the freehold for £175,000 including the flat above with 10 year bonds paying 1% or 2% per annum. The flat is let for £600 per month and Post Office income is £15,000 per annum.
(Note cost of Post Office security).
Shop is open 8.00am – 5 pm Mon to Fri early closing Weds at 1.30pm
8.00am – 1 pm Sat
8.00am – 11.00am Sun
They have 4 trained Post Office staff and a shop manager, and have 28 volunteers who work 2- 4 hour shifts. This number of volunteers is needed to cover holiday absence and illness.
Shop income is circa £200,000 per annum with a 20% margin. They aim to break even because as a Charitable Industrial and Provident Society any profit would have to be distributed to the local community.
Sunday paper round is by two young lads.
The shop is run by an elected committee.
The sale of Community Shares means the community has an interest in the success of the shop.
The Post Office is considered essential to provide a footfall into the shop.
A small local industrial estate helps sales of lunchtime food and sandwiches.
People can buy and then eat snacks on tables outside with coffee from a machine, plus occasional village fund raising events. No food is prepared in the shop.
See below Westbury Shop Project Newsletter July 2013 which gives websites for Plunkett Foundation and Rural Shops Alliance.
For further information I will be pleased to help.
Peter Keggin.
Westbury-Sub-Mendip-Shop-Project-Newsletter