So, you want to run a convenience store
Peter Lamb
Copyright 2012 by Peter Lamb
Smashwords Edition
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Introduction
We run a successful Convenience Store and Farm Shop in a small village in East Sussex, United Kingdom.
Although the village boasts a population of just 300, we have been able to build a business from scratch and generate gross profits in excess of 35% in under 2 years.
When starting out, I wished I had a “how to” guide to ensure success. Nothing was around so we dived in and made our share of mistakes along with many successes and it is these successful elements that this book will address.
Not everything in this book will be relevant to your business but if you follow our advice for what is, the contents of these pages will turn into retail gold for you.
We wish you every success in growing your business.
Table of Contents
* Our Shop Details
* Do’s
* Don’ts
* Differentiation to ensure success
* Services
* Marketing
* Work/Life Balance
Chapter 1
Our Shop Details
36 Broomfield Road, Bells Yew Green, East Sussex, TN3 9AF, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1892 752 093
Email: lambslarder@hotmail.com
Twitter: @lambslarder
Facebook: Search Lambslarder
Chapter 2
Do’s
Procedures
If you want to run a true business rather than just have a job, you MUST have procedures to ensure that your business runs the same way every time regardless of whether you are in attendance or not. Your business cannot survive if it is reliant on you as an individual.
Although writing procedures is tedious, it was one of the first things I did even before opening for business. It ensures that all aspects of the business are taken care of in an ordered and routine fashion. It also ensures that all staff members do what is required regardless of who is working.
A side benefit of writing procedures is that it makes you think about every aspect of your business and how it must work.
We have procedures for most things from opening the shop in the morning to closing the shop at night. Ordering stock, cleaning, health and safety, you name it. All of us must tick off the daily tasks and sign the sheet each day to prove we have done what is required.
Do’s
Procedures
This also makes each individual responsible and accountable for their job.
By having simple procedures for all aspects of the business, we ensure that staff training is fast and efficient and nothing is left to interpretation.
Procedures provide consistency of experience for the customer also and I will touch on the importance of that in a later section.
On the following page is an example of our shop closing procedure which will give you some insight into how we utilize this most important of business tools.
Do’s
Procedures
Shop Closing Procedure (Must be Signed by Staff Member)
* Check Coffee Machine water level
* Check Coffee Machine ingredients levels
* Clean Coffee Machine – including Drip Tray
* Empty bins and replace liners
* Sweep Floor
* Empty Vacuum Cleaner
* Vacuum Carpet (Or Sweep)
* Clean Food Warmer