1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 1/36 - COMMUNITY SHOPS

COMMUNITY SHOPS

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 2/36 - About this publication

About this publication

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 3/36 - Contents

Contents

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 4/36 - Foreword

Foreword

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 5/36 - What is a community shop?

What is a community shop?

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 6/36 - Community shops

Community shops

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 7/36 - restrictions, with deliveries of care pa…

restrictions, with deliveries of care packages, activity packs for families and socially distanced meet-ups. The cohesion and mutual care that a community business can foster has never been more keenly felt than in the last 18 months, and this has only renewed the perceived value of community shops.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 8/36 - 2 Growth in 2020

2 Growth in 2020

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 9/36 - 2.2 Regional distribution

2.2 Regional distribution

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 10/36 - 3 Business model

3 Business model

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 11/36 - Candover Valley Store in Hampshire celeb…

Candover Valley Store in Hampshire celebrated its first anniversary in June 2020

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 12/36 - FIGURE 3.3 COMMUNITY SHOPS: TENURE NUMBE…

FIGURE 3.3 COMMUNITY SHOPS: TENURE NUMBER OF SHOPS

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 13/36 - 4 Services and activities

4 Services and activities

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 14/36 - FIGURE 4.1 CORE PRODUCTS

FIGURE 4.1 CORE PRODUCTS

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 15/36 - When asked whether they planned to susta…

When asked whether they planned to sustain these services, significant proportions of community shops said they would. It should be noted that many community shops offered key services such as prescription pick-up and delivery prior to the pandemic, and so it is unsurprising that they continue to be committed to supporting their community.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 16/36 - 4.4 Effects of COVID-19 on existing prod…

4.4 Effects of COVID-19 on existing products and services

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 17/36 - overview, but probably understates the t…

overview, but probably understates the true diversity of services provided by shops.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 18/36 - last year, we received confirmation from…

last year, we received confirmation from attendees that post office services were considered a vital community asset, even when these did not noticeably contribute to profitability. Although it has been suggested that having a post pffice might increase customer footfall to the shop, attending shops had mixed opinions about whether this actually translated into increased sales. In some cases, shops even subsidise post office activities with revenue from the shop.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 19/36 - 5 People

5 People

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 20/36 - This is an increase on last year which i…

This is an increase on last year which is unsurprising and is largely explainable by the fact that the sector is growing, we have better data, and we have identified more community shops open prior to 2020.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 21/36 - In addition to `front-line volunteers, a…

In addition to `front-line volunteers, a large majority of the shops surveyed reported they had several volunteers working behind the scenes (this could be assistance with marketing, accounting, driving to cash-and-carry, home deliveries, merchandising, maintenance etc.). With figures matching previous years findings, the majority (74%) had 1 to 10 `back-room volunteers, while 9% had more than 10.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 22/36 - A new volunteer at Barkers of Huby in No…

A new volunteer at Barkers of Huby in North Yorkshire

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 23/36 - 6 Impact

6 Impact

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 24/36 - a shop may be the last remaining busines…

a shop may be the last remaining business or community space in the village and also for many surrounding areas too.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 25/36 - communities have been inspired into coll…

communities have been inspired into collective action to save their pubs or other critical assets. On Plunketts records there are 16 rural settlements that have more than one community business.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 26/36 - 6.5 Environmental impacts

6.5 Environmental impacts

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 27/36 - 7 Financial performance

7 Financial performance

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 28/36 - FIGURE 7.1 COMMUNITY SHOPS: PROFITS/LOSS…

FIGURE 7.1 COMMUNITY SHOPS: PROFITS/LOSSES (PRE-PANDEMIC)

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 29/36 - Whitley Stores Community Shop, Wiltshire

Whitley Stores Community Shop, Wiltshire

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 30/36 - FIGURE 7.3 COMMUNITY SHOPS: IMPACT ON TR…

FIGURE 7.3 COMMUNITY SHOPS: IMPACT ON TRADE

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 31/36 - Many community shops have business model…

Many community shops have business models that build in (and rely on) modest or no borrowing to sustain profitability. Based on survey findings (a sample of 35% of all trading community shops), community shops as a sector show an overall low level of indebtedness:

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 32/36 - 7.7 Use of profits

7.7 Use of profits

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 33/36 - Sector confidence

Sector confidence

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 34/36 - Concerns around sustaining services, and…

Concerns around sustaining services, and recruiting volunteers to carry them out, go hand in hand. Services such as deliveries can be timeand labour-intensive. Although many community shops managed to recruit new volunteers to replace self-isolating or shielding volunteers, retaining these volunteers after many returned to work or study was extremely challenging. As we will see below, volunteer recruitment and retention has often been the top concern or priority for community shops even prior to the pandemic.

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 35/36 - Baked produce on offer at the Itteringha…

Baked produce on offer at the Itteringham Community Shop

1515_Plunkett_BB 2021_Shops_final.pdf - page 36/36 - About Plunkett Foundation

About Plunkett Foundation