Introduction
The local shop plays an important part in making a community a desirable place to live. It is often the anchor of the community, delivering valuable services as well as being the place where people meet and catch up. Yet more and more shops and other essential services such as post offices and petrol stations are closing every year.
Solutions to reverse this trend do exist, and across the UK a growing number of communities are using tried and tested models of community-owned retailing to retain and build on their local assets – in August 2010 there were an estimated 21 community-owned shops in Scotland, and a total of 228 across the UK.
The Community Retailing Network was created to support communities wishing to set up and run a community-owned shop, and to help existing community retailers to learn from each other and become more sustainable. We have put together this guide based on the models that we know to be successful in Scotland, and with the help of our members and a number of other organisations.
The path to a successful community shop will vary, and along the way can bring frustration, enjoyment and reward in various measures. While no guide can be definitive, this one will give you an idea of the process and the main things to be considered at each step.
‘it is in a unique position as the bedrock of communities, a magnet for tourists and a fantastic route into sustainable employment for people of all ages and abilities’
– Anne Seaman, Chief Executive, Skillsmart Retail, commenting on the vital role of retail.