FORECOURT FOCUS
This Crawley retailer reveals how he’s adapted to change and reveals his future plans P14 US FORECOURT FOC PROFILE
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‘A year ago, I was
just a garage’
toilet roll “Even when flour and we had to source, we used our prior to Covid-19, but for- were hard to to source switch them all for take-home existing relationships invested heavily in larger what we needed. We used catering I was crucial mats. We “PLANNING ahead which was a risk, but had been forced to our biggest formats, and companies that of flour, and for us and one of had the customers close to buy 5kg bags to ensure David Wyatt, knew we there,” he says. successes,” says them in store Down in the market was removed prepared went withof Costcutter Crawley David and the team our customers never Crawley, West Sussex. manage 500ml bottles of soft drinks, re- out,” David says. to wareWhen David started with one- and twoBenefiting from a largeaccomago, he could placing them multipacks. able to and the forecourt 26 years the direction litre bottles the store’s 24-hour house, David was quantities of never have predicted Similarly, modate increased take last year. underwent a huge stock. “We had anticipated a lockthe business would are normally off-licence and hav, also shifting to David’s customers Airport, transformation down a few weeks before, massive was a those travelling to Gatwickfirst lock- take-home formats. the as many ing the warehouse start. This but this changed in It has paid off, however, help and gave us a head to overhaul down, meaning he had shift from of the customers that discovered helped to maintain our sales and and of the pandemic his range overnight store. the site because build trust with our customers.” a forecourt to a convenience focus have continued to shop there. main “Impulse was our TAMARA BIRCH
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23 MARCH-5 APRIL 2021 STRICTLY FOR TRADE USERS ONLY
go been a focus offering has always prominent in HAVING a strong breakfast to go becomes more expand. for David, but as food he’s looking to to food to convenience and forecourts, a small area dedicated looking to “We currently have food products, but we’re go, from chilled to hot three-to-four metres,” he says. introduce an additional its debut as part of the expansion, more. “The A pizza bar will make pizzas, wraps and much allowing David to stockthe quality of what we’re already doing increase will too.” pizza bar a range of milkshakes, and we want to introducenew range, David made the decision and only stocks To make room for the products and magazines,and we weren’t to delist car cleaning couldn’t justify the space the essentials. “We as before. A year ago, I was just a getting the same tradeto change quickly, and shoppers notice garage, but we’ve had them.” for how we’re adapting
Investing in food to Setting yourself apart Safety was our priority
one. We’ve limited installed since day store and had a “WE’VE had screens coming into the the number of customers the door,” David says. can pay at, member of staff manning pumps that customers As well as offering customers filling up their vehicles to David offered gloves risk and used media screens to the before, but to further minimise “We never did that us to keep communicate guidelines. media screens enable he says. The reduced. was the fear distance,” like keeping a safe customers, shoppers informed, crucial to reassuring standards. Cleanliness has been maintain to cleaner there’s a and he has a full-time is important whether “Having a clean forecourt car, the least pandemic or not. someone to fill up their “If you’re charging free of spillages,” the area clean and you can do is keep
mile away, finding a competitors only a WITH David’s nearest always felt strongly about working with close.” niche was vital. “I’ve as many have had to and fruit local businesses, especially a local baker, butchery, as well David has worked with in store, maintain availability Brighton when he and veg business to local gas company in as reaching out to a of stock from Calor. In fact, the struggled to get hold locally. sourcing and it’s paid “It’s been a real success their customers to us Brighton business send says. he been able real dividends,” suppliers, David has store uses The By reaching out to new and increase sales. to ramp up his offering to inform customers when new Facebook and Instagram they’ve introduced a new supplier. when range, stock has arrived or including Co-op’s own apart.” set us “We stock known brands, but local lines have which is very popular,
he says.
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