Retailer Dan Cock reflects on riots, rising costs and relationships

This week I struggled to decide what to write about, not for a lack of topics, but because of the overload of news affecting us all at the moment.

I read with great interest the article in the last issue of C-Store about energy saving, a topic high on my agenda. With spiralling energy costs I, too, am trying to do whatever I can to reduce bills and, of course, improve my green credentials at the same time.

However, my attention was soon diverted to the week’s big news of mass riots and near anarchy across the country, and my thoughts go out to all those affected. To suffer an attack personally or on your store must be awful.

The ramifications will be the usual hike in insurance premiums and investment needed by retailers to improve security and so on, another cost we will have to bear in the worsening financial times.

Both locally and nationally the economic crisis seems to be deepening, with more big names going under. Local to me, many well-established firms have become victims, with the loss of jobs and subsequent reduction in spend in the local economy.

However, despite the gloom, and looking at my most recent figures, I still think there has never been a better time for the convenience sector.

It is my intention to continue to keep a careful eye on costs, trying to make savings wherever possible, while at the same time keeping a constant check on my margins, as we still seem to be experiencing huge price changes from all major brands and suppliers.

This must be backed up with the usual marketing efforts to keep people coming through the door. My store standards must be better than ever to help people enjoy their time in my store as much as possible. So, just as I was overloaded with topics to write about, I guess we as retailers have just as many things to do in order to ride out the storm.

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