Symbol Groups New Shop

[SHOPTRADER]

Hi

Hope for some advice from experienced retailers.

We own a 2300 sq ft retail shop on a busy road. Have look into it been a convenience store, have had independent feasability studies carried out and likely turnover Will be 20k a week.

I am looking for positive and negative experiences of any of the following

SPAR
NISA
MACE
LONDIS

Thankyou in anticipation

 

[hosker4u]

We are part of CostCutter which is a Symbol Group, they seem to be excellent and provide all the services you require. The benefit is they are not your Supplier, they work WITH YOU and other CostCutter stores to get the CostCutter Brand out their and increase footfall.

CostCutter currently chooses NISA as their supplier of which you get preferential rates and LOWER minimum order requirements.

Their is lot more information on their website.

Spar,Nisa,Mace,Londis are just names - to the average consumer. CostCutter even if you do not recognise the brand from TV Adverts, Newspapers etc.. Then you know that is value for money, Cost Cutter. +1

 

[SHOPTRADER]

Thankyou for the reply, are CC currently trying to break from Nisa?

I understand all will pay for signage, facia and imagary, did CC pay towards your shopfit (if you had one)

Thanks

 

[hotel-man]

Are you thinking of setting-up from scratch ?

HOW has your independent feasibility study got a figure of £20,000 per week?

Until 2003, I owned 4 convenience stores trading between £20k and £50k per week - with the same figures again thru PayPoint (1% commission so just about covered extra wages but got bodies thru doors).

I traded under the Booker Premier branding - excellent back-up support. Did 95% of confectionery purchase thru Hancocks C&C.

Due to our trading figures, Booker were pretty generous and paid for new signage, some shelving, suspended ceilings and new tile floor when we refitted.

Not sure if they still do it, but they did have a "cashback" scheme which offered upto 3% back on monthly purchases - and it really was CASH back.

Personally, if I was desperate enough to get back into Convenience retail, I would head back to Booker.

Depending on where your 2,300 sqft shop is, I would be knocking on the door of Tesco Express, McColls etc to see if they wanted to lease the unit from you.

I'd much rather have a 20 year tenant paying me £40k per year instead of trying to start up something from scratch which (even if it does work) will involve a LOT of hard work and headache.

If Tesco etc etc aren't interested, you have your first warning that this may not be a venture worth taking forward.

 

[hosker4u]

We purchased an ongoing concern so can not sure on the specifics, the EPOS system (which is excellent if your into data like me!) was expensive.

So I think the end deal was a 60/40 on the signage and epos. The previous owner made a big investment though in the fitting, its a very nice store similar to your SQ/Ft.

As for Nisa & CostCutter, they have some time yet to before CostCutter makes up their mind. Their has been offers on the table from the large chains such as Morrisons and Asda to be their suppliers.
Whilst NISA is excellent (and integrates with the EPOS) I am kind of supporting a change to Morrisons as the supplier...

A New CostCutter Director recently came in, put a hold on the decision and looking at it thoroughly.

CostCutter also provides cashback as mentioned above, if you meet some level of orders, ensure people where uniforms, etc..

P.S. Turnover Estimates are Estimates, be ready for a marketing push. Its not guaranteed.

 

[SHOPTRADER]

Hi
Thankyou for the reply. The feasability study we had was an independent one which we paid for, I am confident of its accuracy as he came highly recommended. We have had two other studies carried out by symbol groups themselves, both were around 25k a week.

Tesco have an express store a couple of miles away already......we have made the decision to develop the site into a store, all of the above symbol groups are keen to have us on board, just looking at pros and cons of each

Yes all offer a scheme for cashback on turnover.

It would be from scratch totally, the unit was a totally different type of retail before.

 

[DawsonUK]

I would love to know any updates on this, 6 years later.

 

[Scalloway]

The OP has not been on this site since 2012.