Coverack Community Shop March Newsletter.

Issue 2 March 14th 2025

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide Coverack with a sustainable village shop serving the local community, second homeowners, visiting holiday makers and other village stakeholders.

WELCOME

Since we first contacted you on February 27 your Steering committee have been working hard to try and progress the project. Unfortunately, many of the challenges are fraught with inevitable bureaucracy.

THE PLUNKETT FOUNDATION

We have decided to use this charitable organization to guide us through the process of setting up a Community Shop. Their specific purpose is to provide practical advice, business support and training to help make a positive impact on local people and visitors. They are currently working with over 300 communities in the UK. They have been extremely helpful with the setting up of a CBS (Community Benefit Society) – a financial entity acceptable to the FCA, setting up a business bank account, managing licenses and certifications, advice on the fundraising and other matters.

Plunkett Foundation helping to set up Coverack Community Shop as a CBS

COMMUNICATION & MARKETING

A big THANK YOU to all the kind people who canvassed community
members for their email addresses. We were disappointed by our first
attempt to communicate with you and have decided that a combination
of email, social media and posters should perform better.
We are conscious of the need to keep you regularly updated but do not
want to shower you with too much information. Hence, we will aim to
send you fortnightly Newsletters but will only do so if there is
something relevant to say.

PROPERTY & LEASES

Productive meetings have been held with the landlord of the shop and a formal lease is being drawn up which will hopefully be signed soon.

MANAGEMENT & STAFF

We have decided that we will need to employ a shop manager or co- managers but, to improve the financial viability of the project we shall rely on volunteers to help run the shop. We are currently drawing up a job description for the management role and will advertise the position shortly. We thank those of you who have answered our original request for voluntary support but because our mailshot did not reach everyone we apologise as you might get asked again. Your support is ESSENTIAL to the success of the project.

STORE LAYOUT & RANGE PLANNING

We’re at a very early stage of this process but we’re visiting other
Community Shops in Cornwall and further afield and of course
having discussions with Henri Davis – the previous owner of what
was a very successful shop.
As you will be aware, Coverack poses unique challenges with
dramatic seasonal changes to the profile of potential customers.
This is added to by the need to fulfill the requirements for a full
range of products, some essential well-priced products, a gift range
as well as the need to satisfy the needs of tourists, walkers etc.
“Quarts into pint pots” springs to mind.

We shall continue to progress on the project as fast as possible, and we THANK YOU for your support. Your Steering Committee.

As an update, please be aware that since its inception the committee has changed slightly and the members are Andy Pallister – Chair, Simon Kearsley – Vice-Chair, Gilly Wright – Treasurer,
a huge thank you to Wendy Hunter who has kindly agreed to take on the role of Secretary, and John Brocklebank, Kevin Lennox, and Charlotte Pallister. Please feel free to contact us if you need to.