What Customers Say About the Kent Rural Retail Service
Village Shops and Post Offices
Action with Communities in Rural Kent recognises the important role village shops and Post Offices play in maintaining vibrant communities in rural Kent, not only in terms of villagers being able to purchase supplies and access banking and postal services without having to travel outside the village, but also the shop and post office being important social hubs in a village – a place to share information and meet with friends and neighbours.
Kent Rural Retailers (KRR) has been in existence for many years now and has done a lot to raise the profile for independent rural retailers in the County. It provides a wide range of services to help develop and sustain rural retailing while working closely with partners to bring innovations to the rural scene. There is no charge for these services, whether it be to a commercial or community operation.A great deal of the funding required to run KRR comes from Kent County Council.
KRR service can assist:
- Village shops owned by independent shopkeepers
- Community owned village shops
- Villagers that no longer have a shop and want to set up a community owned shop.
- With setting up Business associations/retailer groups.
- Communities wishing to explore alternative ways of providing and accessing mail collection and other post office services such as an out reach service.
- Attending public and Parish council meetings to update on potential changes which could affect their shop or Post Office.
KRR provides:
- Regular visits to rural shops and post offices to offer 1-1 advice
- Retail and business advice and information
- Mentoring of community groups setting up a community shop
- Raising the profile of independent retailers in the County
KRR offers advice on:
- Shop layout
- Merchandising
- Marketing
- Business plans (Download a Business Plan template here)
- Marketplace opportunities
- Local foods
- Category Management
- Employment issues
- Profit margin control
Great wee family run shop with local and seasonal produce. Brilliant staff and customer service, friendly atmosphere and always a laugh. Can,t recommend it enough, this is how all shops should be!
Dear Mr Wylie
thank you for nominating your local shop. In order for this nomination to be included I need the nomination form completed. This can be done on this site but I will also send it as an attachment to your e mail address. once again thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Great wee family run farm shop, supplying local and seasonal produce the year round.
Brilliant staff and customer service, friendly atmosphere and always a laugh. Can,t recommend it enough, this is how all shops should be! J
This is an excellent Farm Shop. It has a good range of produce which changes seasonally and I can even buy my Christmas tree there! I particularly appreciate the fish stall which visits every two weeks.
The Staff are always friendly and helpful. Brilliant enterprise!
Groombridge Farm shop is a top quality green grocer with fresh fish from Rye twice a month along with game and beautiful flower arrangements. Well worth multiple visits
Since the refit at Stelling Minnis Stores and the increased lines at reduced prices, the shop is now used by more local people who do not feel the need to go to Canterbury for larger supermarkets. Emma and Bruce have done a wonderful job in updating the shop – the best of luck to them.
Stelling Minnis Stores is the best village shop ever. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Bruce and Emma, and it is the real heart of the village.
They are the true winners, and have my vote 150%
We would like to nominate Stelling Minnis Stores and Post Office.
It is beautifully kept, very well stocked with wonderful friendly staff. The Post Office is essential for those of us who work from home.
The Post Office in Yalding is an important part of our village life. It’s SO much more than the obvious – selling fresh local produce of very high quality.
It acts as our local ‘ lost property ‘ office and is the true heart of the village.
Stelling Minnis & Post Office stores wins our vote! Everything you need on your doorstop, great choices, great prices, ALWAYS so helpful . Bruce & Emma and all their staff deserve recognition of the service they provide! Thank you
Stelling Minnis Stores and Post Officekeeps the village alive in every way. Bruce and Emma provide everything anyone could possibly need from fresh meat and veg to funny cards and postage stamps. They always bring a smile to your face and have time for everyone. Lovely staff, great choice, fair prices and open when you need them. Thank you guys you are much appreciated.
Tim and June at Yalding post office provide the village with much more tha stamps,always cheerful,always friendly
,always providing the best that a village could ask for .
I would second all Anne’s comments about th villgePost Office here in Yaling. Tim is always happy and helpful, as was Terry before him. The local produce is nicely on display even though there is very little room! The PO is very much a part of the village and most of the villagers are known by their Christian names which demonstrates this.
That should read Yalding
Tim and June at Yalding Post Office provide an excellent service to the village with a friendly smile and a warm welcome. They provide fresh produce and the usual much needed post office facilities.
Tim and June Chapman run the post office in Yalding, combining efficiency and good humour with services above and beyond the usual remit. They provide a welcoming presence and know most of
their customers by name. Always willing to help with or take part in numerous village activities, they hold lost property and display locally produced food and arts and crafts, despite having very little space. They can truly be said to be the centre of village life in Yalding. They dealt with the flooding of their home and business premises at Christmas 2013 with calm and the above mentioned good humour, giving meaning to the oft quoted ‘Keep calm and carry on’! Yalding Post Office, thanks to them, is all that a village shop should be and I cannot think of a more deserving couple to gain an award of this kind.
Plaxtol stores & post office has everything that a village store should be, fresh locally sourced products a real hub of the village community, always provide service with a smile. This has to be the winner!