HOW’S YOUR WEEK BEEN….. CRAIG DUNCAN

RETAILER INTERVIEW

CRAIG DUNCAN, KEYSTORE MADDISTON, FALKIRK

FORMER COSTCUTTER HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR SCOTLAND HAS RECENTLY FULFILLEDTHE AMBITION OF A LIFETIME BY BUYING HIS FIRST STORE JUST TWO MINUTES FROM HIS HOME IN ASMALL VILLAGE OUTSIDE FALKIRK.

HOW’S YOUR WEEK BEEN CRAIG?

Busy! And a bit mad, but in a good way. I’ve only been in the store since the start of March and the first couple of months have been a real experience, I can tell you.

HOW AWARE WERE YOU OF CORONAVIRUS WHEN YOU DECIDED TO BECOME A RETAILER?

We actually started the process of buying the store at the end of last summer and even when we got into the deep legal stuff in January I still didn’t think coronavirus was going to turn into the issue it has. But I’ve been so lost in preparing for taking over the business that I didn’t really get much of a chance to think about it.

YOU MOVED IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE LOCKDOWN THEN?

Yes, it was a couple of weeks before lockdown and about a week before customers started acting a bit funny and buying loads of toilet roll and pasta. It was only when I went on what was only my third trip to the cash and carry and got refused entry because I hadn’t registered that I realised things were getting a bit serious.

HAD YOU ALWAYS FANCIED BEING A RETAILER?

Having worked in retail for decades, I’d always had an idea in the back of my head of about building a chain of stores – so better late than never, I guess!

WHAT’S THE STORE LIKE?

Small, and very close to my house! It’s only 500sq ft which presents a few problems around both social distancing and storage, but I literally live two minutes away so I know it quite well. It was fully refitted last year so it’s in good condition. I’ve known the previous owner a long time and he’s been great. He really helped before I moved in and even since. I obviously know the catchment area well and I’ve retained some of the staff so I haven’t entirely been thrown in at the deep end.

HOW’S IT TRADING SO FAR?

Way ahead of my forecasts, which were obviously done before coronavirus. It’s like Christmas every day. Availability has just about got back to a stable position and Filshill have been great. I’m still having to do trips to the cash and carry most days but that’s because the stock is selling through quickly and the store doesn’t have much storage space, if you don’t include my garage at home!

COULDN’T HAVE BOUGHT A BUSINESS AT A BETTER TIME?

In a sense, that’s true. We’re trading way ahead of where we thought we’d be so it allows us to build up a little fighting fund because you never know what’s round the corner. In another sense, it’s quite dispiriting because I know I’ve been spoiled by the recent big increase in sales because at some point they will go back to normal, whatever that means.

ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS?

I wouldn’t say that, exactly. It’s a deeply saddening crisis in so many ways, but it’s very fulfilling to feel like we’re offering a really useful service to the people in the village at a time when they really rely on us.

HOW IS FOOTFALL AND BASKET SPEND?

Footfall is solid enough and we see new faces pretty much every day, probably because a lot of people can’t face driving to the supermarket to stand in queues outside and also risk contracting the virus. Basket spend is a mixed bag. We’re seeing a lot of little shops throughout the day but we also see quite a few very big baskets every day with people spending £40 or £50 on core grocery, for instance, which is remarkable.

WHICH CATEGORIES ARE PERFORMING FOR YOU?

Obviously we do ok with cigarettes and alcohol but our chilled business is doing extremely well and our Stephen’s Bakery range is flying. We’ve also quadrupled sales of butchery products that we get from our local Johnstone’s Butchers. But honestly, we’re selling lots of everything at this point!

SO YOU DON’T REGRET THE MOVE?

Absolutely not. I’m really enjoying it, particularly the interaction with customers. I haven’t worked behind a till for 25 years so it’s nice to get to know the customers and feel like I’m providing a service they value. My only regret is that I didn’t do this 25 years ago.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

The plan was always to use this small store as a sort of test bed to get my feet under the table, but I will definitely be looking to add more stores, possibly as early as next year.