RETAILER INTERVIEW
GRAHAM WATSON WATSON’S GROCERS, MONIAIVE
HOW’S YOUR WEEK BEEN...
GRAHAM WATSON LOCKDOWN IN A SMALL AND VERY REMOTE DUMFRIESSHIRE VILLAGE COMES WITH ITS OWN PARTICULAR CHALLENGES, WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY HUGELY RELIANT ON GRAHAM WATSON’S STORE.
HOW’S YOUR WEEK BEEN GRAHAM? I’m not going to lie, it’s been hard. This whole lockdown period has been enormously challenging for us as we’re the only store for 20 miles in any direction and the community relies on us in a very real sense. It’s a big responsibility and it’s been tough, though it’s also been very rewarding. The last week has seen things settle
16 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 6 / WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY 2020
down a little bit. I think people are getting used to the new routine now – the ‘new normal’ – and there’s been a slight change in the last week or so.
HOW ARE SALES NOW? Sales are still way above whatever normal used to be. We’re probably 30% to 35% up on where we were before so, from a purely business point of view, we’re doing well. But it’s hard work.
