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2021 Community Barometer
by 55 North
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE: ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES
Local stores 'more essential than ever'
The 2021 Community Barometer reveals that many people have rediscovered their local shops because of the pandemic.
Convenience stores, post offices and pharmacies are the services that impact most positively in local communities, according to new ACS research.
The 2021 Community Barometer, which looks at how people feel about the services that are available to them locally, shows that pharmacies are deemed the most essential followed by convenience stores, post offices, banks and petrol stations.
James Lowman, Chief Executive at the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “It’s reassuring but not surprising that local shops and other services are as essential to people’s daily lives as ever. Throughout the pandemic, and even now with more people working from home on a long-term basis, many have rediscovered their local shops and realised the huge breadth of products and services that they offer, as well as their invaluable contribution to the wider local community.
“The findings of this report are a testament to the work that convenience store retailers and their colleagues have put in over the last year to keep their communities going.”
The Community Barometer also names the top five services which have a positive impact on house prices locally, which are: post offices, pharmacies, specialist food shops, coffee shops and convenience stores.
Lowman added: “Many of the positively viewed services in this report, such as post offices, coffee shops and pharmacies, are featured within modern convenience stores, especially in rural and isolated areas where there’s only one place for people to go to get their essentials locally. In other locations, our members are part of a mix of businesses all tailoring their offer to local customers and working together to help maintain vibrant and safe local communities.”
Amanda Jones, Post Office Retail and Franchise Network Director, said: “We’re proud of postmasters who serve millions of customers ever week. For some people this may be their only face-to-face interaction with another person. Postmasters will continue to be at the heart of their local community making sure people have access to important services.”
