OPINION

RETAILER OPINION ON THIS FORTNIGHT’S HOT

TOPICS

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SERVICE FEES: How will PayPoint and Payzone’s rises affect your store?

“IT’S a service we provide for the bene�it of the customer, and we don’t really make much money from it. More people need to use it now than previously because they top up their electricity cards, so it’s a tricky situation to be in as a retailer. I’m not happy about it, but unfortunately people rely on it.”

Sue Nithyanandan, Costcutter Epsom, Surrey

We have imagery all around the store

PRICE-MARKED PACKS (PMPs): How are you mitigating falling margin?

“WE substitute products with non-PMPs unless the margins are there, then we stick to them, but it very much depends on that. Everyone realises what’s going on – price and margin changes aren’t as much of a shock as they were a few years ago.”

Harj Gill, Windmill Select & Save, Rubery, Birmingham increases

“ YOU either have to continue providing a the service, or say enough is enough. Because we are in a location where people need it to pay their bills we have to carry on using it. If they can’t access it, then they won’t be able to pay their bills. I think it’s morally wrong that these people have costs and it is then passed onto us.”

Atul Sodha, Londis Hare�ield, Uxbridge, Middlesex

UNDERAGE SALES: What steps do you take to ensure compliance?

“STAFF training is a must. We always ask for ID, and we ask them to come back with it before we make the sale. We know most of our shoppers anyway. It’s not good for our community if children get products they shouldn’t be buying.”

“WHETHER someone looks older than 25 or not, we always look for ID. We have imagery all around the store highlighting that it is needed, not just in the alcohol system. When we train our staff, they have to do an online training course on age veri�ication.”

“THEY haven’t been dominating our sales. We can still get PMPs fairly easily from Booker, and we are doing okay because we haven’t been too heavily reliant on them in the past. We use PMPS as a sort of value offer here and there.”

Goran Raven, Raven’s Budgens, Abridge, Essex

I don’t foresee many major changes

If the margins are there, then we stick to them

LOTTERY: Are you pleased Allwyn will be carrying out a retailer survey?

“I AM quite happy. I have always had a great relationship with Camelot and I hope to continue this with Allwyn when they take over. I don’t foresee there being many major changes, and if anything, it will be a bene�it to the retailers who operate the National Lottery and the public.”

Eugene Diamond, Diamonds News, Ballymena, Co. Antrim

“I AM not too worried about the changeover from Camelot to Allwyn. Allwyn is known internationally, so the company has experience in operating many national lotteries. I think it would be good for the new operator to do something different from its predecessor.”

Mo Razzaq, Premier Mo’s, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

Getting ready for Easter

EASTER is easily one of the biggest trading opportunities for retailers after Christmas – in fact, for us, it’s actually bigger and busier than Christmas. That means it’s really important to make sure you’ve prepared for it properly, your availability is strong and your ranging is correct. That’s especially important with the cost-ofliving crisis.