Interview: Nicky Bond, of Chilbolton Shop and Tearoom

This year will mark the tenth anniversary of Nicky Bond taking over what was the Village Shop and Post Office. chilbolton.news took the chance to have a chat with her and check out how things are going.

What comes across is how positive she is. When we ask “how are things going?”, she replies “It was a difficult start to the year. Sales were down, and I was getting a bit concerned”. Immediately though, we are talking about how she has expanded the business.

She now runs a tearoom alongside the shop and we still have the all-important Post Office in the Village. She has created “Nicky’s Kitchen” which provides home made scones, cakes, bread and sandwiches. These are available not only to customers at the shop - she also delivers regularly to local businesses.

When we ask “Isn’t a lot of effort?”, she smiles. “It’s a seven-day-a-week job but the shop is my baby,” she says. “It can be hard work but I have the passion and motivation and I love it”.

Turning to the planned 25-home development at the top of the Village, we ask “If it goes ahead, would you move the shop there?”

“Passing trade is the lifeblood of our business,” she says, adding “We have a building with unique charm: a 16th century thatched cottage right at the centre of the Village. Cyclists, walkers and visitors to the Common all call in.”

As to the Strategy Working Group’s scheme to provide village amenities alongside the homes, Nicky says that she had been kept informed by them and been told that “it’s just in the scheme and not definite”. She adds that they have reassured her that she should not feel threatened by the plans.

We’re curious to know what items she sells make the biggest contribution to profits. She’s very clear: “All of the locally-produced goods, such as Greenfields sausages, fruit and veg, eggs and Burbidge’s bakery goods. Customers who place weekly orders for these things are really helping.”

She also tells about the scheme where villagers pay £10 a month and get a cake on their birthday in return. “It was suggested to me by a customer who didn’t need the shop, but appreciated the value of it for the community, and I’m very grateful to people who subscribe”.

How is she spreading the word about her business? “We need to do more to promote the shop and we need more communication with the Village” she says. “Whether it’s social media, the parish magazine, or even chilbolton.news”. She mentions that the Parish Council have offered to put up a noticeboard on the Common advertising what’s available at the Shop and Tearoom.

And what does the future hold? Nicky’s smiling again. “Of course we have to protect the Post Office, particularly as banks shut more branches. But we’re also trying to change the perception of just being a convenience store to something much more than that”.

We ask “Is there anything specifically you could tell us?”

“We’re bringing in new menus for breakfast, lunch and light bites. And in May we’re starting “Crafternoons” where you can bring an unfinished craft project to work on and enjoy tea, cake and a chat. Longer term we’re hoping to introduce Evri parcel drop-off and delivery, and we’re also planning a range of seasonal ready meals”.

As we’re finishing, we ask about people who only come to the Shop to post a parcel, or pick up a prescription or a newspaper. Nicky observes “For some people, that brief chat when they collect their paper might be the only social interaction they will have that day. And I love chatting to my customers. What gets me out of bed in the morning, and gives me my purpose in life, is being able to help them.”