What we do
The Shop at Strood Green has always had an ambitious brief. However, we have managed to incorporate everything virtually we said we would do, already, even if this has meant that the managers occasionally ask for 'sky-hooks' to hang the stock on! We sell:
- Newspapers & magazines
- Freshly baked bread, croissants, baguettes
- Local and organic farm produce (fresh meat, fruit & veg - including a good quantity of veg grown in the village, delivered several times a week)
- A staggering range of confectionery, including old-fashioned sweets in jars - all the favourites!
- Full range of chilled goods including local cheeses and butters
- Frozen foods, ice-creams, including locally made ice-cream
- Sports drinks, soft drinks, and a good range of fresh fruit juices from the south of England
- A quality selection of wines, beers, local ales, plus spirits & tobacco
- Sandwiches made on the premises, plus bacon baps, pies, pasties and sausage rolls
- Home-made cakes, also available to buy by the slice
- Flowers prepared especially for the shop, in stunning arrangements, plus seasonal pots and baskets
- Ethically sourced and organic products; gluten-free products
- Quality groceries and chocolates
- Everyday household items, competitively priced
- Greetings cards (many hand-made) & wrapping paper, calendars and books
- Coffee, tea, hot chocolate either to drink in or take-away
In addition, we offer:
- Postal services with a daily business parcel delivery/collection, all first and second class post, international post, special delivery, proof of posting etc. free cashback (minimum £5 purchase),
- Cash bill payments and mobile phone top-ups via Paypoint, and
- Internet broadband access via two terminals (£1 per half-hour) to enable people to take full advantage of online services, with a good quality printer/photocopier - A4/A3, colour/B&w.
- FREE Wi-Fi access is available to those with their own laptops
- FREE paperback library
- Two large noticeboards - one for community notices, one for business notices
- Display area for local artists and photographers
- Farmers' 'mini' markets and tasting sessions to publicise local produce
- Catering (fresh sandwiches etc) for local business meetings
- Bookable cafe area for meetings
- Ordering facilities for seasonal goods, breads, veg, cakes and flowers
We still aim to increase our activities to cover:
- IT support and advice - help with internet services - pensions, driving licences, email service including training for community members unable to use or access a computer (e.g. some older residents)
- 'Help shop/one stop shop' style services - occasional 'surgeries' with a range of issues such as benefits and pensions, careers and debt, nutrition/other, provided by expert advisers such as charities that specialise in employment/benefits etc and others to be identified
- Younger people services/facilities e.g. bookable internet access for homework club
- Small scale/short term delivery service of essential goods for people who can't get out e.g. when convalescing/living on own, via order forms
- Christmas savings club
The list is not exhaustive and other initiatives will be added as time progresses and as we are informed and influenced by local needs.