I’ve been talking with our customers to find out more about their shopping habits.

In all, I chatted with 9 customers over the period of a morning in the shop. Thank you all for taking the time to get into conversation with me.

The young couple I chatted with first said even thought they were locals, they had only just discovered the shop and are making the life choice to get on board with healthy foods, as a result of what they have found in the shop—big shout out for WASTE NOTT.

 Next came a man, probably mid 40’s, with his young boy and they are regulars who always come to get our cleaning products and baking flour. The dad said he was an artist, on a limited income and though he might not afford the coffee each week he certainly chose the cleaning stuff as he said it was good quality and cheaper than anywhere else-baking flour too!

I had a long chat with a female cyclist who comes over from Mapperley every Saturday morning and has been doing so for the 6 years we’ve been trading—THANK YOU for your loyalty. She always stocks up with cleaning stuff and toiletries, nuts and dried fruit. She made some very helpful suggestions like putting up a big noticeable sign in the shop saying some of our products were cheaper than Sainsburys. “Why not get together a bag of healthy snacks for the school kids too”— FOOD for Thought (excuse the pun!!!)

Another local said she was always researching healthy foods and options and comes into the shop to get food for her new recipes. She loves that we ethically source our stock and are ready to order things that customers request. She concluded that she likes to always support a local enterprise when she can—keep on doing that research. Thank you.

….”loving  late opening on Thurs til six” said another woman. She always comes in for her cleaning products but until she retires she will be choosing more convenience foods because of time constraints. ……”But, “ she added “ once I stop working I’ll be in here regularly to get those herbs and spices. They’re so cheap!!”  CORRECT, and you can buy just the amount you need to try out that new recipe.

The last couple have been shopping with us for 2 years and love the tranquility of the shop and the friendly staff—thank you to all our volunteers. The couple regularly buy our lentils, handwash, chocolate covered brazils(irresistible) and muesli. They love the quality of the products, that they are ethically sourced and they walk all the way from Carrington just to shop with us. That’s dedication. Thank you.

So a very interesting chat and I’ll be chatting some more the next time you’re in the shop. See you then—-Liz Thomas a volunteer.