One year on: The caviar is still going strong in Phil’s store

The sun was shining for Phil Simpson in the summer of 2014. Since then he has had a very good year and hopes the good weather continues. Retail Express caught up with him one year after they profiled his store.

How was business last year?

Last year was very good, we’re rather happy with 2014, because we had a lovely summer with some beautiful weather and were up 10% on the summer of 2013. Luckily, we had a good winter last year as well, people seem to have more money in their pockets and were spending more.   

Are you still stocking your £4 caviar?

Yes, the caviar is still going strong! It’s most popular in the summer, but people were stocking up for Christmas and even Easter. 

What’s the plan for 2015?

People know our products and what to come in for so we aren’t planning on too many changes, but this year we’re planning just a bit of a reshuffle to showcase more of the products already in store. The aim for this year is to source more local goods, because the tourists seem to like it – Welsh cheeses, vegetables and meat.

Do you still pay a lot of attention to your promotions?

We still try and have as many wines on promotion as possible, so we can say we’re as cheap as Tesco. But our pound zone is still incredibly strong, it’s full of confectionery and snacks that we change each week. We’re trying to appeal to tourists and locals alike. Everyone loves a bargain. 

Last year Phil also received a visit from the Independent Achievers Academy, to receive some guidance on retail innovation. Here’s how it went.