Gerard Artindale

Unfortunately with the change of Government the Levelling Up Grant has been put on hold, but the results of the survey are still useful and interesting.

We had 159 responses sufficient to give some reasonably accurate data. We will be a bit light on responses from irregular and occasional shopper as the survey was only open for 3 weeks so the findings were adjusted to take this into account, giving these results:

1. How often do you use the Store or Post Office?
Almost everyday	19%
2 or more times a week	28%
Approximately once a week	26%
Once or twice a month	9%
Occasionally	14%
Rarely/Just when passing/working locally	5%

2. If the Store and Post Office, did not exist what would you most likely to have done instead?
Travelled to Rattlesden, Cockfield or Sicklesmere	20%
Travelled to Woolpit or Thurston	28%
Travelled to Bury St Edmunds or Stowmarket	38%
Bought online	3%
Asked for help to make that purchase or transaction	2%
Been unable to make that transaction or purchase	9%

3. How did you travel to the Store?
Walked or cycled	41%
Used a car or other vehicle for less than a mile	19%
Used a car or other vehicle for between 1 and 5 miles	27%
Drove more than 5 miles	8%
Was passing by	5%

We can see from question 1 that the shop has a very loyal core base of customers. Nearly half the customers use the shop at least twice a week, and almost three quarters shop every week. This equates to around half of all transactions being made by customers who shop on most days, and a further 30% by those who shop at least twice a week.

The 9% or 15 people in question 2 unable to make the transaction are likely to be those without cars, mainly elderly and children. This equates to around 1,700 transactions a year, and approximately £12,000 of sales.

The 20% of people who would have travelled to Rattlesden, Cockfield or Sicklesmere is likely to include a high proportion of people needing Post Office services, whilst those travelling further are likely to have shopped for food and other items stocked by the shop, but not by the nearer shops which are smaller than ours.

The answer to question 3 showed a surprisingly high 8% who drove more than 5 miles to shop, giving a wider catchment area than may have previously been envisaged.

With 41% of customers walking to the store, and 19% driving less than a mile, then the alternative destinations given in question 2 means that the shop and post office saves customers driving nearly a quarter of a million miles in total per year.