C-stores could take lead role within local communities as volunteer spirit wanes

Nisa retailer Harj Dhasee, who runs stores in Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, told today’s ACS Heart of the Community conference: “When the pandemic first happened, everyone wanted to help.

“We had people coming in and saying ‘I’ll come and stack the shelves’ or asking ‘what do you need from us?’ We had so much love from the community.”

But he added: “That help has now dispersed. As retailers, it’s our job to step into those areas. It’s our chance to step into that void.”

Dhasee said the time was right for retailers to become leaders in their local area.

“Understand what your local area needs and don’t wait for someone else to do it,” he urged. “Invest in the right people and believe in what you’re doing.”

James Lowman, chief executive at the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), agreed.

“This is an opportunity for local leadership,” he said. “You are in those communities, you have already done an amazing job, but there’s an opportunity to lead.

“Don’t wait for others, take it on yourself and show that leadership.”

Will Tanner, director of the Onward think-tank and a former Number 10 policy advisor, told the conference: “Especially at the beginning of the crisis there was a big outpouring of community spirit and neighbourliness.

“But as the crisis has gone on, that community spirit can start to fray and people are now starting to become a bit more worried about the longer-term effects of the pandemic.”

Michaela Rhode, associate Director at BritainThinks, said members of the public were saying how much they value their local businesses but at the same time were aware their increasing use of online shopping was threating the existence of those very businesses.

Helen Walker, chief executive of charity Carers UK, said local c-stores had been a lifeline for unpaid carers looking after relatives during the pandemic, when many were unable to get out of the house or access slots for online grocery shopping.

Now that had eased, she said, it was still important for them to have a local shop they could pop into for essentials and to be greeted by a friendly face.

Tanner said moments such as this could be “transformative on society” adding that local shops had “an amazing role to play”.

“It’s about local communities taking back control. Just go out and do it; don’t wait for things to happen. Convenience stores are at the heart of that.”