EXPANSION PLANS AT VILLAGE STORE

Fiskerton: Shopkeepers Steve and Rachel Rousseau are setting their sights on expansion just four months after taking a gamble on a village store.

The couple originally hoped to take on a pub but when the plan fell through, they surfed the Internet for other ideas and snapped up the Wishing Well Stores in Fiskerton instead.

Pygott & Crone Commercial, which had shown several potential buyers around the shop, is pleased the store is doing so well.

Mr Rousseau said that, since moving in, the couple had revamped and restocked the shop.

The couple, who have kept on assistant Susan Hobson, said they had increased trade by 70 per cent over the past 12 weeks.

“Village stores have been disappearing at a tremendous rate, but we thought that there was a viable business here with a lot of potential,” said Mr Rousseau.

The couple have recently introduced fresh fruit and vegetables to the shop, which is Fiskerton’s only one and sells everything from groceries to wines and spirits.

“We are also re-establishing newspaper deliveries, which will include the Echo,” said Mr Rousseau.

“We are hoping to double the size of our shop and develop a mini-garden centre in about 18 months’ time.”