Shropshire village store hailed as a model of success

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski believes the enterprise and initiative at Connections in Pontesbury should be copied across the county to stop villages losing their identities.

The project was originally run by Roy and Sue Pickin, who opened the store in the mid 1980s.

Then it was a department store with dedicated areas for traditional items.

But when the couple decided to retire last year, their daughter Louise, 41, and son-in-law Tom, 42, decided to take over.

• Star comment: Village is building a connection

The couple, who have two children Luke, four, and Olivia, seven, got the keys on Christmas Eve 2013 and have been making their mark every since.

The business has gone from strength to strength.

Now there is a pet shop, sewing room, a dress agency, cafe and home store stocking goods such as screws, saws, toilet roll and greetings cards.

Royal Mail decided to relocate the village's post office to the building last month.

Louise said: "Connections has been in the family for 28 years and for it to be held up as an example of how a village shop can bring the community together makes me feel really proud.

"It is amazing for Daniel Kawczynski to give us his backing.

"We listen to our customers and try and understand their needs. If anyone makes a suggestion to us, we do whatever we can to meet to meet their requests.

"The different elements of the shop work well, but we are keen to hear customer feedback."

Mr Kawczynski said: "It really is a little goldmine.

"And it is so successful, it is a model that all villages should look up to. It has one of the best community facilities which brings people together.

"It is a very clever concept to have a post office within a building with a tearoom, a dress agency and a DIY section.

"What really impresses me is that they have a lot of things that bring people through the door.

"This could be a model for other villages to use. I want each parish council from other villages to come and see what has been created in Pontesbury.

"If anyone has any concerns about sustainability in their own communities they should come here. It gives me a lot of hope for how villages in Shropshire can be maintained. We should not need to go all the way into town or to the supermarket to get our everyday items.

"But for many that is the only choice. We want to do everything possible to encourage less of a demand to go in to town but more of a demand for our local communities.

"Connections is great. It has got a real buzz. People are very pleased about having this type of facility in the heart of their village."

Among those who work at Connections is Jacquie Campion. Tucked away in a corner on the second floor, she runs a haberdashery and sewing room. Not only does she sell everything any budding seamstress could need, she also holds workshops, teaching basic sewing skills to patch working and appliqué.

"It is a wonderful place to work," said Jacquie. "I rent a space here and have been made to feel so welcome. It feels really creative and I organise workshops which many from the village have attended. I also run crochet classes and these have brought in the local crafters."

Anne Walton works in the downstairs DIY and pet section. She said: "The shop serves the whole of Pontesbury and Minsterley and it is fair to say that it is a real part of the community. We get hundreds of customers in a week and they can buy anything from a single screw to a pair of boots or a handmade mug. Now we have the post office here people come in to pick up a parcel or get some stamps and then they have a wander around and invariably buy something."

The coffee shop is run by Lynne Bristow. All cakes are made on the premises and Lynne and her team of waitresses ensure that no visitor to the tearoom goes hungry.

"We have soup, quiche and cakes of all sorts," said Lynne.

"It may not be quite what you expect but we love it. The customers and staff make it so special.

"We are very busy and it is a really big part of the community. I think the secret to it's success is that it is family-run and we are all local."