Earlier this year the one millionth customer was served at Rusper Village Stores since it became a community owned shop just ten years ago.
Here at The Resident, we’re not quite sure how they’ve counted this, as when we popped in recently nobody was seen to be making a numerical note of our attendance.
Perhaps there’s a little old lady counting from a hidden office.
Nonetheless, we don’t doubt the figure, as the astonishing popularity of this quintessential village shop has delighted both locals and visitors alike.
It was in early 1999 that the good folk of Rusper banded together to form Rusper Village Stores Association Ltd and provide a genuine alternative to shopping at huge supermarkets and warehouses.
Today there are almost 350 “shareholders” who live locally and many more customers who come from further afield. It is a two way relationship in that the customers sustain the store whilst at the same time the store helps to sustain and define this popular Sussex village.
Daren King, the manager, and his enthusiastic staff certainly deserve much credit for their friendly approach but it is the sheer variety of goods that also catches the eye – over 2000 lines in fact.
Reliable food products for everyday use will always be the backbone of the store but within that local produce, freshly baked rolls and “foody presents” are proving particularly popular at the moment.
“Perhaps people feel they deserve a box of chocolates while weathering this recession!” suggests Daren.
Within the shop there is also a Post Office which is valued by the local community. These days it offers a wide variety of services for local people and as sub-postmaster Vernon Yerrell observes with a smile “almost always without the queue”.
Arthur Dickson has been Chairman of the village store since 1999 and has seen it go from strength to strength since its tentative beginnings.
He is particularly excited about the forthcoming 10th Anniversary which the shop will celebrate on May 4th to coincide with the famous Rusper May Day Fair.
“It’s a magical day for all the family with stalls, roasts, a steam engine and ice creams – we will even have a special 10th Anniversary wine available on the day”.
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