Local Dorset retailer widens scope with support from Transformational Business Support
David Leach in front of his store ‘Morgans of Charmouth’ which is in the heart of Charmouth
David Leach runs Morgans of Charmouth which he describes as “a general retail store for all in Charmouth.” To help expand and diversify his business he received support from the WSX Transformational Business Support team partnered with Dorset LEP.
At the heart of a Dorset Community
David’s store sells everything from sweets to hardware, whilst also catering for holidaymakers in the summer with beach accessories and souvenirs. It provides year-round essentials for the locals, and the tourist market along the Jurassic coast is an excellent revenue booster for the store in the Summer. As David explains:
“We provide an essential service for locals who cannot get around. The shop is seen as a community hub for the village and the only place locally for last minute essentials.”
At the heart of the community, David is proud that the business has a clear positive impact across the local community by providing part-time work for the older generation:
“The area has an older population, but this has allowed the business to hire older people part time which puts money back into the local economy and has helped bring back in to work early retirees.”
David’s store doubles up as an essential hardware store for the local community
Support from Transformational Business Support
David turned to the Transformational Business Support team and the free support available from the Dorset LEP programme to increase his sales in two ways. He wanted to enable online sales with local delivery plus online sales for local ‘Jurassic Coast’ products nationwide. His plans are to source a new EPOS system which will work with a new website to enable him to do this.
David used his 1-2-1 with the Transformational Business Support Business Advisor to reinforce and challenge his plans for the new epos system, brainstorm new ideas to grow the business and discuss marketing ideas on a budget. He felt that it was:
“Fantastic opportunity to brainstorm and create strategies to improve and grow the business.”
He also accessed the online video content and found it:
“Concise and straightforward to follow.”
He believes that Dorset needs this type of business support service to bolster the local economy:
“Ongoing support is vital, small businesses need somewhere to go for help locally.”
Praise for Transformational Business Support
David gained many benefits from the advice given which included: advice on marketing, a business strategy review, availability of finance and reassurance that he was on the right track with someone externally looking at the business. David said:
“It is great to have somewhere to go for advice and reassurance, the support is an essential service for businesspeople locally, I would thoroughly recommend it.”
David’s Top Tip for Entrepreneurs
David has lots of top tips for future entrepreneurs and those wanting to grow their businesses including:
- Robustly check your market
- Have a detailed business and action plan.
- Focus on cash flow predictions.
- Investigate support services available.
- Get advice from all business support.
To find Morgans of Charmouth, see their page on Facebook.
Find out more about Transformational Business Support
