Gill’s two stores, located on Lincoln Road and Hawton Road in Newark, Nottinghamshire, have undergone a significant transformation since switching to One Stop. Prior to this change, Manjit, the store owner, faced long work hours and struggled to generate satisfactory profits and salaries due to his business’s reliance on a wholesale model.
Although his family has been involved in the retail industry for over 40 years, Manjit only entered the trade after being made redundant from a tyre company. Reflecting on his initial struggles, Manjit expressed, “As my family were in retail, I thought I might as well have a go. But it was hard, and sales were not growing and, in fact, going down.”
Feeling frustrated and unsure of how to improve his stores’ performance, Manjit took inspiration from his brother, who had already switched his store to One Stop. Witnessing the positive changes experienced by his brother motivated Manjit to follow suit: “Almost immediately my brother saw a positive change, and I realized how much easier life could be in retail!”
Encouraged by the potential benefits, Manjit decided to convert both of his stores to One Stop, and the results were remarkable. Sales not only increased but continued to grow steadily. Moreover, Manjit received continuous support from One Stop, which wasn’t the case with his previous wholesale supplier, as he explained, “I’d get support continuously, whereas nobody would come out to me before.”
John Miller, One Stop’s head of franchise, emphasized the positive feedback they receive: “We love hearing comments about how positive and easy people find switching to One Stop is.” He attributed this success to the company’s focus on consistency and efficient systems and processes that resonate with franchisees and customers alike. The result is an exceptional shopping experience for customers and significant profit growth for franchisees.
Miller acknowledged the commonplace reluctance to embrace change, but highlighted that transitioning to One Stop can be painless and full of opportunities, with support available at every stage. He emphasized that any challenges can be swiftly rectified, rendering the switch seamless. Manjit’s story serves as a testament to this, as he no longer has to worry about wholesale relationships and can fully focus on his stores and customers, knowing that everything else is taken care of by One Stop.
Gill, noting the customers’ reaction to the switch, expressed, “When we converted the stores to One Stop and had the refits completed, our customers were flabbergasted when they saw what had been done.” The store’s tidier appearance, improved layout, better pricing, and association with the trusted Tesco brand have attracted both existing and new customers, as Gill observed, “Customers know we’re part of Tesco, and new customers are more inclined to shop with us as they trust the brand.”
Beyond the favorable aesthetic changes, One Stop has enabled Gill’s stores to expand their product offering. Previously, they were unable to stock chilled or frozen items due to prohibitive costs and customer distrust. However, since the switch, the stores are now selling a wider range of categories, and customers are choosing to do their entire shopping with them.
Danny Insley, Gill’s business development manager, noted Manjit’s welcoming attitude towards the support provided. Despite coming from a wholesale background rather than retail, Manjit fully trusts and believes in the One Stop model. By investing in team training, One Stop has empowered Manjit’s staff to handle various tasks more efficiently, freeing up his time and allowing him to enjoy a better work-life balance.
Despite facing competition and operating a smaller second store, Manjit has witnessed a dramatic increase in sales. One Stop’s guidance and simplified systems have made it easier for Manjit to achieve his goals of a steady business, consistent profits, and more time with his family. Insley concluded, “Manjit wanted a better lifestyle and increased profits, and we’ve supported him to do this quickly and easily.”
