Aside from Sherpa Sam’s sheepskins stall on the slopes of K2, it has to be the ultimate outlet for anyone whose love of serving customers is matched only by a passion for the great outdoors.
Spittal of Glenshee is located in the Cairngorms, a tiny dot on the map on the long and winding road that leads from Perth to Braemar.
This beautiful spot in the heart of the Highlands is not the sort of place where you can make a living by selling knick-knacks and newspapers to passing trade, so it should come as no surprise to discover that the marvelous shop currently for sale at Gulabin Lodge also comes complete with a ski hire business and a range of accommodation options that, at the height of the ski season in nearby Glenshee, can sleep as many as 51 guests.
The truth is rural retail can come with particular challenges to relish – and, if you are going to run a shop in any of Scotland’s more remote locations, you certainly have to think outside the box.
Rolls, eggs and potato scones will attract some customers, but you may have to develop an attractive sideline in souvenirs or even as an eatery or B&B, if you are going to make a real go of country life.
As we all know, the Store Manager worth their salt will always be planning ahead and, if local help is at hand, continually brainstorming ideas with their Deputy or their Store Assistant.
It is also true that in a small community, your role at the centre of the social hub can be just as vital as the goods on your shelves.
You don’t have to smile 24/7 or know everything – that Mary’s lumbago is almost on the wane and Agnes’s backpacking nephew Jimmy has reached Brisbane – but the ability to be genial, informative and communicate effectively is a must.
Moreover, if your customers can’t come to you, because of poor health or poorer weather, you may have to take to the road yourself.
Past experience as a Van Driver, or even an HGV Driver, will help you join the fleet of mobile shops that continue to serve rural communities right across Scotland.
Long before the big supermarkets had invested in fleets of refrigerated vans, shops in villages in the Highlands were dropping off orders to outlying customers, often at no extra charge.
And we shouldn’t forget that shopkeepers in villages make a living by offering what their customers really need – so that could mean stocking waterproofs and wellies in the bistro bread aisle or spades alongside the speciality wines.
Visit some of Scotland’s beauty spots during a spell of good weather and you could be convinced that running a rural Post Office could be your own retail heaven.
If you do step behind the counter in an out-of-the-way location, remember to be prepared to embrace reality when it kicks in.
That scenic summer view may not be quite so idyllic in winter and how do you cope as an island shop when storms prevent new stock from reaching you from the mainland?
You won’t endear yourself to your customers if you run out of essentials during storms and squalls, so, experience as a diligent Stock Controller or Buyer who can foresee every situation will come in handy.
And, don’t forget, a senior role as Regional or Branch Manager could also see you covering many different retail outlets in rural in locations all over the country.
The bottom line is that working in retail in a rural location isn’t just a job, it really is a way of life – if you have a sense of adventure, community spirit and the dedication and work ethos to make your business thrive, it could be time to go wild in the country.
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