SIOP HAVARDS
THE FIRST COMMUNITY OWNED HARDWARE SHOP IN BRITAIN
https://siophavards.cymru Read this newsletter in welsh
Shwmae bawb/hello everyone, Betty and Vic here.
As we’re just about to celebrate the first year of community ownership, we just wanted to thank you all for your tremendous support over the last year.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride bringing everything together, making sure to keep the best of what Havards does as well as experimenting with new lines for our visitors and residents alike.
We do hope that you’ve been delighted with what we’ve been able to achieve so far – and our plans for next year should
demonstrate how Havards will be developing and expanding both its retail and community spaces: combining being both an ironmonger and a community hub at the same time.
We look forward to seeing you over the Festive Season and wish everyone:
Nadolig Llawen A Flwyddyn Newydd Dda!
BUSINESS NEWS
1. Havards’ First 6 months of Trading (April to September ’23)
Our newly appointed Treasurer, Simon Reeves, has been analysing our trading data for the first 6 months from April to September this year: the good news is that overall our trading performance has been in line with that of previous years, as well as our initial forecast.
In common with other local businesses, visitor numbers were lower than in previous years. Nevertheless, based on unaudited information, over the six months to September 2023, our performance has been positive:
- Turnover: £116,000
- Gross Profit: £45,000
- Expenses: £42,000
- Other Income: £8,000
- Net profit: £11,000
The most significant cost to the business is staff who are essential to maintain the shop’s opening hours. The profit is currently in line with the performance of the business pre-acquisition by the community, and we are working on containing costs and increasing trading. The latter includes implementing some of the plans that the Community Ownership Fund grant (see below) will allow us set in motion.
2. Community Ownership Fund (COF)
After lengthy discussions with Levelling Up department Siop Havards has now received a grant of £207,000 – with £173,000 to be spent on capital projects and £34,000 on revenue needs e.g. salaries.
This will help Havards to undertake the internal reconfiguration of the ground, first and second floors to increase the sales floor area, introduce a new community space, an office and staff facilities as well extra storage upstairs, together with revamped accommodation on the top floor.
STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWS
At the end of our first calendar year of trading we’d like to say a huge thank you to our ‘staff stalwarts’ Clare and Sue: you are the backbone of our front of house! And, of course, we are very grateful indeed to our management team of Betty (manager) and Vic (assistant manager) who put in so much effort to keep the shop running!PLUS we must pay tribute to our Volunteers who regularly give up their time to make their contribution to help run Siop Havards AND we mustn’t forget our Youth Volunteers who happily spent time with us over the Summer holidays and occasionally at the weekend too:
Thank you, everyone
SIOP HAVARDS ADMIN
Share Certificate
A design has been commissioned and we have just finished printing and signing all our Investor's certificates.
Distribution is as follows:
- All members/shareholders have just been sent a digital share certificate by e-mail, provided they have an email address.
- All members/shareholders with a local address now have their printed share certificate available for collection at Havards. Collecting these will save us some postage - thanks!
- However if you would like this posted to you, please simply call the shop and ask one of the team to post this out.
- Any households with multiple investors will have one envelope containing all share certificates.
- All members/shareholders with a non-local address will have their certificates posted out to them
- If there’s any other requirement please let us know by sending an email to our shares administrator at admin@siophavards.cymru or call the shop (01239-820-300).
PRODUCT NEWS
Check out the Christmas trees that Betty has sourced: from £30 for a smaller potted tree to £40+ for a ‘dropless’ Nordman. Available on a first come first served basis!
In our last Newsletter we gave you a taster of some of the products that would be good ideas for your Christmas stockings or around the tree: ‘GLO’ gas lighters for candles and fires and the amazingly neat REISSER Saw and Screwdriver kit.
Here are some more ideas for you:
Masterclass Cookware
Just arrived and perfect for Christmas dinners!
You no longer have to go on a weightlifting course at the gym to manage all those Le Creuset pots and casseroles because Masterclass cookware is lightweight and heat efficient.
Available in different pastel shades, prices start from £39.95 each.
Reflective Walking Stick Holders and LED lights
Perfect stocking fillers!
The reflective walking stick holders are foldable and cost £9.50.
The LED lights cost just £12.95
Both are available now – come and shop!
Dog Walkers’ Ahoy!
Walking the dog at the end of the day (or early morning for that matter) at this time of year can be made that much easier by using one of these poo-bag dispenser and LED flashlight combos.
This essential piece of winter-time dog-walking kit is available now for just £9.99
Repairing Sewing Machines + Knife Sharpening + IT Repairs + Shoe Repairs
Knife sharpening, IT repairs, shoe mending, repairing sewing machines – a cornucopia of services that John Harries can help you with, all using local experts in Cardigan and Fishguard.
If you require any of these services, please call
John Harries on 07804 487642
to discuss and make arrangements. Please note we can’t yet offer to re-sharpen saws.
Remember everything is charged at cost – we add nothing to the price quoted.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
MACMILLAN Coffee Morning
On 29th September Siop Havards held our first fund raising coffee morning – on this occasion in support of Macmillan. We’re really pleased to tell you that we raised a wonderful £300.01 – every extra 1p helps!
Many thanks to everyone who took part and for your donations.
Helping our Local Playing Field
Siop Havards put together a hamper full of useful products, as part of a fund raising effort to support our local playing field. This was auctioned by Arwel Thomas of JJ Morris.
Helping the Trefdraeth Youth Club
Siop Havards is also co-ordinating a raffle for a Christmas Hamper full of goods from a number of different local retailers, including ourselves, Codi, Ffynnon, Angel House Newsagents, The Natural Health Centre, Pwnc, The Art Collective, Pharmacy and Wholefoods shop.
Brendan Blake, our IT guru on the Advisory Committee, has donated a hamper basket ( Fortnum & Mason) to contain everything, to make this all extra special.
Tickets are on sale in Havards and the Post Office as well as on Havards’ stall at the Christmas Market – the draw will be made on 18th December.
All funds raised will go towards helping the Trefdraeth Youth Club.
About this newsletter
The newsletter is no longer included in an email. You are asked to click a link to get to it, now published as a web page. You should find this now reads much better on a phone or any device with a small screen.
And Lastly…………
Diolch/Thank you for your continued interest and generosity; it is very much appreciated. We hope you have a fabulous Christmas and New Year!
The Siop Havards Team
Nadolig Llawen A Flwyddyn Newydd Dda!
PS: Members and new investors: You can still help by investing or becoming a member. Full details are on our Investment page.