Dharmendra Patel and his wife Snehal are getting used to the new layout at Acre Street Off Licence and Convenience Store in Huddersfield, which has undergone a complete refit since a ram-raid which destroyed the shop front.
After the raid sales plummeted, and it was obvious the store needed a major overhaul.
Dharmendra says: “At first I was tempted to do it myself, but looking into it I realised it was too big a job to do on my own and I didn’t know where to start. I also looked at joining a symbol group but at the end of the day Maureen Sykes, Parfetts’ retail development advisor at its Halifax depot, and her team offered us the best deal that suited us and our arrangement.”
They decided to re-fit the store under Parfetts Lifestyle Neighbourhood brand, starting in January, and the work took just under six months to complete. The brick frontage has been replaced with glass to allow more natural light into the 1,000 sq ft premises and it has
also been fitted with shutters and CCTV cameras for added security. Internally, the refurb has allowed the Patels to expand their offering by introducing new categories. There is now a fresh fruit and vegetable section, a chilled food area and a bakery counter, while a new beer chiller has increased alcohol sales by 20%.
Dharmendra says: “The refit has made a complete difference to our shop and the way we do business. Customers love the new look and cannot believe the transformation. They’ve supported us through all the tough times and this is my contribution to the community, by providing somewhere that offers all the products they need at reasonable prices.”
After the raid sales plummeted, and it was obvious the store needed a major overhaul.
Dharmendra says: “At first I was tempted to do it myself, but looking into it I realised it was too big a job to do on my own and I didn’t know where to start. I also looked at joining a symbol group but at the end of the day Maureen Sykes, Parfetts’ retail development advisor at its Halifax depot, and her team offered us the best deal that suited us and our arrangement.”
They decided to re-fit the store under Parfetts Lifestyle Neighbourhood brand, starting in January, and the work took just under six months to complete. The brick frontage has been replaced with glass to allow more natural light into the 1,000 sq ft premises and it has
also been fitted with shutters and CCTV cameras for added security. Internally, the refurb has allowed the Patels to expand their offering by introducing new categories. There is now a fresh fruit and vegetable section, a chilled food area and a bakery counter, while a new beer chiller has increased alcohol sales by 20%.
Dharmendra says: “The refit has made a complete difference to our shop and the way we do business. Customers love the new look and cannot believe the transformation. They’ve supported us through all the tough times and this is my contribution to the community, by providing somewhere that offers all the products they need at reasonable prices.”
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