Business Action | Winter 2023
Winter 2023 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes the coverage of BBxpo Bideford business exhibition on 26 October 2023, the upcoming launch of the North Devon Business Awards 2024 and articles on businesses in Ilfracombe, local business directory listings plus more.
Winter 2023 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes the coverage of BBxpo Bideford business exhibition on 26 October 2023, the upcoming launch of the North Devon Business Awards 2024 and articles on businesses in Ilfracombe, local business directory listings plus more.
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Retail and hospitalitysectors<br />
arebothexperiencingsomeof<br />
thetoughestbusinesschallenges,<br />
butthearea’sbusinessowners<br />
arenoteasilydefeated.<br />
JoshyJonnyopenedhisfirst<br />
PremierExpressconvenience<br />
storeinIlfracombeHighStreet<br />
inFebruary2014andrecently<br />
openedhisthirdstoreinthe<br />
townandco-ownsathriving<br />
restaurantinBarnstaple.<br />
Whatisoutstandingisthat<br />
JoshymovedtoIlfracombe<br />
fromKochininIndiain2008<br />
“toworkhardforabetterlife”<br />
andhadneverrunabusiness<br />
beforeheopenedhisfirstshop.<br />
Joshyexplainsthat,while<br />
workingbeforehestartedhis<br />
business,hestudiedthetown<br />
andwherepeoplecamefrom<br />
andwenttointhehighstreet.<br />
IdentifyingtheoldJobcentre<br />
buildingashavingtheideal<br />
location,noretailerswould<br />
backhimbecauseofhislackof<br />
retailexperience,untilBooker<br />
agreed.Spendingallhissavings<br />
ongettingthestorereadyfor<br />
opening,hehadnomoneyfor<br />
stockandwasgratefulfora<br />
stockloanfromBooker.His<br />
investmentpaidoffandinits<br />
secondyeartheshopgenerated<br />
almost£1millionturnover.<br />
ILFRACOMBE<br />
Succeeding in retail in<br />
tough trading conditions<br />
Cutting the ribbon: (from left): owner of Rainbow Corner Shop Joshy Johny<br />
and Mayor Ilfracombe Dan Turton<br />
“Theshopisalwaysfully<br />
stockedandpricesaremarked,”<br />
saysJoshy.“MystafforIwill<br />
carryoldercustomers’shopping<br />
hometotheCandarifthey<br />
needhelp.”<br />
Joshyiskeentoemploylocal<br />
peopleandtriestolookafter<br />
hisstaffasmuchaspossible.<br />
Thisincludesbeingflexibleso<br />
thatworkfitsroundfamily<br />
responsibilities.Thisapproach<br />
helpsretainstaff,someof<br />
whomhaveworkedinthestore<br />
forsixorsevenyears.Joshy<br />
alsouseslocaltradespeoplefor<br />
shopfittingandmaintenance.<br />
Joshyagreesthattimesare<br />
tough,butbelievesthereare<br />
stillopportunitiesandthat<br />
retailersespeciallycandomuch<br />
toattractandselltocustomers.<br />
Withshopsclosingintowns,<br />
shopkeepersmustaskwhat<br />
theycansellthatpeopleneed.<br />
Byspottingopportunities,<br />
Joshyhasbeenabletoopena<br />
secondPremierExpress<br />
conveniencestoreonthe<br />
seafrontpromenadeandthis<br />
latestthirdstoreonthecorner<br />
ofIlfracombeHighStreetand<br />
NorthfieldRoad.Togetherthe<br />
threestoresemploy25people.<br />
Asifrunningthreeshops<br />
werenotenough,Joshyalso<br />
openedSaltandPepper,an<br />
authenticIndianrestaurantin<br />
Barnstaple,withtwofriends.<br />
Joshyadmitsthatstartingin<br />
thehospitalitysectorwithout<br />
previousknowledgewasa<br />
challengebutsaysthe<br />
restaurantisnowdoingwell.<br />
Foranyonethinkingof<br />
startingabusiness,Joshy’s<br />
successdemonstratewhatitis<br />
possibletoachieve.<br />
■ VisitPremierExpressstores<br />
inIlfracombeHighStreetand<br />
ontheseafront.<br />
■ SaltandPepperdetails<br />
01271329993or<br />
saltandpepper-biz.co.uk<br />
Free Christmas<br />
gift guide<br />
Ilfracombe<strong>Business</strong>&<br />
TourismAssociationhas<br />
producedaChristmasGift<br />
Guideinassociationwitha<br />
numberofthetown’sretailers<br />
andhospitalitybusinesses,<br />
whichfeaturesaselectionof<br />
productsandservicesavailable<br />
inthetown.<br />
■ Theguideisavailableto<br />
downloadforfreefrom<br />
visitilfracombe.co.uk/downloads<br />
AaronLanestarteddecoratingthefamily<br />
homewithChristmaslightstoraisemoneyfor<br />
charityfromtheageof16.Well-knowninthe<br />
town,thisyearhislightdisplaywillberaising<br />
moneyforIlfracombe&DistrictLionsClub.<br />
■ FacebookAaronsCharitychristmaslightshow<br />
18 business action | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> | business-action.co.uk
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