Business Action | Spring 2024
Spring 2024 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes finalists in the North Devon Business Awards 2024, how to book tickets for the North Devon Business Awards Celebration Event, a focus on Torrington business and articles on manufacturers, local business directory listings plus more.
Spring 2024 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes finalists in the North Devon Business Awards 2024, how to book tickets for the North Devon Business Awards Celebration Event, a focus on Torrington business and articles on manufacturers, local business directory listings plus more.
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BIDEFORD HEADER<br />
A friendly welcome to put a smile on your face<br />
Many businesses’ planswere<br />
impactedbythepandemic,but<br />
thosejuststartingfacedsome<br />
ofthetoughestchallenges.<br />
AndreaandPaulHumphries<br />
openedCaféCollectivein<br />
GrenvilleStreet,Bideford–on<br />
thecornerwiththeHighStreet<br />
–justfivedaysbeforethefirst<br />
lockdown.Withoutanychance<br />
tobuildcustomerrelationships<br />
orassesstheirbusinessin<br />
action,theyhadtoadapttoa<br />
newworldpresentingvastly<br />
differentchallenges.<br />
Fouryearson,thecaféhas<br />
attractedaloyalclienteleand<br />
establisheditselfasasafeand<br />
welcomingplace.Andrea<br />
attributesthistowelcoming<br />
everycustomerindividually:<br />
“Wedon’tlikefrowns–Idomy<br />
utmosttoputasmileon<br />
people’sfaces.”<br />
Customersalsoreceivea<br />
friendlyhellofromNikita,the<br />
cafe’sfour-footedgreeter,on<br />
handwheneversomeonewalks<br />
throughthedoor.<br />
“Weareverydogfriendly<br />
andhavekepttablesspaced<br />
apartdeliberately,”Andreaadds.<br />
With so much wasteinretail<br />
withlargestoresandonline<br />
retailerssellinggoodsin<br />
greaterquantitiesthanthe<br />
shopperwants,it’srefreshing<br />
tobeabletobuyasinglepen<br />
orsheetofcard.<br />
That’sthejoyofshoppingin<br />
Garlands,Bideford’straditional<br />
stationeryandcraftshopin<br />
AllhallandStreet.<br />
Establishedin1963by<br />
ArthurGarland,thebusiness<br />
wasboughtbyBridgetWyton<br />
andLisaSladein1995andhas<br />
beenownedsolelybyBridget<br />
forthepastfiveyears.<br />
Wide stationery selection<br />
Browsingaroundtheshop<br />
revealsawideselectionof<br />
stationeryandofficesupplies<br />
forbothbusinessandpersonal<br />
use.Thisincludesringbinders,<br />
leverarchfiles,dividers,<br />
documentwallets,(plainand<br />
patterned,plasticand<br />
cardboard),fivedifferent<br />
weightsincopierpaperupto<br />
160g,cardrangingfromsize<br />
A4toA1,envelopesofall<br />
sizes,alargechoiceofpens,<br />
inkcartridges,adhesivetapes<br />
Café Collective’s Paul and Andrea Humphries with Nikita the greeter<br />
Havingbeenofficially<br />
greetedbyNikita,Andreatalks<br />
tocustomerstodiscoverwhat<br />
theylike.Sheisalsovery<br />
patientandtakestimetofind<br />
outhowtheyare.<br />
Thisatmospherehelps<br />
peoplefeelathomeandreflects<br />
thecouple’saimforacafé<br />
wherepeoplefeelcomfortable<br />
tocomeinontheirown.<br />
Aswellasaheartywelcome,<br />
CaféCollectiveprovideshighquality,freshlyprepared<br />
seasonalfood.Paulpreviously<br />
establishedhisreputationasa<br />
chefatWhiddonsBistroin<br />
ChagfordandtheGeorgeat<br />
Uffculme.AschefatCafé<br />
Collective,Paulprepares<br />
breakfasts,burgers,sandwiches,<br />
pittapockets,saladsand<br />
Another delight of publishing <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong> is discovering so many<br />
people who choose the hard route in business – doing what they<br />
know is right and helping customers and the community. We aim to<br />
include as many of these as possible in the magazine – be patient as<br />
there are many of you, but your turn will come. In this issue, we<br />
feature a welcoming café and an independent stationery store – a<br />
treasure for any writer or creative<br />
Bridget Wyton in Garlands, Bideford’s independent stationery and craft store<br />
Traditional stationery<br />
and craft store<br />
andgluesandmanymore<br />
stationerylines.<br />
Thereisalsoanextensive<br />
selectionofgreetingscards,<br />
includingblanks,birthdayand<br />
sympathycards.Therearealso<br />
materialsforthosewhomake<br />
theirowngreetingscards.<br />
Gifts, art and puzzles<br />
Aswellasbusinessstationery,<br />
GarlandsstocksBasildon<br />
Bond,notelets,addressbooks,<br />
Sheafferballpens,rollerballs<br />
andfountainpens.<br />
Artsuppliesincludeposter<br />
paintsandacrylicsand<br />
homemadesconesandcakes,as<br />
wellascreatinghisown<br />
originalrecipes.<br />
Paul’smeltingpots–from<br />
hunter’schickenwithahintof<br />
chilliinacheddarsauceto<br />
mushroom,squashandstilton<br />
cheeseandpulledporkin<br />
creamyredLeicester–arevery<br />
popularwithcustomers.<br />
AndreaandPaularevery<br />
keennotonlytosourcequality<br />
ingredientsandproducts,but<br />
alsotosupportlocalsuppliers.<br />
TheyserveOwensorganic<br />
roastedDevoncoffeeanduse<br />
17Devonsuppliersincluding<br />
meatfromMCKelly,vegetables<br />
fromHeddonsofBidefordand<br />
drinksfromLuscombes.<br />
Tasteandqualityareof<br />
utmostimportancetoPauland<br />
Andrea,andtheywon’tserve<br />
anythingthattheywouldn’teat<br />
themselves.<br />
Aftersuchatoughstart,<br />
Andreasaysrunningthecaféis<br />
rewarding,especiallywhen<br />
customers’Christmascards<br />
thankthemfortheirfriendship.<br />
■ Details01237238297or<br />
FB@collectivecafe<br />
photocopyingandlaminating<br />
servicesarealsoavailable.<br />
Thereisalsoagoodrange<br />
ofjigsawpuzzlesfromThe<br />
HouseofPuzzles.<br />
Ask and order<br />
Aswithmanyindependent<br />
retailers,Bridgetencourages<br />
customerstoaskforanything<br />
theycan’tfindintheshopand<br />
willorderanyitemsforthem<br />
wheretheyareavailable.<br />
Manyregularcustomers<br />
havevisitedtheshopforyears,<br />
sometravellingtoBideford<br />
fromBarnstapleandBudeand<br />
furtherafield.<br />
“Ilikemeetingthe<br />
customersandenjoycoming<br />
toworkeveryday,”says<br />
Bridget.“Ihavesomelovely<br />
customersandIgetcardsand<br />
presentsfromthem.”<br />
Manypeoplestillenjoythe<br />
experienceofbrowsinginthe<br />
independentstoreandlook<br />
outforthecreativeshop<br />
windowdisplaysthatBridget<br />
creates.Theyoftenask:“What<br />
wouldwedowithoutyou?”<br />
■ Details01237473736or<br />
FB@garlandsbideford<br />
10 business action | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | business-action.co.uk
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