The Extra Mile....

As Autumn takes hold and rumours start about snow this winter, a shiver runs down my spine as I think of the freezing cold temperatures we faced last year.  It was our first Christmas and a big test to us (and other retailers) as the online companies stopped sending out parcels to customers in Scotland, and obviously our stock struggled to arrive! 

We did the best we could under the circumstances, shoveling snow from the front of the shop to allow people access, spreading what little grit we had around to make sure that people wouldn't slip and generally trying to remain cheery about it all.  One of the main things that really impressed me was how all the little local independent shops got together to make sure that our customers could still get the things they needed.  Whether bread, milk, veggies, meat or indeed toys & wine!  We all pulled together to deliver what we could in whatever 4x4 vehicles were available (the gadgetman still remembers delivering a very heavy load of bird-seed to one elderly resident). 

This is the difference between us, and some of the larger organisations out there.  By the very nature of the fact that we are smaller, we are face-to-face with all of our customers and often go the extra mile to help them out.  

This year we are planning ahead for "the extra mile", including getting our Christmas stock into the shop earlier, offering additional products such as gift-wrap and trying to take the hassle out of Seasonal Shopping with our new online order & free collect at store service.  Of course we are also working really hard to know what will be at the top of every child's wish-list for Santa this year (we'll be writing our guide soon), and making sure that we know all of the toys we sell inside out to give you the best advice we can when you are choosing those all important gifts!

Of course, in case there is another flurry of snow, we've also stocked up on our own grit and snow shovels...so no matter what we'll be here for you and carry on going that extra mile!