Thorncombe Community Shop and Cafe

Thorncombe Community Shop is now open!
The project was established in 2008 to enable the Parish Council to buy and refurbish the existing Village shop and Post Office, and then run it, through an Industrial & Provident Society (IPS) on behalf of the village community.
The shop is run by a Management Committee (all volunteers), a salaried manager, an assistant and 20 to 30 volunteers from the village working short shifts.
Because it is a shop, owned and run by the community, we see the need for supporting that community, not by just giving people in the village the opportunity to shop locally, but supporting the land-based businesses and farms , in terms of stocking the shop with their local produce. We  have direct contact with suppliers, supporting their enterprises, creating loyalty between shopper and supplier and possibly enabling them to expand the number of products they supply to the shop.
The shop opened on Saturday 17th October 2009 by Claire Robertson, the manager of Wellworths in Dorchester supported by the youngest member of the village, Tabitha Welch, and one of the oldest residents, Mrs. June Ball.    It is being very well supported and is thriving, the actual turnover figures above the target figures in the business plan.
Click here to view a virtual tour of Thorncombe Community Shop - Virtual Tour. Please note that you will need flash player loaded on to your PC in order see the tour.