The Business Today

The residents of North Nibley have enjoyed the benefits of a village shop for over 100 years but with the increase of supermarkets and home-delivery services the business had slowly declined.

In 2001 the owners decided they could no longer run the shop as a viable business and it was put up for sale.Nobody wanted to buy the business and it seemed to the villagers that they were about to lose their shop and Post Office forever.

But people in this village are renowned for their fighting spirit and an open meeting was held to discuss the prospect of the residents of North Nibley purchasing and running the shop.Over 70 people attended the meeting, including the local MP and the project won unanimous support. 

Financing the Project

A bank loan of £60 000 was agreed and a grant of £25 000 awarded by the Countryside Agency.Almost £35 000 was pledged in interest-free loans by villagers.

The Company

A company was formed and registered as a charity with the Industrial Provident Society.Ownership is vested in residents of the village who were each invited to buy a single £25 share.The shareholders elect an Executive Committee each year to oversee the through-life management of the business.

^{The purchase of the shop on behalf of the village was completed on 6}th September 2002.

Each year since then the Shop has managed to return a profit, although this would not have been possible without the input from a small army of unpaid volunteers. Indeed the Shop is proud to claim to be run ‘for the Village by the Village ’.

In the spring of 2008 when all Post Offices in Gloucestershire were under threat of closure, we are proud to say that our Post Office has remained open! It is the number of transactions that take place which is important, so that by using not only the postal services, but other facilities such as banking and purchasing your foreign currency, we will continue to be totally committed to the continuation of our valued Village amenity.

In this time of economic uncertainty and rising costs we will continue to supply all villagers as best we can, and therefore welcome your continued support.