Store manager turns Exeter shop owner and creates jobs!

After ten years of managing convenience stores for other people, well-known local retailer Ross Newham has taken the plunge and opened his own Costcutter store creating nine new jobs.

Ross purchased two former pop-up shops in South Street from Exeter City Council in October last year as part of a programme of regeneration of the city centre. The units had been vacant for the previous eighteen months. Ross has knocked them into one larger store, as part of a major redevelopment programme to create an excellent store for his customers.

Says Ross, “After ten years of managing convenience stores for other people, I felt I had the experience to run my own and made the leap into self-employment. The Council offered me preferential rates to take the units on because they had been an empty eye-sore for so long.

“I’ve worked with a Costcutter-branded store for the last five years and it was an obvious choice as symbol group for me as it has a compelling offer in terms of an extensive range and keen prices for the customer.”

Based just off the main shopping high street in Exeter, Ross says he has enjoyed a first month of steady trade and already has a supportive base of regular shoppers, along with much passing trade.  

“Our new store offers many of customer's everyday needs, on their doorstep. We sell a wide range of grocery items from fresh produce and bakery to our Independent own brand offers good value without compromise on quality.  We also offer PayPoint facilities, have a free-to-use ATM and are Lotto-approved.

“Shoppers continue to choose smaller, local shops over the large supermarkets and we continue to benefit from this trend through our great personal service and competitive pricing. The majority of my nine staff have worked with me previously over the years for different companies and have re-joined to support my new venture,” says Ross.

The new South Street store is part of the Costcutter Supermarkets Group which has more than 2,500 convenience stores throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland.