Double the business sense at Coulsdon shop (From Croydon Guardian)

Double the business sense at Coulsdon shop

10:20am Saturday 8th August 2009

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Two Coulsdon businesses which dreamed of their own shops have come up with a novel alternative for the downturn – shop sharing.

Sunflower Cottage, in Brighton Road, combines the hand-made soap, bath products and scented wares of brother-and-sister team Ian and Sue Bartram with the childrenswear of friend Fiona McRae.

Opened eight weeks ago, trading has already been strong enough to break even and the team hopes it will go from strength to strength.

Mr Bartram, 44, explained the trio met while selling their wares on stalls at indoor markets.

He said: “The stall experience was a lot of hard work for very little return”.

Mrs McRae, 50, said: “We both wanted a shop but thought it was a dream too far because we couldn't afford it.”

But when the chance came up to take an abandoned café in Coulsdon, the idea of sharing arose and the team agreed, doing up the building with friends and family and opening in June.

Mr Bartram said the ability to display all their products in one place, rather than constantly arranging them on market stalls, made a real difference, especially because the building is unusual.

He said: “It looks just like a cottage. It has oak beams and all sorts. With the lovely smells around it makes it a pleasant place to be.”

The shop share has created unexpected benefits for both businesses.

Some customers have come in for soap and left with children’s clothes and vice versa.

Mrs McRae said: “It’s surprising, really, as they’re completely different products.”

So far sharing has worked well for both the Bartrams and Mrs McRae, but Mrs McRae stressed the relationship between the parties was key.

She said: “In the worst case scenario you could have an argument and draw a line down the middle of the shop.”

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