Multiple Managed Store of the Year, Costcutter Bargain Booze Brockley, is situated in a small affluent borough of Brockley between two Sainsbury’s.
It was converted into a hybrid Costcutter Bargain Booze store in September 2023, in an effort to allow customers better value and an improved range and enabling the team to compete with the multiples. The store quickly became more relevant and since the refit we’ve seen a 20% uplift in our overall basket spend and an 18% uplift in sales of beers, wines and spirits while footfall has increased by 10%.
The owners describe their customer base is a completely diverse ethnic mix of shoppers, some of whom who are on a budget and some who have a high disposable income.
The team’s approach is driven by consumer insights, ensuring that product offerings align with current trends and consumer demands. They continuously review and adjust category selections to stock products that sell and resonate with customers.
According to the management, the team work tirelessly at ensuring they engage with customers. “We offer a bespoke and personal service, recognising when someone needs help before they ask for it. We regularly take and organise product requests, especially from elderly customers, as our store is a lifeline to them. We know these increase store sales as customers tell us that they only shop with us for that reason - because we are so helpful and responsive.”
They’ve increased chilled cabinets to 20 metres which includes four metres of dairy products, and they have launched a new chilled Food-To-Go range which is ‘bang on trend’.
They believe keeping a chilled range fresh and innovative is vital and have introduced Isqueeze, a new fresh orange juice machine. The team has also introduced Skwishee, a new slushy machine offering a 0% sugar option, and during the winter were selling 80 cups a week.
Another feature of the store is the refillable category. Customers bring their own containers to fill up, and they have a growing range of cereals, pulses and nuts to choose from. “In the light of the environmental impact of packaging this category has captured every generation and provided a real call to action. Customers feel that they are doing their bit and we as a business have been working with Costcutter to bring all of the store into 100% no packaging.”
To further support environmental sustainability, the team has installed an EcoVend reverse vending machine for plastic and aluminium, a recycling machine used by customers to deposit empty single-use beverage containers in return for a monetary reward. They plan to report quarterly and donate a percentage of the reward to our local food bank.
“This system encourages our customers to recycle and in doing so demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability, thereby further raising the profile and reputation of our store. The system helps to reduce our waste management costs by diverting recyclables from general waste streams. The systems is also helping us to reduce our environmental footprint contributing to long-term sustainability and corporate social responsibility.”
The most important investment has been the addition of the Bargain Booze brand within the Costcutter store as ‘store within a store’ in September 2023.
The addition of Bargain Booze into the store has been particularly successful and they have already seen an 18% sales uplift on Beers, Wines and Spirits In addition to Bargain Booze range, the team maintains strong relationships with local microbreweries through EeBria Trade and directly engage with craft suppliers who value their independence. This commitment supports local businesses and caters to consumers seeking distinctive, locally produced beverages.
The team strives to create a safe and comfortable shopping environment for customers so they have introduced the Safe Watch system which monitors theft and enhances security and interacts with the PA system. Staff members wear Safe Bands that allow them to discreetly request assistance if they feel threatened. This system ensures immediate police intervention if any risks are identified. The Staff Safe Remote Monitoring System integrates with Public Address (PA) system, creating a safer environment for both customers and staff. Staff members wear security bands that, when pressed, trigger an alert to a remote monitoring centre. This centre can immediately assess the situation and, if necessary, contact the police
To ensure compliance with age-restricted sales, they’ve introduced a tablet-based Age Checker system at the till points. Utilising facial recognition technology, this system accurately verifies the age of customers attempting to purchase age-restricted items and provides real-time assistance to sales assistants, complementing their training and increasing vigilance in enforcing age-related sales regulations.
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