Back to Top

#Business ID: 13877

Get Email Alerts Add to Shortlist
View Shortlist

Period Cotswold Gift shop

Business Location: Stow on the Wold, England

Asking Price: £ 180,000 Revenue: not disclosed Cash Flow: not disclosed

Business Summary

Well designed web-site
Secure Low rent of £1800 a month
An Aladdin cave with many period features
Dream gifts for horse hound and dog lovers
Superb retail outlet for gifts and home accessories
Exclusive sales agreements with top artists and sculptors
16th to 17th Century property beamed loaded with character
Prominent location in Stow on the Wold the heart of the Cotswolds
Wealthy clientele with large catchment area and tourist customer base

Business profile:
Situated in the delightful Cotswold market town of Stow on the Wold, this gift store specializes in the sale of countryside miscellany. Having first opened its doors in 1996, this store, in the heart of an area renowned for its hunting, shooting and fishing heritage, is the place to come for that very special, stylish and frequently innovative, countryside related gift or home accessory.
Located on a busy High Street within just a few yards of the picturesque market square this outlet is packed with merchandise that is difficult to find elsewhere. Particularly renowned for its canine subject matter this shop is a major draw for the local population and tourists, serious collectors and dog enthusiasts alike with its wide range of countryside merchandise.
Having appeared frequently in the past at the Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Show and having built a small mail order business this outlet has a dedicated customer base.
For those with serious spending in mind there are several ranges exclusive to this outlet including those from well known artists such as Eve Pearce famous for her unique porcelain figurines, Michael Storey renowned for his carefully observed small sculptures of hares, foxes and other wildlife studies, Sally Mitchell famous for her fine art prints of dogs and Mark Huskinson notorious for his humorous sporting prints. Commissions are frequently taken from owners wishing to immortalize their pets.
Perhaps slightly more affordable but just as popular are other equally attractive and desirable home furnishings, statuary, prints, novelty items and greetings cards. A popular purchase amongst dog owners is a tray or several boxes of matches customized with a print of their pet.
Located as it is in a prominent position within a major centre for antiques, fine arts and tourism coupled with a very healthy, growing, local trade footfall is considerable and constant throughout the year. The premises – part of a period property probably dating back to the 16th or 17th Century, with exposed beams and part stone flagged floor – is a major attraction in itself.
With a Secure Low rent of £1800 a month this is an all too rare opportunity to acquire a profitable retail foothold in a highly sought after location in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Key strengths:

If as many suggest, the key to success in retail is Location, Location, Location then this outlet cannot fail. It is ideally situated in an excellent trading position at the main exit from the delightful town square. As well as being a major commercial centre for the local population Stow on the Wold is a major tourist destination. During the summer as well as thousands of private motorists who visit every day, literally coachloads of passengers are dropped off in the Market Square to enjoy the pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops Stow has to offer. As well as attracting tourists from right across the Midlands and the South and North West the customers of this business have been known to come from as far away as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Exeter! Being as attractive as it is, Stow on the Wold is a ‘must stop’ destination for foreign tourists too, on their way to Stratford and Shakespeare country. By their very nature, the dwell time they have in the village and the prominent position of this store, they are all potential customers.

Its merchandise makes this outlet stand out. This outlet is very well known for its specialization in dogs and dog related gifts and home accessories. Its wide range of countryside merchandise stocked in an area renowned for hunting, shooting and fishing; concentrating on small, high value, top quality gifts and accessories attractive to local buyers and tourists alike and with exclusive ranges of merchandise by nationally and internationally known artists ensures this shop stands out from the more mainstream gift shops scattered across the Cotswolds. There really are very few outlets not just in Stow on the Wold but throughout the UK that specializes in this kind of merchandise. As such, as well as the tourist population that visits, this store is a major attraction to local people looking for that extra special gift or piece for the home.

Key opportunities:

Having built a business around the ‘countryside’ and ‘countryside interests’ and developed a successful niche in its specialist sector there is most certainly scope for further growth and expansion in this sector, particularly in relation to hunting and horse pictures.

This business is also ideally positioned to take advantage of the growing demand for affordable bronzes. Until recently the production of bronze sculptures has focussed around large pieces – expensive to purchase and only really attractive to purchasers with large homes to house them in. More recently the market has moved towards small, more affordable pieces – bringing them within the reach of a much wider target audience. With its exclusive sales agreements, the subject matter in which it is well known and its established customer base this business is ideally placed to take advantage of this increasing demand.

Having originally established a small but successful mail order business for garden furniture and topiary accessories, this business has all the processes and procedures in place to extend this arrangement in to its core countryside range. Similarly the fairly limited range of merchandise currently featured on the business’s web-site could be extended to a much wider target audience with the site upgraded to a full e-commerce capability. The current opening hours could certainly be extended particularly during the peak tourist season with a consequent impact on turnover and profitability.

Property Details

Years Established:

1996

Other Business Details

Premise Details:

The premises are in an excellent trading position at the main exit of the town square of Stow on the Wold creating excellent footfall. The shop is part of a period property, probably dating from the 16th or 17th Century with many period details. With three showrooms and two display recesses, exposed beams and flagstone floor, the premises total approximately 500 square feet. The premises are available on a rent £1800 a month and represent a rare opportunity to secure a retail foothold in a very attractive and desirable Cotswold’s town

Competition:

In its prominent position this outlet is its own advertising site and there has been little or need to market any further. In the past the business has frequently displayed at major shows including the Chelsea Flower Show and the Hampton Court Show from which it has built a significant following. The business has a well designed and easy to navigate web-site including the facility to download an order form order for a limited range of merchandise for postal delivery

Business Operation Details

Support & Training:

The owner is happy to assist with training and handover to ensure a smooth transfer of the business particularly in relation to the exclusive merchandising agreements in place

Contact this seller

Already a Member? login

Fields marked with a * are mandatory












CAPTCHA image
*Please enter the 5 digits as they appear in the image on the left.
 Yes I wish to receive the monthly newsletter and other emails directly from SellAnyBusiness.com
 I have read and agree with the Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy

Related Businesses for Sale

Selling a Business?

Visit the page to Sell a Business in England

SellAnyBusiness.com

Copyrights © 2020 All Rights Reserved by SellAnyBusiness.com



BUY OR SELL SAFE

Follow your passion - find and buy the business that fits your dream. Buy it Safely!!