Down in picturesque Poole, Ehamparam Karunanithy has redefined what the convenience off-licencing experience can be, with up-to-the-minute innovations and stunning WBS ranges
Ehamparam Karunanithy has developed a stunning off license category at his Premier Talbot Store in Poole, situated between a housing estate and 17,000 university students “across the road”.
The result is a store that caters effortlessly for its clientele. A magnificent beer cave with smart electronic doors opening onto “cool” blue sky lighting panels offers an extensive range of Ready To Serve canned drinks and bottled ales, lagers and beers.
The beer cave has become something of a social media sensation among local shoppers, regularly appearing on TikTok and Instagram, and has contributed immensely to the store winning the Off Licence of the Year Award at the 2023 Asian Trader Awards.
Ehamparam, who also runs two other stores in the area, says that that his augmented alcohol offer is adding ever more multipacks and SKUs of bottled ales. Shoppers just love the Beer Cave, and it’s been a big hit with customers highlighting the store’s value message, as “promotional packs have such strong standout in there.”
“I can't imagine that the sales would be going like this right now, its two years now almost,” he adds. “We're getting that kind of uplift in sales since the reopening.”
An ethnic Tamil, Ehamparam arrived in the UK from Sri Lanka three decades back. His journey into the retail industry began in the 1990s when he worked at a petrol station. Inspired by his cousin who owned a shop, Ehamparam hoped to start his own business.
“Originally I planned anywhere in the country, anywhere I can afford to buy a shop at that time. And then I just found one shop in Poole, Bournemouth area, and moved here,” he says.
The location's potential began to flourish as the university expanded, providing a steady customer base of students
It is situated within the residential heartland of Bournemouth’s Talbot Village and adjacent to Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus, lending it a unique shopper demographic. As the university expanded, he recognised the store’s potential, and a nudge from his symbol group Booker, who wanted to convert the store as a concept store, prompted him to go for a major refurbishment of the site.
“I got the new lease as well at end of the pandemic, around 2020. Then I realised this is the opportunity to do something different, to change everything” he says.
In September 2022, as the store celebrated its 21st anniversary, they re-opened the store after a £170,000 refit, transforming it into one of the most innovative Premier stores in the estate and a test-bed for new technology, including sustainability developments.
Ehamparam converted the storeroom into a beer cave, expanding the alcohol section to cater to the university's student population. The store now offers a wide variety of canned drinks and bulk packs. Replacing the open fridge with a closed-door system, he installed a single large motor fridge extending over 10 metres. This upgrade not only increased storage capacity but also reduced energy costs.
“With electricity price going up and things like that, this single motor is a good idea. The door is closed all the time, only one fridge for everything,” he points out.
The store underwent a complete makeover with improved lighting, higher shelves, and a visually appealing storefront.
Promoting sustainability
Two significant innovations during the refit include a fresh bakery section and refill zone which enables shoppers to conveniently dispense desired quantities of a range of dried goods into paper bags – saving on food and packaging.
“A local supplier brings every morning fresh bakery products like doughnuts, pasties and a few [other] things. That one is a cool cabinet, not the hot cabinet, and because we are next to the university, we sell them very quickly,” Ehamparam says.
In the refill section, customers can just take whatever they need and can bring their own bag or use the paper bags provided by the store.
“You can buy what you need. They can buy for the day or for a longer time. You don't need to just buy them and keep it and later throw them away. They can buy them, maybe just for a morning breakfast. It is really going well with the customers,” he says.
As they have a very large youth demographic, the store trialled a number of new technology concepts during its refurbishment. The store’s self-scan checkout has been the first of its kind in a Premier, but it was later removed due to challenges with theft.
“It was doing great. It attracted the customers. The advantage is you don't need another staff. But some customers don't scan it. They're just trying to scan it, didn't scan and they put in the bag, and just get away with it,” he explains – adding that he would not advise others to introduce the technology.
“I'm just not doing that. I checked a few times, and there are a lot of things going out without being scanned. In the supermarkets, there's a person watching about this, but here it is a very difficult situation,” he says.
Theft, as with the convenience stores across the country, has been a challenge for Ehamparam. He has to put more cameras as people were stealing even from the beer cave.
In another first for Premier, they also introduced electronic shelf-edge labels, a development which works great for the team.
“We did only a quarter of the shop because it's quite a lot of money to invest. So maybe in the future it could get cheaper. But It's very it's a good thing because I don't need to do anything. When Booker prices change overnight, next day morning the pricing changes automatically,” he says, noting that the time (and money) they save by not having to manually update pricing information is “huge”.
Ehamparam emphasises the importance of choosing the right shopfitter and considering the store's location when planning a refit. He believes that after ten years, a store needs refreshing to maintain customer interest.
“They don't want to be in the same shop all the time. After 10 years, maybe I need another refit for the Talbot store,” he says.
His experience shows that investing in a comprehensive refit, including expanding product varieties and improving store layout, can significantly boost sales, as evidenced by a 35-40 per cent increase at the Talbot store.
“If they do more varieties and arrange the shop for more space, sales definitely will go up. I don't know how much percentage, but it will go up,” he assures.
Following the success of the Talbot Store, Ehamparam recently undertook a refit of another store in Poole, Maple Stores, which now features both a beer cave and a soft drinks cave. With three stores already under his management, he is considering further expansion based on these positive sales trends.
Community relationships
Ehamparam places a high value on fostering strong relationships with the local community. He believes that personal interactions are essential, contrasting his store's approach with the impersonal nature of large supermarkets.
“Customers feel we have a very good staff, as they talk to them every day. It’s not like other big supermarkets where they're like just machines – just serve the customer, go away and next customer. Here, it’s like a community,” he smiles.
Ehamparam trains his staff to engage with customers, asking about their needs and preferences, ensuring a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
“It’s a kind of shop where the customer has to come back,” he notes. “If they want to come back, we have to talk to them; we have to ask them what they need, what they want to get, new products or anything like that. So we just keep train the staff as well.”
To address the cost-of-living crisis, Ehamparam keeps prices competitive by adhering to Booker-recommended prices, many of them price-marked packs, and offering regular promotions.
“Besides, I am always monitoring the prices,” he reveals. “If anybody said it’s kind of high, then I look into the prices. I always tell the staff to just look around and if people said anything please come back to me and tell them, ‘Okay, I talked to the boss’!”
His wife, Tharsini, plays a crucial role in the business, managing orders and ensuring that the store is well-stocked. Her involvement allows Ehamparam to focus on other aspects of the business, highlighting the importance of family support in their entrepreneurial journey.
He advises new retailers to maintain clear pricing on shelves and offer regular promotions. He underscores the importance of location and long-term investment, noting that the returns on investment can be realised within a few years.
“Mainly they have to keep the price on the shelf. It’s important as the customer needs to know the price. And also give offers to the customers. If it's a good location, if they keep the shop for long time, I like that. If they invest in the shop and spend more money, they can recoup this money in maybe three years’ time. But they must worry about it. And also it's hard work,” he concludes.
With just three months left in the complete ban on sale of disposable vapes, the Association of Convenience Stores, Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Local Government Association are calling on retailers who sell vape products to prepare, be aware and ensure that they comply with the ban.
The ban on disposable vaping products is coming into force on June 1.
The ban will affect all products that are intended for one use, typically providing around 600-650 puffs in a single device. The only products that will be legal for sale from June 1st must be both rechargeable and refillable, with a maximum tank size of 10ml.
ACS has produced comprehensive guidance for retailers, backed by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, which outlines the steps that retailers need to take to comply with the ban, as well as their responsibilities when it comes to the rest of the vaping category, including on age related sales, recycling, and advertising.
In the guide, ACS advises retailers to sell through any existing stock of single use vapes before June 1st to avoid possible commercial losses and enforcement action.
Any retailers that have stock left over from June 1 must remove it from the shop floor and store it away from customers, clearly labelled as not for sale.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said, “The introduction of the disposable vape ban is one of the biggest regulatory changes for retailers in recent memory, with businesses needing to think carefully about how they manage their range of vaping products in the coming months to ensure that they’re ready for June 1.
"We urge all retailers to utilise our guide and get in touch if there are products that they’re not sure about.”
Kate Pike, Lead Officer for Vaping and Tobacco at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said, "We welcome the introduction of the Single Use Vape ban as a positive step toward reducing environmental harm and addressing the growing appeal of vaping among young people.
"We encourage businesses to take proactive steps now to prepare for the 1st of June. We expect full compliance from that date and look forward to working together with retailers to ensure a smooth transition.
"Our priority is supporting responsible businesses, but we will take necessary action against non-compliance where required."
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said, “The ban on disposable vapes is an important step in reducing waste and protecting young people. With over five million thrown away each week, they have become a major challenge for councils to manage.
“With the ban coming into force on June 1st, we encourage retailers to prepare now to ensure a smooth transition. Councils and Trading Standards teams will work with businesses to support compliance, but retailers must take responsibility for reviewing their stock and only selling legal products after the deadline.”
Wholesalers have begun communicating the dates from which they will stop selling disposable vaping products to retailers, with major wholesalers committed to compliance for all of their customers.
Federation of Wholesale Distributors chief executive James Bielby said, “Wholesalers are working with their retail customers to help sell through disposable vapes ahead of the ban coming into force on June 1.
"Retailers won’t be able to purchase non-compliant stock from wholesalers in good time ahead of the ban, to ensure they won’t be left with products they can’t sell in June. ACS’s guidance is invaluable for any retailers concerned about what they need to do in order to be compliant.”
In response to recent reports that rolling tobacco is now more valuable per gram than some precious metals such as silver, Imperial Brands is encouraging retailers to ask their local MP to rethink excessive levels of excise applied to tobacco products to avoid an upsurge in crime and abuse against retailers.
Last November’s budget applied a Recommended Price Index (RPI) + 12 per cent excise rate on hand rolling tobacco products in the UK.
The UK now has the highest excise duty in Europe – six times higher than in Spain, and five times higher than in Germany.
Andrew Malm, UK Market Manager for Imperial Brands, said, “We now have a situation whereby hand rolling tobacco is more valuable per gram than silver, making local retailers and convenience store owners in the UK as much of a target to thieves as jewellery stores.
“Not only does this taxation drive UK consumer spending elsewhere – as, for example, a 30g pouch of rolling tobacco is now four times more expensive in the UK compared to Spain – but it also contributes to the issue of retail crime and illicit trade.
“This excessive excise duty will further incentivise organised criminal gangs to produce hand rolling tobacco illegally and sell the product through illicit channels here in the UK. Illicit trade is already a significant issue, and one which ultimately impacts on retailers and their revenue.
“As a responsible manufacturer, we will continue to engage with the Government to re-assess the current excise duty on these products as it poses a significant threat to retailers’ livelihoods and contributes to an already growing illicit market.
"We would also encourage retailers to reach out to their local MPs and councillors, ensuring that the issues their businesses are facing are highlighted and heard by relevant public officials.”
Malm's plea comes weeks after a report stated that the cost of tobacco has turned convenience stores into targets for organised crime, as it is now worth more than silver per gram.
Successive tax hikes on rolling tobacco means that a 50g pouch of Amber Leaf now costs 87p a gram – compared to 83p for silver.
It has encouraged gangs to target not only stores but also delivery vans, adding to the wave of crime hitting the retail sector.
Experts say that criminals regard tobacco theft as a low-risk, high-reward crime because the products are ‘concealable, removable and available’.
As part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s plan to boost the public finances, the Treasury is considering doubling the tax on tobacco – which the industry argues would further fan the black market.
The Treasury is estimated to have lost more than £50 billion in tax revenue on tobacco to the black market since 2000.
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Post Office and DPD expand partnership with international delivery services
The Post Office and DPD have on Thursday announced an expansion of their partnership with international delivery services.
Following a successful trial at 300 post offices, customers wanting to send parcels abroad can now choose from ‘DPD Classic’, ‘DPD Direct Lite’ and ‘DPD Air Classic & Air Express’ services. The international delivery services are now available at 4,100 post offices across the UK.
The Post Office and DPD partnership began in 2021 and already includes ‘Click and Collect’ and Next Day delivery services within the UK.
This announcement follows a virtual Postmaster Conference which took place on 4 March, organised and hosted by postmasters. The Post Office outlined it remained focused on expanding Mails and Parcels services to more branches, ensuring customers have access to the best-in-market, safe, and convenient options for shipping, pickup, and drop-off—both online and in-branch.
“As part of delivering our ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ it’s vital that we strengthen postmasters’ offer to customers. Expanding our already successful partnership with DPD is a demonstration of this,” Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office acting chief executive, said.
“In today’s fast-paced world, customers and businesses expect international parcels to reach their destination in a matter of days and having DPD international delivery services available provides them with the options to meet their needs.”
Elaine Kerr, DPD UK chief executive, commented: “We really value our relationship with the Post Office and introducing international services is the logical next step, with online and buy-in-branch now well established. We have the largest delivery network in Europe and deliver to over 200 destinations worldwide.
“Our approach is designed to make it easy and affordable to find the right international service with free tracking included and duty and customs made as straightforward as possible.”
A four-week trial has been running since February to get postmasters feedback on guides and other self-help tools to support them in selling and promoting DPD international services in branch.
“It’s already been a great experience,” Phil Ballantyne, peer support postmaster from Appleby, and who was part of the trial said.
“I’ve been able to save customers £3, they are getting a better service, and the branch is receiving even better remuneration compared to alternative services.”
A Southowram retailer has helped 100 children from the local primary school enjoy a hot breakfast through his retail connections with Parfetts, setting new benchmark of how a convenience store can impact its community.
Jeevan Chatha, who runs the Go Local Extra store on Law Lane in Southowram, made the donation as part of his broader support of local causes.
Since buying the store in May 2024, Chatha has established it as a key part of the local community. He provided 100 Quaker Oat So Simple Porridge pots to Withinfields Primary School in Southowram to support the school's breakfast club.
Chatha, who attended Withinfields with his older brother and sister, was instrumental in helping to secure the breakfast pots through his retail connections with Parfetts.
He said the store plans to support the school as much as possible in the future. He also recently secured a pallet of Lucozade, which he provided to the local junior football team, Beacon Rangers FC, which plays some of its games at the school’s playing fields.
Working closely with wholesaler Parfetts, Chatha has established a very busy store that is already an integral part of the community it serves. He is on first-name terms with the school's parents and pupils.
Chatha commented, “Being part of the local community is incredibly important to me, and I aim for our store to be seen as more than just a convenience store.
"We aim to serve the community by providing the kind of store that meets all their needs while fostering community spirit by supporting vital local initiatives, such as the school's breakfast club.
“Having attended the primary school myself, I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back and maintain my connection. The school has numerous ongoing projects, and I'm eager to get involved with these as well.
"The support from Parfetts and the Go Local Extra team has been invaluable, as they encourage active community engagement.”
Chatha opened his first Go Local store last year after his father ran an independent convenience store nearby in the village for over 25 years. He worked in the store before acquiring the old village library building and converting it into a Go Local Extra store.
Michael Shanahan, regional account manager - Midland, PepsiCo UK & Ireland, said, “I was very happy to be involved with this initiative not only from a brand perspective but also supporting the local school and the community with the breakfast club, with Quaker being a very strong brand and supports healthy breakfasts which keeps you fuller, for longer.”
Parfetts is an employee-owned business, and its employees play a significant role in the company’s success and its retailers.
Guy Swindell, joint managing director at Parfetts, said, “We've collaborated closely with Jeevan and his team, who have transformed their new store into a thriving success and a vital part of the community.
"As a business, it's crucial for us to connect with our customers on multiple levels and support the causes that matter to them. With Jeevan leading the way, I am confident that this store will achieve even greater success and play an increasingly significant role in positively impacting the local community.”
A leading retailers' body has raised concern that Employment Rights Bill risks punishing responsible businesses rather than focusing on unscrupulous employers.
According to amendments tabled by the government to its flagship employment legislation, all British workers, including nearly a million agency workers, will be entitled to a contract which reflects the hours they regularly work.
Government said the amendments will offer increased security for working people to receive reasonable notice of shifts and proportionate pay when shifts are cancelled, curtailed or moved at short notice – whilst retaining the necessary flexibility for employers in how they manage their workforces.
Responding to the tabled amendments on the Employment Rights Bill, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, said, “The BRC supports the Government’s goal to ensure improved employment practices.
"We want a level playing field for responsible businesses, which means tackling unscrupulous employers and we support measures to crack down on those who exploit their workforce.
“While Government has been listening to the concerns of businesses, the latest amendments show that they have much further to go if they wish to reach a place which protects employees while supporting investment in jobs.
"We welcome the changes made around collective consultation, but further amendments are urgently needed, particularly in relation to guaranteed hours and trade unions.
“The focus of the Employment Rights Bill should be on unscrupulous employers who undermine confidence in the labour market, instead the current regulations risk punishing responsible businesses who provide employment.
"We will continue to work closely with Government on the future of the Bill to ensure a progressive approach that avoids raising the costs of employment for those already doing things well and limiting the flexibility for staff, which is so important in retail.
"This pragmatism and collaboration also needs to continue beyond the passage of the Bill, as the implementation detail of various areas is still to be worked through.”
Calling the bill "biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation", Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said that for too long millions of workers have been forced to face insecure, low paid and irregular work, while the economy is blighted by low growth and low productivity.
"We have been working closely with businesses and workers to progress this landmark bill and deliver our Plan for Change - unleashing growth and making work pay for everyone."