This week more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling on Tesco to ditch its self-service checkouts and return to a more personal service. Here at Ilmington Community Shop, we’ve decided not to install a bank of automated checkouts and are sticking with our smiley volunteers, each one ready to welcome you in, show you round and stop for a natter. “As a volunteer working in a community shop, I meet people, I have a laugh and I get to know my neighbours!” says Alan Sarjant, who started volunteering during the first lockdown. “I feel like I’m part of the community. I think a lot of our customers appreciate some personal contact. I wonder how many people come in for a chat and that’s the only conversation they’ll have all day?” If you live locally, you’ll know that Ilmington Shop is the hub of our village community. Managers Michele and Laura know every regular customer personally, and of course new visitors are warmly welcomed to both our shop and café. So if “unexpected item in the bagging area” is not your idea of interesting conversation, come on over to a really super market: our very real, very wonderful community shop
