New range leads to a whole new operation!

When Trevor Margett of Whites at Chard in Somerset decided to replace his "clapped out 30-year-old" range he didn't imagine that it would lead to his being at the helm of a flagship Fish & Chip shop doing a much higher level of business.

Trevor and his wife Heather have run their shop for nine years. Established in 1939 as a fishmonger and now a take away with seating for ten it was in Trevor's words becoming a 'bit dated'. The big turning point however, came when Robert Furey of Florigo called to discuss a new range.

"It was Robert who suggested that we might also look at refurbishing the shop at the same time as putting in the new range. And it was he who recommended both Design Mach and Sign Design Services to carry out the work. We worked with those two companies and they were just fantastic.

Boom time

"What's happened is that the business has since taken right off and we're doing much more trade. And it was Robert Furey who spotted the potential. He made the predictions - which have since turned out to be virtually spot on in every case! He's quite a shrewd businessman who really knows this trade.

"What happened was that I ended up spending three times as much as I thought I would if I were just replacing the range alone - but it's been worth every penny!

"I suppose we had become a bit bilnkered and the shop itself a little tired looking. But it was only when I got out and about and visited the more modern shops that I discovered these were the ones doing the much better business."

The refit at Whites included a striking and sleek new image with lots of the "clean sharp" lines that Trevor so wanted. And the signage involves softened neon lighting to create something of a 'halo' effect to the word Whites. "I think it's great. I wanted something that nobody else has and now we've a shop where there's nothing like it around here for many miles.

Efficiency

"Plus, the whole operation is working better and more efficiently. And we have a much better shop for the staff to work in. They're happier and working better and the customers just love it. We couldn't be happier."

And what is making Trevor happier still is the new range, which in itself has brought some unexpected benefits. "The Florigo is fast and very efficient, it's just brilliant. And the other thing is that it can fool me! It's so quick and easy to fry with that sometimes at the end of the day I look back thinking we haven't been all that busy, but that's until I look at the till roles and realise we have been!

"What I've got is an easier life with much more money coming in - which is the way it should be isn't it?"

© Fry Magazine