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Refit Spar excellence
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Thursday 28th Feb 2002.
A POPULAR shop in Ringwood has undergone a complete refurbishment and expansion, adding an in-store bakery.
Alice and Steve Bockett, who run the Spar Shop in Parsonage Barn Lane, have extended the premises into their storeroom, a project that took three months.
The couple took over the shop eight years ago when it was called Barn Stores, joining the Spar chain a year later.
"We had a small refit then and to keep up with the times we thought about doing different things the only way was to extend into our storeroom," said Mrs Bockett.
"We have put in an in-store bakery and hot food area and we have fresh chilled produce, an off-licence, newspapers, National Lottery, general groceries and videos.
"We stayed open throughout the work we managed.
"Now we have a modernised store where people can even pay some of their household bills."
She added that they hoped to extend the provision of hot food into the evening to serve people coming home from work.
Mr Bockett said a major feature of the shop's operations was taking part in Spar's regular promotions.
"They provide super deals on lines throughout the store and these are regularly advertised by leaflet drops," he said.
"No matter where they shop, customers expect value for money and we have to provide that."
Mr and Mrs Bockett, who have a 12-year-old daughter and a son aged 11, are helped in running the shop by eight part-time staff. Their daughter was keen to get involved when she was old enough, said Mrs Bockett.
Mrs Bockett added: "We are always interested in hearing from people who would like to work in our shop, as we are getting busier by the day."
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