What sort of customers come in? I’d say about 75% are low income or unwaged. But we get people from all walks of life. Aristocrats, even. They love a bargain.
Have you got a favourite customer? There was this customer who came in who was virtually penniless, a single dad who had four kids. He started working as a volunteer and eventually got a job with us as a driver. He’s moved on now but he still comes into the shop. He says it was a real life saver for him.
Is there anything that annoys you about your customers? When people who can obviously afford something are offensive about trying to get it cheaper. We rely on the honesty and integrity of our clients. Beating the price down will impact eventually on the most needy.
What’s your favourite other shop in Lewes? Catlin’s on the High Street. I like a good cigar, and Catlin is a great Lewes character who will talk about anything. Part of old England.
What sort of business does Lewes need to attract? Something which keeps graduates in the area. There’s a terrible brain drain to London.
Could you do anything to make your business greener? We run one van on diesel and I’m considering converting it to vegetable oil. Though I’m worried about the expense if it goes wrong. One of our two electricity suppliers is fully green - all the electricity is wind produced - but the other isn’t, so we could change them. It only costs fractionally more.
Is there anything everyone asks you? Where’s all the money go? They should realise we are running at a loss and relying on grants. We'd love not to have to do that, but not at the expense of the people we are here to help.