Ilpendam has its supermarket back. When the convenience store threatened to disappear for good early last year, residents raised money and devised a plan to save the business.
This is how Ilpendammers took over their neighborhood supermarket that was in danger of disappearing
The only supermarket in Ilpendam was run by Anne Le Gloahec for a long time, says Lotte van Schoonhoven, the driving force behind Werk aan de (village) shop Ilpendam. An initiative by residents for the preservation of the neighborhood supermarket. “But it became too much for her and she was forced to stop.” A local postman tried to save the matter, but pulled the plug not much later.
A phenomenon
The neighborhood shop is a phenomenon in the village, a central place of meeting. Lotte van Schoonhoven could not bear to see that this place would disappear for good. Together with a neighbor down the road she decided to make a plan to save the village shop.
They turned out not to be the only residents who have a warm heart for the store. They soon found four others willing to meet every Monday evening about the future of the neighborhood supermarket. And not only that, from a survey they conducted, which was completed by 395 households, 95% was in favor of retaining the village shop. Some indicated that they were willing to invest.
“It was a busy period, but everything turned out well”
A total of 45 people pulled out of their pockets to jointly purchase the retail property for 5 tons. Donations were also received through collection campaigns, which were used to finance, among other things, the building inspection and the valuation report. The end result: a participation shop, with fifty volunteers and a number of paid employees, without a profit motive.
Good progress
The property was purchased a few weeks ago and the store has been running at full capacity since August 27. “It was a busy period, but everything turned out okay”, Van Schoonhoven looks back. “It is running like clockwork. Many people are curious, take a look and immediately come to buy something.”
In a while she will meet again with the working group to analyze the visitor numbers and see what is being bought. “This way we can see what can be improved, but in the coming period it is especially important to train the paid employees and volunteers as well as possible.”
Van Schoonhoven’s tip:
“Just do it. Make sure you gather a group of people around you who all want to put the same amount of time and energy into it. And make sure that you have a clear idea from the start of what is needed.”
‘Pioniers’ is a recurring column on Saturday. For this we collect inspiring stories from North Hollanders who have taken matters into their own hands to achieve something together. Do you also have an inspiring story? Mail it to us at [email protected].
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