‘Lifeline’ store service recognised

A Kintyre shopkeeper who opened his village store just six months before Covid-19 sent the country into lockdown, has been recognised for his ‘lifeline’ service during the pandemic.

Will Anderson, owner of Muasdale Stores, is one of four business owners from across Argyll and Bute to be recognised in the Scotland Loves Local campaign’s High Street Heroes Awards, highlighting amazing dedication and efforts to help communities through the coronavirus crisis.

Jilly Wilson, of The Square Peg in Lochgilphead, was named Argyll and Bute’s regional champion, while Will was joined by the Isle of Bute Resilience Team and Amber Cooper of Cooper’s Cleaning,

Dunoon, in receiving highly commended accolades.

Will’s nomination reads: ‘Muasdale Stores has been a godsend.

‘Will only took over the shop in the last year and was slowly building the business, but during the lockdown nothing was too much bother.

‘He would try and order in anything you wanted.

‘The shop is always stocked with local produce and, over the summer, we enjoyed a lot of vegetables grown on local farms; the freshness was delicious.

‘Our nearest supermarkets are in Campbeltown, a good half-hour drive away, but because of the excellent service at Muasdale, I very rarely needed to go.

‘Life would have been so much more stressful during lockdown if Muasdale Stores hadn’t been providing the local communities a much-needed lifeline.’

Will told the Courier: ‘I never would have imagined my first year in business turning out the way it did, and to receive a highly commended accolade in recognition of my work during lockdown is incredible.

‘I’m very thankful and grateful for the kind and thoughtful nomination.’

Will explained that when lockdown hit his first thoughts were for the safety of himself and his customers, which led to the decision to close the shop floor and serve from the back gate instead.

A ‘make do’ shop was set-up outside with various popular items and Will would collect from inside whatever else customers’ required.

‘The customer footfall doubled due to people staying at home and not travelling,’ Will added.

‘As a new store, I was still in the process of building up stock and applying for an alcohol licence too.

‘Items were being sold as soon as they came in.

‘There was a shortage of products and I had to continually source things like pasta, flour and paracetamol from new suppliers. However, we were never short of lovely fresh fruit and vegetables, thanks to JM Breckenridge.’

Will added that during extremely busy periods, with orders to pack and customers to serve, he wasn’t able to manage

the store on his own but Nick Fletcher from the Argyll Hotel in Bellochantuy volunteered to help two days a week.

‘I really can’t thank him enough for all his hard work,’ Will said. ‘Muasdale Stores is now back on track, the shop is fully stocked and it’s a safe place to shop.’