Entrepreneurs set to deliver a virtual service
A young Ayr trader has opened up on the decision to close his popular shop and switch to a new online format.
Lewis Costley will see the doors shut on Ocean Stores to make way for new venture Easy Days Delivery.
It’s a move that the 24-year-old took with a heavy heart after five years dedicated to ChurchillTower convenience store, which included building up a loyal customer base who flocked to the harbourside unit for a range of locally produced products.
But now those same favourites are set to be made available for home delivery, as Lewis has teamed up with best friend and business partner Lewis Glass, 21, to launch a virtual store.
The store will put a spotlight on some of the top products sold in Ocean Stores.
With ready meals from Ayr firm Backstreet Kitchen, eggs from Nith Valley Eggs and products from Dalduff farm.
Lewis (Costley) told the Post:“We’re looking to take all that was good about the store and put it online.
“Our biggest products all came locally sourced, we want to continue championing them and become an online hub where people can choose the best local food.
“We’ve developed a website where customers will be able to order and choose an allocated delivery slot.”
Lewis, whose family run the Costley hospitality empire, hopes that Easy Days Delivery can be a fresh start for the pair, after Ocean Stores fell victim to crippling energy prices.
And he’s revealed that eye-watering bills to keep the fridges going more than quadrupled overnight.
Lewis said:“It was a tough decision to close down Ocean Stores.
“It was very emotional and we had a few tears shed in the shop. We’ll really miss the people, we were always big on customer service and we made sure we made friends with the customers.
“I dedicated five years of my life to it, I started as a boy and it made me a man.
“But it in the current climate we had to protect ourselves.
“It made more sense to cut the overheads away.
“Costs have soared past the point that we can start to increase our prices to match.
“Unfortunately the shop just isn’t profitable anymore.
“Things started to become a struggle since September 2022, with energy prices changing. It’s a right shame.
“There was a cap put on domestic energy prices, but no cap on ours. We went from paying £500 a month to £2,100 overnight.
“We were on a market tariff. I signed the contract when I was 19, I didn’t realise what I was doing.”
Lewis also tried to expand his Ocean Stores empire by opening a coffee shop towards the beach, but he admits the venture never paid off.
“Everything just crumbled,”he added.“I took my eye off the ball a bit.
“I found myself using the profits from the shop to pay the bills in the other business. So it has been a bit of mismanagement as well but I’ve learnt from it and it’s all you can do in business.”
Lewis shared a heartfelt announcement that the store would be closing and he’s been overwhelmed by the kind response to his emotional Facebook post.
And he’s thrilled with the response to the launch of his online delivery plan.
He added:“I didn’t really expect the response. There was over 160 comments and they were all positive. People have been wishing us well on the new venture. We’re going to give it our all.”