comment FIONA GIBSONShop Manager of Islands’ Home Hardware at St. Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly On the floor
children's hats and gloves, and a range of workwear for local tradesmen. These are things that no one else sells over here.
What’s your background? I was born on the Isles of Scilly, and have never moved away. When I married we lived on the family farm and I ran a guesthouse with my Mum and tied flowers in the winter. We moved out of the farmhouse to allow my brother to take over the farm, and I started work for the Post Office. I worked there for 13 years, initially delivering
the post and then working behind the counter. I gave that up as it was too much responsibility! I started part-time at Islands’ Home Hardware in April 1997 and gradually upped my hours, becoming manager 10 years ago.
Tell us a bit about Islands’ Home Hardware. We are a traditional hardware store. We try to accommodate the needs of the islanders, and we’re always willing to try something new if we feel it will benefit our customers.
How would you describe your product mix? Housewares, DIY, decorating, pet goods and gardening. With a small population of 2,000 across the five islands [there are five inhabited islands among the Isles of Scilly - St. Mary's, Tresco, St. Martin's, Bryher and St. Agnes - plus more than 100 uninhabited ones], you have to be careful with anything too gimmicky.
What lines have you started stocking recently? Sadly, our local sports shop closed down recently, so this winter we started to sell
Which products do you personally use? As we’re the only shop that sells hardware, I tend to buy what I can in the shop. I have a set of Judge pans [from Horwood] which I can recommend to our customers, as I’ve had them for about 10 years and they’re still as good as new. I think it’s important to know your products when you’re selling to your customers.
What’s selling well at the moment? Paint, because people are doing up their properties ready for the [holiday] season. We have a Dulux machine so we can mix colours.
“I just love working in retail and helping
customers. The worst
aspect is when we have no boat for a week and no goods”
What’s on your counter? LED pocket torches for the dark mornings and evenings, and bicycle repair kits because they are a new line.
What’s an average day? We start at 8.30am packing orders to take to the quay for the delivery boat to the off islands - weather permitting! Customers used to phone in their orders but we’re starting to get emails and Facebook messages. The shop is busy from 8.30am to 9.30am with
tradesmen, and then from 11.30am to 1pm with local ladies. Early afternoon is a good time to collect stock from our warehouse before the after-school rush at 4pm. We close at 5.30pm to allow people who finish work at 5pm to get their shopping.
Biggest issue facing independent island- based retailers? Although there are only 10 shops here on St. Mary's (which is the main island), and we’re the only one that sells hardware, we have major competition from online shopping. People
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assume it’s cheaper to buy from a bigger store - which is not always the case.
Best and worst aspects of your job? I just love working in retail and helping customers. The worst aspect is when we have no boat for a week and no goods. That means customers have to wait longer for special orders. Often, I’m ordering goods for next week before the previous week’s delivery has arrived! Thank goodness for our EPOS system. There’s no hope for ‘Just in Time’ stock management on the islands.
What do you do outside work? I have run the local Brownie Pack for the past 16 years. I also give up two weeks of my annual leave to help run the Girl Guides summer camp, doing the cooking for them. The Brownies and Guides help out at the
World Pilot Gig Championship [a highlight of the Scillonian calendar, this annual gig racing event is held on the Isles of Scilly over the first May Bank Holiday weekend and attracts crews from as far afield as Holland and the US]. We sell cakes and pasties and do the massive beach clean operation of litter after the event.
Fiona collects her trophy from Home Hardware chairman David Adams
Fiona Gibson received a special recognition award at Home Hardware’s annual convention in November 2017, for the help and support she has given to the owner of Islands’ Home Hardware over the years. Paying tribute to Fiona, Home Hardware chief
executive Martin Elliott commented: “It’s always nice to recognise the exceptional dedication and support of an outstanding person who has been such a major help to one of our members.”
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March/April 2018
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