Sheffield village post office turns into a one stop Christmas shop to rival John Lewis

Flask End which is a village store, Post Office and cafe, is classed as an essential service so cotinues to trade during this second lockdown.

With the inside cafe area having to close, Postmistress Heather Tingle came up with a novel idea to utilise the empty space by offering independent local businesses a place to sell their Christmas gift stock.

Curated Makers, which were due to have weeks of retail space in a pop up shop in John Lewis in Sheffield City Centre found their plans were curtailed due to the lockdown hitting after only three days, and this is where Flask End and Bradfield Post Office stepped in.

Four of the John Lewis pop up shop traders are now hastily organising displays inside the quaint village store, along with 17 other Sheffield independent businesses.

Customers that wish to support Sheffield businesses can now browse the myriad of gifts in store, whilst picking up their essential groceries or using the Post Office.

Heather said: “During the first lockdown the importance of using small independents and shopping local was really highlighted, with people unable to access supermarket deliveries, and big supply chains failing. We were poised to step in so that local customers, the elderly and vulnerable, were able to shop with us and get fresh produce in a stress free, and socially distanced manner.

"The second lockdown at this time of year will mean so many retailers missing out on peak Christmas trading, so we wanted to offer a lifeline to those businesses as well as giving our customers an alternative to shopping online with massive corporations like Amazon.

"It’s quite a coup for a tiny shop like us to be able to rival the likes of John Lewis. Flask End has already had the ethos of ‘shop local’ for many years with our produce supplied from local companies such as Moss Valley Fine Meats and Our Cow Molly so it's a delight to expand our suppliers to bring christmas to our customers during this difficult time.

"It’s been quite a feat to dismantle half our business including finding a new temporary home for our the 14ft church pew.”

She added: "We truly are a one stop Christmas shop.”

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