Forum Topic

Would an independent post office work on Churchfield road?

Hello,I would love some feedback from the people who know best.  Myself and my partner are investing in a franchise of this business  http://postandpackinguk.com and are very keen on a site on Churchfield road close to Acton Central.I know there used to be a post office there previously and i visited today and spoke to some shops who seemed keen on the idea.its a retail shop with all Royal mail postal services (same price), private mailboxes, printing,  selling packaging and stationary also.  We would also do a collect point for peoples internet shopping,  order fulfilment for small eBay sellers and business accounts for Fed Ex, DPD etc.I'm told that there is a buzz about the street the last couple of years and that it is slowly up and coming.  Is this true?    Also, one trader told me there was a similar shop that closed down.Any and all feed back most welcomeCheerskeith

Keith Dowling ● 4150d14 Comments

some stationery would be great. the old Post Office used to do it....then there was ACE in the High Street but now it's the pound shop or Staples on the A40.Practical stuff like envelopes and laminate and pens.

Sara Nathan ● 4145d

Yes absolutely Sara,  the its a retail shop working on a 70% business/30% residential customer model.  All royal mail postal services would be available - at the same rates or cheaper and we will be actively encouraging links with the community.  I want to make it a hub for people to send and collect mail, tailoring services to make things easy.

Keith Dowling ● 4145d

I looked at the website - it seems very orientated towards business customers. Would it be for the residential community too?

Sara Nathan ● 4146d

Thanks for all your feedback it's been very helpful.If anyone is interested this is the website of the small British company we are franchising from  http://www.postandpackinguk.com.  it will be a very personal, customer focused business that will add to the street.  Bad customer service is top of my list for aggravators!

Keith Dowling ● 4147d

Alot of footfall to and from Acton Vale Industrial Estate during rush hour means a great location for internet package collection. You could perhaps stock child friendly goods eg; toys, books, clothes as there are a lot of children going to the park, or nursery. Wishing you well!

Ros Guthrie ● 4147d

I agree the post office by morrisons is grim and it would be handy to have one by the station which is closer for us.Good luck to you Keith!

Richard Foster ● 4149d

Is this in Angela Malik's shop? It's a great location.

Sara Nathan ● 4149d

yes it will be by the Acton Central station.  Just put down a holding deposit now so the ball is rolling.  Scary but exciting times

Keith Dowling ● 4149d

Whatever you do - make it a nice place to go to.The current post office is really grim - beige in fact.

Richard Grange ● 4149d

Where in churchfield Road? Near the Station has by far the greatest footfall - and is further from the main post office so might Be better.

Sara Nathan ● 4149d

Thanks all for your feedback.  Its very valuable.  I think we are going to go ahead and put in an offer for the place.  Outside of the residential customers, we would be building strong links with businesses - whether it be people who work from home to have their mail delivered if they are out, local businesses who need to post or courier items and larger ones from the surrounding business parks.Somewhere for internet shopping to be collected from - amazon click and collect, eBay etc too.    i will run it myself and with a strong retail and nursing background you can expect good personal service.  You don't get that at the Post office!

Keith Dowling ● 4149d

I would find a post office useful, mainly for the sending and receiving of parcels. I have no idea if it would be viable though. There is a large post office at the other end of the road.

Alexander Powrie ● 4149d

I'd love a post office and I think you might do well provided there were other reasons for going in the shop. Tim English the butcher suggested that a baby and children's clothes store would do well in the area. Lots of young families about.Good luck.

Maire Lowe ● 4149d

There was a lovely post office near Acton Central station. Very well used too. But it was closed down by Post Office Counters wholly because it was within a given distance of the main Post Office. Wholly Arbitrary.What I don't know is whether you could do enough else. Londis - where the PO Was - is deservedly popular. Is there enough just in stamps and stationery?

Sara Nathan ● 4149d