If you’re ever in the UK, be sure to check out a Ryman the stationers store. This stationery chain has an excellent local small-store format. As I have blogged here before, the stores feel local, independent right down to the handmade (using a rubber stamp) business cards they have at the counter (very clever). It is only when you visit several in a day that you can see the corporate foundation of the business.
I understand the difference in retail in the UK to Australia, especially in comparing London to Melbourne or Sydney. Back home we have space and tend to drive more to shop hence the proliferation of larger format stores in the stationery space – Officeworks, Ofis.
The Ryman offer is fascinating, partly because of the stock they fit into a small space. On first glance the stores feel cramped and therefore difficult to shop. Soon, you feel so surrounded that there must be something here to buy. I like the cramped feel. It oozes range. I’ve certainly some away from today with some ideas.
I guess it all comes back to customer service. Today i called our card company ACE OF HEARTS and the owner answered the phone, i was enquiring about my credit for the cards that they were going to inform me about three weeks back and i decided to follow that up. The LAdy just rudely asked me whats my problem and goes ahead to tell me she will send someone to pick up any extra stock i have from their company and i shouldnt call again. How disgusting is this customer service.