The Retro Sweet Shop
Established in 2011, The Retro Sweet Shop is an established gift manufacturer and wholesaler based in Ashford. With over 350 different varieties of retro sweets, as well as jars, gift boxes, hampers and personalisation, it offers unique gifts with the sweet-toothed in mind.
The family business supplies both the retail trade and directly to consumers, with the ability to send up to 10,000 orders a day from their warehouse on Leacon Road. Their purpose-built facilities enable their 18-strong team to ensure products are despatched on the same day they are ordered, wherever possible. This combined with strong levels of customer service and good communication, has meant they have an outstanding reputation within the market.
Russell Crowther, Managing Director of The Retro Sweet Shop, explains that despite initial concerns for the business amid the coronavirus pandemic, orders are up. He comments: “When lockdown was announced in March, we were obviously very concerned as to what it would mean for us as a business, but luckily as an online retailer we were able to remain open.
“In preparation for a predicted downturn in orders, we furloughed all non-essential staff, but within 48 hours we saw a huge increase in volume across all of our sales channels. We then quickly reorganised the business to allow social distancing and implemented additional health and safety measures to enable staff to progressively return to work.”
We’ve been able to grow as a business and we’re currently looking to move to a larger 10,000 sq ft warehouse elsewhere in the town.
Russell Crowther, Managing Director of The Retro Sweet Shop
The measures implemented have been so successful that orders in April, May and June increased by 300%. Now that The Retro Sweet Shop has the measures in place to keep its staff safe, it is currently on a recruitment drive ahead of the festive period.
Russell concludes by praising Ashford as a business location: “We are extremely well-connected both by train and car, which is one of the best things about where we’re located. We’ve been able to grow as a business and we’re currently in the process of looking to move to a larger 10,000 sq ft warehouse elsewhere in the town at some point next year. Basically, we intend to stay in Ashford forever!”
