Today, St. John and Green Island... Tomorrow...?

Wednesday 17 August 2022

A Jersey woman who took over "a sleepy St John shop" - doubling its turnover in three years - is hoping to repeat her success in St. Clement, with a new store opening today.

Back in June 2019 Sarah Donati-Ford was looking for a career change and noticed an ad for the lease on St. John’s Village Store.

Although, she had her own bookkeeping business which she ran from home so she could also look after her three young children, Sarah says she was looking for something new to do. The idea of running a shop was not something she had ever considered. "If you’d have told me five years ago I’d be running a shop I would have been very surprised."

Nevertheless, despite having no retail experience the idea of running a shopping excited her. "It just came up. I’m a people person. And I wanted to do something different. This seemed ideal," she says enthusiastically.

"By 2019 my children were a little bit older and I was looking for a challenge," she says reflecting on a decision that has changed her life. "From the moment I got involved I loved it. I haven’t looked back since. I’m so glad I went ahead with the project."

Sarah says the key to her success has been getting to know and listening to the customers.

For her that has meant running the shop more like a mini-supermarket rather than a convenience store. "I try to stock as wide a range of products as possible and try to be competitive when it comes to pricing."

But, it seems for Sarah, the St John’s store was just the beginning. Today, she’s opening a new store in St. Clement, and is hoping to replicate the success she has had in the north of the island.

"I was looking for another project," she says rather matter-of-factly, "and it seemed to make sense to do something similar."

The past week has been a blur as Sarah and the rest of the team have been racing against the clock to get the shelves put up and stocked. "I’m sure we’ll make it, although it might be tight," she says confidently. 

Initially Green Island Village Store will be open from 07:00 to 21:00, but Sarah says that might change depending on customer feedback.

"My friends have been joking about what’s next, and whether I’ll soon have a nationwide chain of stores," Sarah says smilingly, and then hurries off to continue stocking the shelves.

Pictured top: Sarah Donati-Ford (centre) outside her new venture, Green Island Village Store, flanked by her two managers: Rosil - St Clement (left), and Adrian - St John (right).