“Who doesn’t want to own a sweet shop?”

Ahead of Small Business Saturday this weekend, we’ve been speaking to independent business owners to find out why shopping locally is so important.

We’ve got a huge range of unique, independent businesses in Sutton. You can support them this weekend and throughout December by using the small business finder and visiting your local high street. This is Phil’s story...

My name’s Phil and I own Charlie’s Sweet Shop on Belmont High Street.

We’ve lived above the shop for 26 years but only took over in 2018.

The business had already been going for a year and we bought it. I was a lorry driver, but lorry driving wages at the time weren’t great so it was an opportunity to do something totally different. Who doesn't want to own a sweet shop?

We built the business up from there.

We kept the name Charlie’s because it was a young business and because it works - like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

We have a great relationship with the local community in Belmont.

Before we had the shop, I would come home, go upstairs and not really get to know the neighbours. Since doing this, I’ve found everyone's got a story. Everyone’s really friendly and people come in and chat. I feel like I know everybody. I can't nip down the shop and be back in two minutes because I see so many people - it's nice. Belmont’s a lovely, lovely community. 

All the local shops have got each other's backs.

A few of us at this end of the high street have benches outside our shops - we call it the Belmont Bench Club in our WhatsApp group! It was started by the lady next door who runs the Good Home - another independent business, that sells gifts and homeware - for us and for customers to sit outside and talk. Now, we get older folk come down and they'll sit and talk. People take the rest in the summer and have some coffees and that. It’s a nice touch.

When the first lockdown hit we ran an open door kiosk.

People used it on their walks because that’s all people could do at the time, so they really appreciated it being open. If the weather was nice, people were out walking, and they were making a beeline for us. So it worked quite well. 

It’s important to shop locally because if you lose those little high streets they’ll be gone forever.

Everybody needs somewhere that they can walk down and say hello to people. You’ve got to use what you've got so you don’t lose it. You don't have to make people rich, but just seek out small businesses. It’s such an important part of our community.