Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2010-09-15 17:18:46 - Graham Ellis
Countrywide open their new store in Melksham this week - and yesterday evening, I had a change to look around during a preview session. Wow - what a store! The company's been in the town for many years - and indeed we've been good customers - with a very helpful and friendly staff and (as far as Gypsy's concerned) the best selection in the area.
The store's light, airy, and well divided into clear areas which are visible and obvious as you go in (I'm quoting the sale director's speech here - but it is true - I felt I knew where to find things within a few minutes of being there). This picture shows the equestrian area ...
Countrywide have moved less than a hundred yards. Their new store is built within a previously disused industrial building, the access off the B road in unaltered. It's dumbfounding that they had an awful lot of resistance from the planning officials ... and natural that they got a lot of support from the local elected council representatives; they're a respected and key local business. Thank goodness the elected representatives prevailed over officials who work for Wiltshire Council, but don't even live in the county. Yesterday evening was something of a "Thank you" for everyone who had helped bring something that the town unanimously supports to reality. But - it's time to move on from that, and make the store a success; I'm sure it will be, with its excellent pedigree
Gone are the old wire bins and the low ceilings and the dark (lack of) lighting, and in are the bright lights, a tall and open feeling store, and more in-character decor
The people of Melksham, and the surrounding villages, have always been strong supporters of Countrywide in Melksham - we're a market town after all, and people don't want to have to drive to into the nearby wannabe-cities of Chippenham and Trowbridge for rural supplies.
It may be that most people drive to Countrywide - but that doesn't mean it's not green. They're using sustainable Biomass technology themselves, and by being on even though people drive they have to drive far shorted distances for their supplies.
Common sense says this was the right place for Countrywide. They're 35 years established, maintaining all their jobs in town, with good road access, and in the growing trade area that already includes folks like Mitsubishi and will soon include Asda too.
And their new store is - well - fantastic. We used the old 'un and we'll be going to the new one too - with a spring in our step, and looking at those new ranges of products. There's even a cafe there ... and who knows, we might even find that Eva's is on the list of possible places for delegate lunches in the near future.
Countrywide's home page is [here]. Melksham store hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The store offers ... local delivery service, garden machinery servicing and repair, car loading service, rider hat & body protector fitting service, horse rug cleaning and repair service, a garden centre and is an LPG Autogas key site.
It's just off the A350 and A365 roads ... right by the main roundabout where the road to Bradford-on-Avon heads out. Store phone number is 01225 701470.
Countrywide open their new store in Melksham this week - and yesterday evening, I had a change to look around during a preview session. Wow - what a store! The company's been in the town for many years - and indeed we've been good customers - with a very helpful and friendly staff and (as far as Gypsy's concerned) the best selection in the area.
The store's light, airy, and well divided into clear areas which are visible and obvious as you go in (I'm quoting the sale director's speech here - but it is true - I felt I knew where to find things within a few minutes of being there). This picture shows the equestrian area ...
Countrywide have moved less than a hundred yards. Their new store is built within a previously disused industrial building, the access off the B road in unaltered. It's dumbfounding that they had an awful lot of resistance from the planning officials ... and natural that they got a lot of support from the local elected council representatives; they're a respected and key local business. Thank goodness the elected representatives prevailed over officials who work for Wiltshire Council, but don't even live in the county. Yesterday evening was something of a "Thank you" for everyone who had helped bring something that the town unanimously supports to reality. But - it's time to move on from that, and make the store a success; I'm sure it will be, with its excellent pedigree
Gone are the old wire bins and the low ceilings and the dark (lack of) lighting, and in are the bright lights, a tall and open feeling store, and more in-character decor
The people of Melksham, and the surrounding villages, have always been strong supporters of Countrywide in Melksham - we're a market town after all, and people don't want to have to drive to into the nearby wannabe-cities of Chippenham and Trowbridge for rural supplies.
It may be that most people drive to Countrywide - but that doesn't mean it's not green. They're using sustainable Biomass technology themselves, and by being on even though people drive they have to drive far shorted distances for their supplies.