I live in a busy small, but growing village.
We have nothing in the way of a 'general' type store. We have a small supermarket and a post office that sells greetings cards and wrapping paper.
On moving here I kept finding I needed random things that you do when you move into a new home - a mop, scourers, cleaning materials, rubble sacks - I found myself jumping into the car every half hour to drive 15 mins to the nearest town to grab something or other.
I know 15 mins isn't that far in the scheme of things, but public transport takes 40 mins as the bus goes in and out of everywhere, and I have in mind people who don't drive and people like myself who want to take a stroll into town and be able to pick up cheap batteries for their kids toy, or colouring books, or a small gift etc etc.
I'm taking inspiration from a shop in the last town I lived in that sold everything from pots and pans to small electrical items, novelties, gardening stuff. It had been running for at least 30 years and was the 'go to' for everyone despite excellent public transport and a huge retail complex on the doorstep.
But as far as the idea of owning a shop I have no clue where else to start. There is one street in town. One empty premises at the moment. I have no savings or means of saving. No business plan.
I'm going on a dream I had of painting my name above the door....
Where do I begin?