The Co-Op at Glastonbury

[4519dennis]

7,000 sq.ft is a decent size store. The challenge will be to deal with hordes of customers. 

[Sawdusty surfer]

3 hours ago, crazyfool1 said:

my worst nightmare having worked in retail for over 20 year ... 

Were you restocking veg at half ten last night?

[MrZigster]

1 minute ago, StoneCircle said:

Seriously though. Sod that for a job. Bar work can be full on enough. Hang on. This may take the pressure off.

[Pinhead]

What happened to the original Pilton shop - did it get converted into a posh house / property asset for ex-Londoners perchance?

[Crazyfool01]

Just now, Sawdusty Surfer said:

Were you restocking veg at half ten last night?

nope .. im an early morning person  so I can get my shift out the way to free up my afternoon for efests 

[StoneCircle]

1 minute ago, MrZigster said:

Seriously though. Sod that for a job. Bar work can be full on enough. Hang on. This may take the pressure off.

Have you got a place via Shelter? 

[Tommy Dickfingers]

1 hour ago, crazyfool1 said:

judging by the videos they will be dancing instead ... and its not just coop ... unfortunately all shops are run on minimal staff now ... just like other things 

It’s  been like that for 18 years mate.

[Mr.Tease]

Hope they sell irn bru, I need a can of that tasty beverage every day to sustain myself (grew up in Glasgow where children drink it instead of milk) 

[MrZigster]

1 minute ago, StoneCircle said:

Have you got a place via Shelter? 

That appears to be a bit up in the air at the moment.

Two enquiring emails sent, only automatic replies. They always used to be red hot at replying to things. Their twitter feed stated that emails would be sent out today, but still nothing yet and if they miss that it'll be the second time they've stated a date and overshot it.

I'm still vaguely optimistic in a "No News Is Good News" type way.

I'm a bit worried that Avalon may have seen this news and are now reconsidering how many staff they are going to need.

[StoneCircle]

1 minute ago, MrZigster said:

That appears to be a bit up in the air at the moment.

Two enquiring emails sent, only automatic replies. They always used to be red hot at replying to things. Their twitter feed stated that emails would be sent out today, but still nothing yet and if they miss that it'll be the second time they've stated a date and overshot it.

I'm still vaguely optimistic in a "No News Is Good News" type way.

I'm a bit worried that Avalon may have seen this news and are now reconsidering how many staff they are going to need.

I can't see it having that much impact on the bars, as it doesn't look like they are selling pre-chilled cans. I see it as being helpful to people on the coach not having to lug so much stuff. And people on a budget having the option of a sandwich etc. Fingers crossed for you! 

[Mr.Tease]

5 minutes ago, MrZigster said:

That appears to be a bit up in the air at the moment.

Two enquiring emails sent, only automatic replies. They always used to be red hot at replying to things. 

Man, what did you do to them last festival?! They're treating you like some sort of rogue ex! 

As someone who gets very anxious in this type of scenario (waiting to hear if you've been successful in volunteering, not stalking an ex!), I do empathise, must be a very restless few days for you with all sorts of thoughts and scenarios going through your head- I do hope you're successful and more importantly they let you know this as soon as possible. 

[Sawdusty surfer]

32 minutes ago, crazyfool1 said:

nope .. im an early morning person  so I can get my shift out the way to free up my afternoon for efests 

Ahh, was in there briefly and mis IDd you. I'll say Hi one day.

[Crazyfool01]

Just now, Sawdusty Surfer said:

Ahh, was in there briefly and mis IDd you. I'll say Hi one day.

well im definitely coming to say hello at the fest .. if you aren't at the efest meet  

[MrZigster]

7 minutes ago, StoneCircle said:

I can't see it having that much impact on the bars, as it doesn't look like they are selling pre-chilled cans. I see it as being helpful to people on the coach not having to lug so much stuff. And people on a budget having the option of a sandwich etc. Fingers crossed for you! 

Cheers mate
 

4 minutes ago, Mr.Tease said:

Man, what did you do to them last festival?! They're treating you like some sort of rogue ex!

As someone who gets very anxious in this type of scenario (waiting to hear if you've been successful in volunteering, not stalking an ex!), I do empathise, must be a very restless few days for you with all sorts of thoughts and scenarios going through your head- I do hope you're successful and more importantly they let you know this as soon as possible.

Ha Ha. I did feel a bit apprehensive about getting in touch. I mean. We've always had a good relationship. I sent them thank you letters every year. They've always had me back. Heck, they even made me a priority. Even when I've let them down in previous years by getting a ticket. I don't know what's gone wrong. It's like I'm getting ghosted 

My big fear is that I'll be at work when I need to be filling out online forms at home.

[Ayrshire Chris]

Hopefully selling decent selection of reasonably priced fresh fruit not just junk food. 

[JoBalls]

I think it’s a great idea, we loved the party Co-Op at Latitude last year. I’ll be interested to see if it sells booze - the one at Latitude did but it was in the campsite and you weren’t allowed to take booze through into the arena. I wonder how the bar companies at Glasto would take the news of a massive Co-Op selling cold cans of beer and cider (comparatively) cheap!

[pilton digger]

3 hours ago, Pinhead said:

What happened to the original Pilton shop - did it get converted into a posh house / property asset for ex-Londoners perchance?

it was sold by the owners because it was about 26 rooms (ex-coaching in for the pub next door) and was too big to maintain once the owners stopped running it as a shop.  They were both elderly and moved to a small bungalow.  It was bought eventually by someone looking for a profit who renovated (changing rooms type effort) and tried to sell.  The price may have been a bit tasty so is now not for sale. Not sure what they intend next but there was planning permission at one point to split it into three seperate houses but the lack of parking killed that.  We still miss the shop, it was were your spare key was, the parcels got delivered and where you could get gossip and rumours 24 hours a day.

[Ged Devereux]

Happy with this news, it would make sense to go near gate A for all those on the coach who can only bring what they can carry. I don't think it will affect the bars too much, maybe if the cans were cold but if not it'll just reduce the amount people bring with them from their cars and that will be depending on how much more expensive they'll be 

[Amy Lawn]

Used to be a supermarket of sorts next to where the lockups are in Dairy, and where that shit food place and Cosy Camper have been recently. Would happily take the Co-op going there (don't know if that's 7k feet lads I've got no sense of your Brexit units of measurement), would be really useful to have a stockist of mixer sized tins of tonic and ginger beer about (fuck lemonade and cola, pedestrian shit).

Big fan of the Co-op overall tbh, worked 6 years in the Insurance arm. Funnily enough the own-brand stuff you buy could well be having real-world good effects way beyond what you're aware of; they make sure the supply chain is ethical as possibly, so when you buy stuff you might be supporting co-ops and genuine forces for change on the other side of the world, which sadly they don't advertise because market research has shown that gammons won't shop there when they realise their money goes to foreigners.

[Keithy]

Nice bit of village PR by Eavis and no doubt some great publicity for Co-op. Good to hear they've done festivals before so they should have a rough idea of what does and doesn't work.

On the assumption there's only going to be one shop on site, I'd guess they'd be looking for a pretty central spot so wonder if they'll be around the EE tent area? Failing that, there was that area near West Holts / Kings Market area that we deduced might be the Glasto Latino stage...perhaps that oval shape is actually the Co-OP?

[incident]

1 hour ago, Keithy said:

On the assumption there's only going to be one shop on site, I'd guess they'd be looking for a pretty central spot so wonder if they'll be around the EE tent area? Failing that, there was that area near West Holts / Kings Market area that we deduced might be the Glasto Latino stage...perhaps that oval shape is actually the Co-OP?

The problem with putting it there is that it'd be near impossible to take deliveries or to resupply once the festival is underway.

My guess is that you'd be looking at somewhere adjacent to or easily accessible from one of the main vehicle routes. Something like where Cosy Camper were previously located would be logistically easy.

[glasto-worker]

17 hours ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

One of The first cooperative society was set up in the village of Fenwick Ayrshire in the 18th century. Local weavers were struggling to buy food so they organised and sacks of oatmeal purchased and sold to the families without profit. They became the fenwick weavers  cooperative society. Others followed elsewhere. Right up until the 60s the coop provided families with food clothing etc at competitive prices and families could earn a dividend every quarter. Many older folk can still remember their co membership number that had to be quoted at every purchase.

times have changed but the co-op is an important part of the socialist history of the country. 

I never knew that although I have passed it loads of times in the 60's from Glasgow as my parents had a Caravan at Monkton - many will not appreciate how tiny Fenwick is.

[Pinhead]

11 hours ago, pilton digger said:

it was sold by the owners because it was about 26 rooms (ex-coaching in for the pub next door) and was too big to maintain once the owners stopped running it as a shop.  They were both elderly and moved to a small bungalow.  It was bought eventually by someone looking for a profit who renovated (changing rooms type effort) and tried to sell.  The price may have been a bit tasty so is now not for sale. Not sure what they intend next but there was planning permission at one point to split it into three seperate houses but the lack of parking killed that.  We still miss the shop, it was were your spare key was, the parcels got delivered and where you could get gossip and rumours 24 hours a day.

Yeah I remember using it when I needed to buy ciggie papers or scrumpy on the way to the festival site back in the day. Usually had a crowd of crusties sitting permanently outside it by then. It featured too on one of the CH4 or BBC mini-docs made about the festival during the coverage as well iirc, possibly with the owners being interviewed and 'asked what they think' about it all and other cliched questions...

[The_Amazing_Oblong]

Had one at Download in the village last year, worked really well. I used it a couple of times for sandwiches and cold coffee. I kept an eye on it while out and about and used it when there was practically no queue, there were certain times when there were long queues to get in the store. Just treat it like you would the old chill'n'charge tent or greenpeace showers and you'll be good. Resonable prices and good stock of items.

[Skoo]

10 hours ago, Keithy said:

Nice bit of village PR by Eavis and no doubt some great publicity for Co-op. Good to hear they've done festivals before so they should have a rough idea of what does and doesn't work.

On the assumption there's only going to be one shop on site, I'd guess they'd be looking for a pretty central spot so wonder if they'll be around the EE tent area? Failing that, there was that area near West Holts / Kings Market area that we deduced might be the Glasto Latino stage...perhaps that oval shape is actually the Co-OP?

Good sleuthing.

Getting very excited for the map.

Although no doubt people will say it's the worst map in 10 years.