Tearoom trade is tricky especially on wet winter weekends. When I am well (not now!)Laurel Bank at Broughton on the road from Moffat to Edinburgh is a great stop. On a summer's day it's a nice run out on the bike without going crazy. Now my fellow time-triallists know how I keep my svelte figure. Don't worry there's a photography lesson in the pictures!Laurel Bank's proprietor is keen on quality: "How can you make a better cup of tea?" he asks, "By buying tea bags that you would be happy to use at home." They cost him three or four times more than bulk catering packs but means that standards are maintained.
Christopher Lambton, the proprietor, must have had a run in with his accountant. He writes : "If you ask an accountant the chances are that he will advise you not to open a tearoom. How can you charge £1.20 for putting a tea bag in a pot?" The answer is above.But that means ignoring opportunities for increasing margins - a bit like a shop which only sells video cameras above £750 in value. Or does not stock flimsy tripods but only Manfrottos and top range Sliks.
Weirdly though, the shop, that stocks the flimsy tripods, is beginning to cut back on the high margin film (film is only used by 2% of the market says their top man). Leaving the shop that stocks the high value, low margin, digital Hasselblad, to also keep going with film.
If you have read this far identify the two shops through my guestbook (new feature top of the page) to win a roll of film!
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