Variety Quik Shoppe Ltd.
Box 449
29-31 Main Street
Burgeo, NL A0N 2H0            

Variety Quik Shoppe Ltd. is a retail and grocery store in Burgeo that opened on January 31, 2015 with the help of the CBDC Self-Employment Assistance Program and CBDC loans. Their CBDC Long Range contact played a major role during the early days of their business, “She is highly professional, with a personable approach. She has a strong understanding of business, and an appreciation for the opportunity that we had. She is a very trustworthy individual with strong business acumen.”

In the few short months since opening, Variety Quik Shoppe has earned a reputation for standing out from the competition. According to General Manager and Co-Owner, Wayne Keeping, “We are positioned to compete for grocery sales, with a focus on convenience. We have a central location, and offer extended hours. We apply a hands-on management style – we work in the store every day…we are not a franchise, meaning that we can quickly adapt to changes in our market.”
 

Their price-conscious customers receive excellent customer service and convenience thanks to Keeping, his wife Mamie (Co-Owner and Financial Officer), and their 10 staff members. The Keeping’s business ingenuity has also helped make the store a success. “We have been able in such a short time to change the company’s business model. [Before we bought it,] the store operated essentially as a ‘no frills,’ surviving largely on the strength of its flyer specials. Since taking it over, we have added a wide range of new products, while increasing the margins on our flyer items.”
 

Despite operating in a remote location and the challenges of securing a stable supply of products and produce and despite power outages and intermittent phone and internet service, road closures and ferry delays, the Keepings are not daunted. “What makes it worthwhile is that sales have remained steady, and despite the recent downturn in the economy, we have grown our cash. So, we are pleased with the success we’ve enjoyed over the short-term.”