A vibrant town centre is at the heart of any strong community, and Kirkwall’s main shopping streets seem to be doing better than most at promoting the ‘buy local’ message.
There is a fantastic variety of stores offering a range of goods and services, with a lot of effort put in via various schemes to encourage both locals and visitors to support their local shops.
But there is one business in particular that constantly seems able to evolve and has captured the imagination of shoppers throughout the years. William Shearer on Victoria Street in Kirkwall has become somewhat of an institution in Orkney with a reputation for quality, loyalty and good, old-fashioned hard work.
“I think locally people recognise the effort we put in,” said Richard Shearer, who runs the business which has been in the family for more than 150 years. “If you put in the work, you’ll get the rewards. We put in a lot of time and effort here and we get a real kick out of it too, especially when we see the impact it has on our customers.”
The business was established in 1857 before moving to its current premises two years later. A general merchant in every sense, it has been a fixture in Orcadian life for generations. The range of goods and services offered at the shop is quite incredible. Grass seed is central to its work in the summer months, with visits and deliveries to farms across Orkney, and further afield in Caithness and Shetland too.
The store itself is a real treasure trove. From general groceries to specialist dietary and health foods; coal, peat and logs to fishing tackle, ammunition and gardening equipment, it really has everything.
“Nowadays you have to do something that makes shopping an experience,” said Richard. “In supermarkets you go in, fill up your basket, checkout and leave. Here we want customers to come in for one thing, browse for a while and maybe leave with ten items!”
The secret to making that aim a success? Well, according to Richard, it’s simple. “We concentrate on people. We speak to our customers and welcome them in. That personal touch is at the core of what we want to do here.”
It certainly seems to have had an impact. Over the years Kirkwall has had a number of general merchant shops, but for one reason or another many have closed down or diversified. William Shearer has remained constant, though, and has managed to withstand various challenges – from the impact of the Second World War through to the change in consumer habits in the last decade.
“I was lucky to follow into a family-run business. Each generation has been able to lay a few more blocks on what has gone before, leaving their own mark and adapting to the situation they face at the time,” said Richard.
In recent years the shop has become synonymous with a particular time of year. At Christmas the upper store becomes a winter wonderland – picture a roaring fire, some of the finest festive goods and a quintessential Christmas feel! Families flock to the shop and it has become a real focal point during the build up to the big day.
The business also sells Christmas trees and wreaths during November and December, but for Richard and the team, the season is about much more than sales through the tills. “We want to make shopping here an event at Christmas, with a traditional feel to it,” he said. “People can come and bring their kids leave with plenty of memories and some Christmas spirit. Hopefully they’ll remember that and come again in the future.”
The Christmas store is just one example of the dedication the William Shearer staff put in to their work. And, after celebrating its 160th birthday in 2017, that hard work certainly appears to be paying off.
Find out more about William Shearer via the Orkney Food and Drink website and the official website.
You can also find the business on Facebook.
The Digital Orkney project has been part financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community Orkney LEADER 2014-2020 Programme.
