Nisa retailer Harjit Singh of H & Jodie’s in Walsall is helping shoppers fight rising energy costs by offering hot water bottles for 99p.
Singh told The Grocer he has subsidised the cost with money from the business’ kitty, selling them £2 cheaper than recommended retail price.
“It’s a genuine saving that will help our community stay warm during the winter months,” he said. ”Nobody can match that price.”
Kicking off the initiative over the weekend, the retailer sold 150 hot water bottles in two days, helping people who were “really feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis”.
Singh said he will be picking up more hot water bottles this week from NT Wholesale in Birmingham in a bid to extend the community initiative.
Charged at 99p, he felt it would incentivise shoppers to use them and “keep warm”, rather than giving them away.
Amrit Singh, Harjit’s son, said: “It’s that time of year when small gestures go a long way.”
H & Jodie’s won Community Initiative of the Year at The Convenience Awards 2022 for its Citizens Advice Bureau Bus.
The free and confidential drop-in service, run by Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall, operated outside the store and offered a raft of support in areas including debt, benefits, employment, and housing or homelessness issues.
During the height of the pandemic, the retailer also teamed up with the local council to provide the community a free lateral flow testing facility outside the store.
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