RANKINS POST OFFICE & CONVENIENCE STORE, UIG, ISLE OF SKYE, IV51 9XP Offers Over 30,000 (Leasehold)
Attractive licensed Store and Post Office serving the village and surrounding settlements of Uig set amongst the most stunning and rugged countryside on the Isle of Skye A profitable lifestyle business within a truly wonderful setting Prominent and highly desirable scenic trading location generating a brisk trade from the sale of a broad range of convenience goods, household and gift items Local post office provision and sorting office offering a sustainable and unique service to the local community A modern single storey unit extending to a net internal area of circa 196m2 providing spacious customer areas, storage facilities plus generous customer parking
DESCRIPTION Rankins Shop and Post Office within the village of Uig is a single storey modern property in a most attractive and stunning roadside trading location. This former croft house was extensively modernised in the 1970s making it a flexible trading unit. The business has been successfully trading for 40 years. With prominent signage and with being situated on the busy A87, the business has a solid year-round trade with a peak trading period in the spring and summer seasons benefiting from the influx of tourists to the area with many taking the ferry to the Western Isles. The shop benefits from a very high level of passing trade. The property extends to around 196m2 and is the only post office within the locality but also providing a wide selection of convenience essentials to the broader community and visitors. Sale items include fresh produce, general grocery items, chilled and frozen items, newspapers and magazines, lottery products, licensed goods and cigarettes, greeting cards, bakery lines, soft drinks, gift items and pet foods to name but a few. In addition, Rankins also sells a good range of household and DIY goods. The shop also provides a wide selection of gift items appealing to both the local market and tourism. The business has such a wide range of items on sale that it appeals to a broad spectrum of customers making it an attractive venture. A draw to the shop is the cash machine situated within. The present trading configuration makes it an easy-to-operate business but provides an element of scope to expand the range of goods and services further should new owners wish to do so. Internally, all areas are easily accessible with all sales areas being intelligently laid out utilising a modern range of shelving units and display stands. The shop also has an excellent range of new refrigeration and freezer units. The sales counter is situated opposite the main entrance affording excellent control of the shop. The business benefits from a fully operational EPOS system. Rankins Post Office and store has up to 7 staff who assist with covering the full range of service provision. In addition to the turnover generated by the shop, the owner receives a direct salary for the Post Office operation. The current trading model generates a turnover of c 410,000 (2016) generating an adjusted net income of c 50,800 including 16,400 of a post office salary. The property is being offered as a Leasehold with a 10 year lease however preference would be given to tenants who were intending an eventual purchase of the property. The present owners purchased the property in 2007 and it is their desire to retire that brings this exciting business and lifestyle opportunity on to the market. TRADING HOURS The shop is a year-round operation and opens from 09:00 to 17:30 daily but is closed all day Sunday. The post office operation covers 09:00 to13:00 and 14:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday and 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturday being closed Sunday. There is scope to extend the trading hours to include late opening and to open on Sundays. LOCATION Rankins is located on the outskirts of the busy village of Uig which is situated to the northern side of Skye. Only 16 miles from Portree, the Islands capital, Uig enjoys a steady volume of traffic on a daily basis, whether business travellers, residents of the Western Isles or tourists, using the daily ferry which runs to the Outer Hebrides. The shop s prominent roadside position is ideal to capitalise upon this busy thoroughfare. Uig as a locality is an ideal base for daily trips within the Island, whether North to the Trotternish area, East to Waternish or South to bustling Portree. Not only is Skye one of Scotland s premier tourist destinations, in addition to tourism, the island is highly popular with naturalists and also ornithologists who find birds of prey, waders and a host of seabirds in the locale. Skye s rugged Cuillin Mountains are known to walkers and climbers the world over and many prolific hill lochs offer the angler an opportunity to catch spectacular native wild brown trout. New owners will quickly satisfy themselves that Skye is well provided for in terms
of services and high quality schooling making it not only a good business location but also a fantastic quality of life option. THE PROPERTY The original property dates from the late-1800s and is of stone construction under a tile pitched roof. However, this greatly extended property is mainly of modern breeze block construction under a pitched tiled roof. This detached property has accommodation arranged over the ground floor only with easy street level access. TRADING AREAS From a prominent roadside location the premises has a modern and well-signed frontage. There is ample parking to the side of the premises and the shop is accessed from street level. Internally the business is very well presented utilising a good range of flexible fixtures and fittings including free-standing displays. The main sales counter is situated immediately inside the main entrance, providing sensible control of the product display areas and facilitating good customer service. Further into the store is a wide range of shelving and merchandise racking including refrigeration and freezer units. The shop has logical configuration. The main grocery area is set to an L shape to the left of the customer entrance and has a good range of displays including modern refrigeration etc. To the left of the main entrance is the Post Office area which also incorporates a gift area. To the rear aspects of the store is an area set aside for DIY, household goods, pet supplies and hobby items. All areas provide good access and are well-presented. SERVICE AREAS The premises service areas are exceptionally well laid out to support the trading aspects of the business. To the rear and side of the building there is a spacious store room with a side access door providing for ease of deliveries. Off this store room is the sorting office. Also set to the rear aspects of the shop is a spacious office and staff W.C. There is a kitchen located away from the customer areas and if new owners wished to introduce a wider range of baked goods this would make an ideal preparation room. There is a secure spirit store and further large store off the grocery section. OWNERS ACCOMMODATION There is no owner s accommodation with this property but housing is available locally.
GROUNDS The shop has public parking to the left side plus a parking space for owner s car to the right. The title includes a small wooded area next to the car park and the remaining ground is set to grasses and bushes. SERVICES The property benefits from mains electricity, water supply and drainage. Heating is provided by electric heaters. The Store has an alarm and CCTV system. LEASE Capital Premium: 30,000 Rent: 15,000 rent in year one. Year Two Year Five 18,000 Rent Payments: Monthly in advance Rent Reviews: Every Five years in line with RPI Lease Duration: 10 Years Leaser Type: Full Repairing and Insuring; lessee bears the cost of Insurance. Lease to buy option preferred. EPC RATING The Energy Rating of the property is G. LICENSES The business operates a license under the Licensing Scotland Act 2005 and a copy of this will be made available to interested parties post viewing. RATES The business benefits from 100% Small Business rates Relief in 2016. TRADE Full trading figures will be made available to seriously interested parties post viewing. PRICE Offers Over 30.000 are invited for Leasehold and trade contents (according to inventory), excluding personal items. Stock to be purchased by independent valuation. FINANCE & LEGAL SERVICES ASG Commercial Ltd is in touch with several lenders who provide specialist finance to the hospitality trade. Paul Hart (Director Commercial Sales) will be delighted to discuss your financing requirements with you and make an appropriate introduction. We have access to a large team of legal experts who can act in all legal matters arising to include conveyancing and business transfers. DIRECTIONS See location map. VIEWING All appointments to view must be made through the vendors selling agents: ASG Commercial Ltd (Address as per website) Tel: 01463 714757 Mob: 07799896931 (Paul Hart) Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database 2016 Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database 2016 07557785879 (Jackie MacGregor) E: info@asgcommercial.co.uk Web: www.asgcommercial.co.uk OFFERS All offers should be submitted in writing to ASG Commercial Ltd with whom purchasers should register their interest if they wish to be advised of a closing date. Hotels Guesthouses Licensed Retail Offices Industrial Units 17 Kenneth Street, Inverness IV3 5NR Telephone 01463 714757 www.bedandbreakfastsales.co.uk