Acle newsagent The Chocolate Box diversifies to survive

Louisa Mutton, 43, has worked at the Chocolate Box in Acle for 24 years and still loves the job where she is on first-name terms with her clientele. 

Her grandparents bought the shop in the 1960s and lived in a room above the premises. 

Ms Mutton bought the business in 2014 and has recently overseen a big move from its original location on The Street to a larger building at the former Wilkersons hardware store on Old Road.

Louisa Mutton has worked at The Chocolate Box for 24 years and still loves the job. (Image: Supplied) Over the last two decades, the role of the newsagent has changed immeasurably, she said.

“I don’t like saying it, but it was a lot better years ago. 

“It’s really hard going at the moment getting people through the door. People are more into online purchasing. It’s really spoiled retail."

In order to survive, the business has had to diversify with the result that The Chocolate Box is no longer only a newsagent, but also a pet shop and a hardware store. 

READ MORE: ‘We are a critical service’ - how newspaper delivery companies coped with coronavirus 

Every week the shop currently sells approximately 60 copies of the Great Yarmouth Mercury and 80 copies of the Eastern Daily Press - and still delivers in the area, providing a vital service for villagers.

"I used to love the days when the people would come in and pick up their paper. For some of the elderly people you were the only person they would see all day," Ms Mutton said.

National Home News Delivery Month. (Image: National Home News Delivery Month) Ms Mutton was speaking during Home News Delivery Month, which aims to celebrate and promote home newspaper delivery. 

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