James Grant, No2 Pound Street: “Be unique – you are brilliant!”

Being an independent business is great. I fondly remember how much fun we had drawing pictures of how the company logo should look.

Prior to opening the shop I had a lot of research to do, including spending days researching British cheesemakers. This month’s column is about our journey and how we have evolved. I will also cover how I deal with copycat businesses that use your model and ideas.

In 2010, No2 Pound Street opened its doors as a specialist wine shop, British artisan cheesemonger and delicatessen. As you will learn we went to great lengths to ensure that the shop was on point.

The shop itself used to be an old wine shop, so was the perfect place to include cheese and deli produce. We were careful to check the vicinity for other shops doing similar and found nothing. We had a blank canvas and were excited to get drawing.

So our first stop was France. Why? Well, the French are brilliant cheesemakers and have exceptional wine. Paris was calling me as well as a rugby game at The Stade De France.

After checking into our hotel, my friend and I found a lovely little wine shop in the heart of Paris. The wine shop was small with a lovely selection of French wines.
The list was curated perfectly.

We were very thirsty and hungry after our journey and were pleased to learn that you could enjoy wine in the shop. We picked a lovely wine from the Alsace and presented it to the shopkeeper. I asked if she had a cold one – she said no but I can chill it in four minutes. The lovely lady then placed the wine in le chiller and voila the wine was chilled.

I mentioned to the shopkeeper that we were famished and if she had any recommendations. “How about some cheese whilst you have your wine?” What a fabulous idea, we agreed. “Yes please.” The lady then said, “I must pop over the road to the boulangerie and buy a baguette, do you mind waiting a moment?” – “Not at all madame.”

The bread arrived and Comté was cut and placed onto a beautiful French flowered China plate. She tore the bread and placed it on an old wooden board. We slurped our aromatic wine and chomped on the nutty and complex Comté we had placed on the crunchy warm baguette.

Of course, this was all research. When back home the vision and memory of the fabulous Parisian trip was still raw. So we planned a wine shop with a chunky wooden table (chandelier above). I rang several artisan British cheese producers and talked about our plans – none of which had been done in the UK at that point.

No2 opened as a wine shop and deli with seating and a bar counter to enjoy fabulous wines, cheese, charcuterie and freshly ground exceptional coffee. It was a winner. We were literally the talk of the town and quickly became the go-to venue for real foodies and wine lovers.

Back then we had 10 British territorial cheeses, now we have over 100. We have kept our food British which remains unique, and very much on point. Our business model has been copied several times. When others copy, continue to evolve your business. Move away from those that seem comfortable stealing your ideas. Be reassured that you
are brilliant.

Recently this happened in a place where we have traded for years. Deep breaths – you’re better, much better!