Station Shop – Online sales picking up steam!

How many of us who are old enough to remember the days of steam, be it as adults for those more elderly amongst us or possibly a mere child for those born in the late 50s or early 60s, remember those small newspaper shops on the platform at the larger railway stations. For me, days out spotting at Crewe invariably resulted in a first stop at the small shop on platform 5 that always had a range of railway books and magazines for sale, together with a range of newspapers and obligatory sweets and drinks for the day ahead or a possible journey further afield.  However, station shops just like today’s railways have to move and modernise with the times.

The station at Midsomer Norton is fortunate to have a similar station shop like those back in the halcyon days of steam. Ours is located within what was the waiting room in the station building. This shop stocks a good range of books, gifts, drinks and other items for those visiting the railway and enjoying a train ride on our operating days.

Shop Online

Unfortunately due to the Corona crisis, the railway and the shop are closed at this time. Fortunately, the Trust had taken a decision to invest in a new website and this enabled the railway to also launch an online shop which is slowly expanding the range of products that can be bought online and at the same time generating some very valuable revenue for the railway in these uncertain times.

If you haven’t already visited the online shop, then please follow the link from the website home page. The shop enables online visitors to purchase a range of books, DVDs, model railway equipment and other railway-related products. If you have ideas for other products you would wish us to stock, then we welcome your feedback and ideas. Online shop visitors can also purchase a membership or make a donation to one of the worthwhile appeals that the Trust is currently running to raise much need funds to overhaul various items of rolling stock – see our RMB and Mineral Wagon appeals for further information.

Maintaining a stock of goods for sale can be a constant challenge, equally though if the railway is to grow its important to keep up with the latest innovations in the world of sales, including online ‘print on demand’ services and products. The railway now has an ever growing range of high-quality SDRHT branded items available from our RedBubble print on demand website.  https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/47497244

Here you can choose from a range of branded goods, place an order and then receive the goods direct from the manufacturer bearing the SDRHT crest. At present you can purchase T-shirts, sweatshirts, phone cases, mugs and clocks to name just a few of the range of items available. If there is something else that you would like to see with the SDRHT crest printed on it then please send us an email at [email protected]

The Trust and Company have a clear vision to see the railway improve and expand in the future, every sale via either our online and station shop can assist to make our plans a reality. Please make a visit and support the SDRHT.

STOP PRESS - SDRHT Branded Face Masks.  

https://www.redbubble.com/i/mask/Sandamp-D-railway-crest-by-SandDRHT/47497244.9G0D8

Published By:

Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust 6th June, 2020

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