Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
14 January 2010
08:3837518I made an amazing discovery late last week; I went in to the Weigh Inn in Worthington Street, Dover to introduce myself as Dover Business Support Manager and to see if there was anything I could do for them.
It's a little cafe with a Christian theme, but what amazed me was the range of products they sell - lots of big tubs with various cake mixes where you just add water (couldn't be simpler could it ?).
They also have an enormous range of herbs and spices, pulses, lentils, seeds, nuts, rice pasta and sweets of all kinds and much, much more.
It really is an Aladin's Cave of culinary delights - but hardly anyone knows about it.
Or is it the fact it is a Christian cafe that puts people off of going in there ?
With a range of Kellogs breakfast cereals (bitesize shredded wheat, cornflakes, rice-pops etc.) no sugar-added meusli - all in big tubs, to keep the cost down, you'd think it would be a hive of activity all day long, but it isn't.
Despite it having a large range of loose products and prices that make the convenience stores and supermarkets look like highwaymen; it seems the general public are put off by Christianity and the thought of having it pushed down their throats (which is not the case) if they shop there.
Although Britain is supposed to be a Christian society, it seems our shopping habits are determined by non-Christain values - do take a look and see what they have - you may even feel like a cup of coffee and a chat when you get in there !
If you enjoy cooking - sweet or savoury, the Weigh Inn is where to get your ingredients - don't let religion put you off.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
14 January 2010
09:4437520Good to see that there is a new business trying to do well here in Dover and it certainly sounds a bit different. I havent been in there myself but good luck to them.
But yes I think a cafe with a Christian theme is going to have difficulty generating a market. Likewise if it was a cafe with a Muslim theme it would also similarly suffer. The marketforce wants to be among the great hordes of agnostics in Cafe Costa and Subway. But once again though it indicates how much people identify with the national chains.
I think if a cafe is owned by a Christian or a Muslim it would make no difference to trade at all, but it's the theme aspect that disturbs people and that's for fear of having someone elses beliefs trust upon you. Similarly, several years ago, almost in tandem with Cliff Richard, their was a great push to get Christian pop songs into the charts. This didnt work either as each song came rubber stamped with authorative approval, it misfired because at the time we were all "going off the rails on a crazy train!" If the Bishop liked and approved a song, well it was the kiss of death.
I mention the pop song aspect as an indicator of marketforces, as despite several expensive pushes to get this to happen in the charts by way of tuning into the greater youth market(and save a few souls in the process) it failed. So it is always difficult making a go of something with a religious theme but good luck to them nonetheless.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
14 January 2010
10:4337521This business has been there for some time and Im sure the owners do reasonably well .Im a believer however I did find on the few times I have been in there it tends to be people with problems who frequent the place .I sat through out a meal once listening to some poor chap whom I knew whos wife had died and he had cancer .Im a very caring person but I did feel overwhelmed by thiis conservation .A little bit like going to the Doctors .I also note it is the same little sad faces .
The food they sell as mentioned by Roger is good .
I go along to the Methodist Church here in River spometimes on a Tuesday .The coffee is good and lots of people to chat to We are all like minded people .Now I come away from there cheered
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
14 January 2010
10:5937523I buy many of my office supplies from a company in Aylesham called Puckle Supplies, who are a very strongly Christian company. Far from being deterred from using them, their beliefs actually make me use them all the more. In this age of being treated as a number, it's a refreshing change to deal with people who treat you as a person.
True friends stab you in the front.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 January 2010
11:1337525weigh in has been there since before i moved here, apparently they do a very nice lunch.
seeing all the religious books around i find a bit off putting, maybe that is just me.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
14 January 2010
12:0737530went past there yestday morning,looked like they where holding a bible meeting.i am a non believer but have used the shop a few times in the past.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
14 January 2010
15:3837540I`ve noticed it there all Summer, but I haven`t been in there purely because of the word Christianity in the name. I don`t go out of my way to shun such places, but I would feel a bit uncomfortable if they started talking religion, as I don`t get any buzz out of saying, `sorry, I`m a non believer`. However, after reading Roger`s posting, I shall pop in there at sometime, and post on here my views. Thank you Roger for letting us all know.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
14 January 2010
16:4737547It wouldn't put me off at all. A bit like churches, if I see one I like the look of I'll have a wander around inside regardless of what denomination it is.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
14 January 2010
17:0337549Sorry Jeane, I didn`t quite mean that as it sounds. I don`t not shop in there because it`s got a religious word in it`s title, it`s more that it sound`s like a place for religious people to shop in. But if you see also what I put above regarding Roger`s post, I will be paying it a visit very shortly. Will give you an unbiased posting about it. (I have by the way put some picture`s on here I have taken of churches).
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
14 January 2010
17:4537552I understood what you meant Colin, no worries mate. Second to cemeteries I love churches and as for a church with a churchyard............
14 January 2010
18:1537554I have a faith and I was still a little put off initially! Even though I have a faith I don't especially enjoy "having" to discuss it. However, the shop is lovely and I have bought a few things from there in the past - not food stuffs, and not for any special reason other than we tend to buy organic and wholefoods elsewhere, but I have bought cards and books and some Christian-based notes. It is nice to see it prospering. It is by no means an in-your-face shop.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
14 January 2010
18:1637556Do they sell Golliwogs Bern?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
14 January 2010
19:0537566To answer the original question of the thread - yes, Christianity puts me off. I realise I'm well known for my strong anti-religious secular beliefs but even a shop as innocent as this takes on a lot of baggage with the Christian theme. They sell cakes and healthy food, but the "Christian" label marks them as something a bit heavy and serious, perhaps a little intimidating and sombre. Religion doesn't have the initial retail attraction that most shops have. Shops like Tesco, Argos, Currys, or whatever (take your pick) are all about the PRODUCTS and SERVICE, whereas anything with a religious theme generates images of churches, icons, dogma, and belief systems. I know that there are many religious retail outlets around (there's quite an old one in Canterbury) but I don't really think religion and retail are a terribly good mix for a broad appeal, and the inclusion of the spiritual faith in the retail identity will certainly cut down your market.
But hey, I'm happy to be good willed and wish the shop well. I am indeed anti-religious but I am not anti-business and we all need to make a living. Fair play to the owners for having the balls to open a shop that had the potential to be controversial. Hats off to you.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 January 2010
19:5537583it is staffed entirely by volunteers, i think that any profit goes into church funds.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
14 January 2010
20:0637586holy moses rick its behind you.
oh well whats £20,000 these days.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
14 January 2010
20:1437587All prophet`s go to church Howard.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
14 January 2010
20:1437588Last time I was in there and asked for a glass of water they asked me whether I wanted red or white......Cana moan about that!
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
14 January 2010
22:3237608Iv had a lovely meal in there and not a religious wotrd spouted
Iv had bacon rolls fink Ken and I went in there once.
Never have I heard a religous word said
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 January 2010
08:0137636kieth, was the bacon cosha,and where the rolls crispy.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
15 January 2010
08:2237641brian
your missing the point