Overview
Coast & Country is an established independent clothing, footwear and accessories retail business situated in the attractive coastal town of Swanage, Dorset. Occupying an excellent position in the seafront Square, the business offers a carefully selected range of men's and ladies' clothing, footwear and accessories.
Founded in 2018, the business opened following a complete refurbishment that created a bright, modern and well-presented retail space. It stocks a range of recognised brands alongside complementary accessories, appealing to both local shoppers and the town's year-round visitor trade.
The business benefits from a loyal following and strong repeat custom, supported by its excellent location and the popularity of Swanage as a coastal destination. It is offered for sale individually as a genuine standalone retail opportunity, with scope, by separate negotiation, to acquire the seller's complementary sister business in Swanage.
Business Highlights
- Established independent Swanage retail business, founded in 2018 and opened following a full refurbishment
- Gross turnover of circa £160,000
- Excellent position in the seafront Square, offering a bright, modern and wellpresented retail space
- Men's and ladies' clothing, footwear and accessories offering, including a range of recognised brands
- Strong local and tourist customer base, with a loyal following and repeat custom
- Customer Excellence Award winner, with a strong reputation for friendly service and community spirit
- Experienced parttime staffing support providing useful continuity
- Complementary sister business potentially available by separate negotiation
The Business
Coast & Country operates as a traditional independent retailer, offering a carefully selected range of men's and ladies' clothing, footwear and accessories. The product mix features several recognised clothing and outdoor brands, footwear ranges, hats and complementary accessories, appealing to both practical coastal shoppers and visitors seeking quality independent retail.
The retail layout supports the offering with customer-facing display areas, shelving, retail fixtures and operational infrastructure already in place. The sale is understood to include fixtures, fittings, retail displays, shelving and operational infrastructure required for continued trading.
The business is defensible through its established local reputation, loyal repeat customer base, seasonal visitor trade and prominent town centre visibility. It is operated by the owners with support from experienced part-time staff who work flexibly across the wider retail operation, providing a smooth handover for an incoming purchaser. This is a genuine turnkey opportunity, allowing a buyer to continue trading immediately.
Location
The business is located in Swanage, Dorset, occupying an excellent position in the seafront Square.
Swanage is a quaint Victorian seaside town on the Jurassic Coast, welcoming visitors throughout the year. The town benefits from a strong calendar of events, including art, folk, jazz, pirate, fairy and fish festivals, together with a large programme of summer activities during Carnival and RNLI weeks. These events help to boost footfall and create strong trading conditions.
The business is positioned where people gather to view the museum, enjoy nearby pubs, restaurants and fish and chips, and explore the seafront and surrounding town centre. This creates a strong trading environment throughout the year, and the location is particularly well suited to clothing, footwear and accessories retailing.
Premises & Tenure
The business operates from leasehold premises in an attractive and prominent seafront Square location. The premises were completely refurbished prior to opening and provide a bright, modern and well-presented retail space.
Tenure is leasehold. Any assignment or new lease arrangement would be subject to landlord approval and the usual legal process. Full lease details can be made available to seriously interested parties following buyer qualification and completion of a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Financial Overview
The business provides the following headline trading figures:
- Turnover: gross turnover circa £160,000
- Adjusted net profit: circa £25,000
- Stock for this location: approximately £32,000, to be purchased in addition at valuation on completion
Growth Potential
The business offers clear future growth potential, particularly for a purchaser with experience in retail, branding, e-commerce or digital marketing.
- Expanding online sales and creating a stronger ecommerce platform
- Increasing social media engagement, email marketing and improved SEO
- Building repeat sales from tourists and developing clickandcollect or postal delivery options
- Building relationships with local accommodation providers and increasing tourismled marketing campaigns
- Exploring combined ownership with the complementary sister business
The business has historically remained focused on traditional in-store retail, leaving scope for a digitally focused buyer to develop online revenue streams.
Reason for Sale
The business is offered for sale due to the owners' planned retirement.
Next Steps
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an established clothing, footwear and accessories retail business in the desirable coastal town of Swanage. All enquiries are strictly confidential, and viewings will be arranged by appointment only. Interested parties must not approach staff directly. All enquiries and viewing arrangements should be made through Goodwins Business Brokers. Full details are available in the Information Memorandum.
