Very informative

Have you ever been in a rush to catch the last post and you realise you need something quite menial like a ball of string or sellotape for a package and you haven’t got time to go into town to get them from Wilkinson’s (because they are cheap). Well, you now start to pin all hopes on your humble local shop to equip you with the fore mentioned articles. After a short walk of trepidation and thoughts of coming back empty handed you enter the shop. You now start to see the shop anew, like it was the first time; noticing things available for purchase that you've never spotted before!

Sewing kits, measuring tapes, a disparate selection of stationary, a mini screwdriver set and sun bleached pastel toned greetings cards can more often than not be found there (often hooked onto cardboard sheets in extremely awkward places). I find this hinterland of dusty neglected miscellany quite absurd - a sombre yet depressingly optimistic space that relies on the fact that there will always be someone desperate enough to pay over the odds for sundry items that have been there since the last Tory government.

Such an experience can prove somewhat distressing, especially as you frantically search with your imminent last post sweat on. However, the fine people of Crossley Wines in Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne are trying to counteract such predicaments and have kindly notified their customers and passing trade of new items that they now sell in store; these being stamps, candles and balloons. I really appreciate this combination of goods as well as informative and advertising qualities the poster presents. I don't know whether Crossley Wines saw a market for stamps, balloons and candles in Fenham and were simply advertising their niche, or they had had many enquiries into whether they stocked such goods - and were now reassuring their public.

Whatever the reason, I would rather not know because the enchantment would be lost. However, I am sincerely touched by this poster and its personal undertones. The addition of 'at your Crossley' and a smiley face footer is naively endearing and presents to us a pride and personalised service that is often lacking from many a shopping experience.

This is not some quirky Innocent smoothiesque promotion of 'look at all the good things that are inside of me', or an alienated economies attempt to promote some kind of commercial togetherness. Oh no, this poster is a representation of Crossley Wines duty to the people of Fenham and they are proud of this. Crossley, we salute you.