Venturing into the world of retail, one might envision bustling city centers or sprawling shopping malls. However, my journey took an unexpected turn – managing a shop in the most remote corner of the planet: Antarctica. When I received the call confirming my role as Shop Manager at Port Lockroy’s Base A, excitement surged, quickly followed by a wave of questions. Could my years in UK retail truly prepare me for commerce in Antarctica? What kind of customers would I encounter? How would this compare to running my own business?
After a month immersed in this icy retail reality, I’m ready to share what it’s truly like running a shop in such an extraordinary, isolated location.
Our shop and post office, nestled within the historic Bransfield House generator shed alongside our museum, is small in size but monumental in impact. It generates nearly three-quarters of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust’s (UKAHT) annual income. This revenue is vital, directly fueling the conservation of Base A and five other historical sites UKAHT safeguards on the Antarctic Peninsula. Every purchase here directly contributes to preserving Antarctic history and heritage – a unique value proposition unlike any high street store.
The daily commute underwent a radical transformation. Gone are the endless traffic jams of the A3. Instead, my journey to work involves layering up in thermals and waterproofs for a brisk 50-meter walk. This penguin-crossing commute, often delayed by waddling wildlife heading to the ocean for their morning fish, is a world away from the typical city rush hour, and certainly saves on fuel costs!
Each morning, a ship awaits in the bay, signaling the start of our retail day at 9 am. Expedition teams ferry passengers to Port Lockroy via zodiacs, bringing a daily influx of customers eager to mail postcards, purchase unique gifts, and experience the magic of our island home. We interact with up to 350 people daily from across the globe, sharing stories of Antarctic adventures and our unique life here. Occasionally, we even encounter visitors from our hometowns, a surreal reminder of connection in this isolated landscape.
The shop buzzes with activity during ship visits, mirroring the intensity of the Christmas retail rush back home, but daily. Surprisingly, reliable Wi-Fi enables card machines to function seamlessly. Contactless payments via watches and phones still evoke a sense of wonder – a modern convenience amidst the Antarctic wilderness.
Lunch marks the end of the passenger visits, triggering a flurry of activity. We quickly tidy, replenish stock, and reconcile the day’s takings, preparing for the afternoon ship. Restocking is a far cry from a backroom inventory run. Our stockroom is the boatshed, a repurposed 1950s structure by the island’s edge, now packed with boxes. Armed with a sledge, we navigate the snowy terrain. This year’s heavy snowfall has been a surprising boon, making sledging stock uphill easier. Later in the season, we’ll be carrying boxes, carefully dodging penguin guano – a unique inventory challenge not found in typical retail operations!
You might wonder about stock delivery logistics. Forget lorries and pallets; our stock arrives via ship, unloaded by zodiacs with the invaluable assistance of ship staff. Reordering is a complex, pre-season planning exercise. Stock is strategically delivered in four drops throughout the season. Our initial supply of Shackleton Whisky, a popular item, sold out within weeks, creating eager anticipation for the January delivery! Managing stock in this environment requires meticulous planning and forecasting, a crucial aspect of remote retail financial management.
Occasionally, ships arrive with passenger numbers exceeding our island’s capacity. On these days, we take the shop to the ship! These on-board retail events are exhilarating and fast-paced. We transport stock in dry bags and boxes, often selling out of most items and handling multiple currencies – calculators for exchange rates are essential! These mobile shop ventures are often rewarded with onboard showers and dinner, a welcome perk after a demanding day of Antarctic retail.
Ultimately, running a shop in Antarctica shares surprising similarities with retail back home. Challenges arise from remoteness, and the work is constant. However, the reward is working and living in arguably the most breathtaking place on Earth. After the day’s visitors depart, tranquility descends, leaving just the four of us surrounded by mountains, sea, and penguins. It’s an immense privilege to manage this unique shop, contributing to vital conservation funds for the Trust. I can’t imagine a more rewarding workplace.
Natalie Corbett, Shop Manager, Port Lockroy
P.S. In case you missed the reference in the title, our team’s unofficial anthem this week is “Jiggle Jiggle” by Louis Theroux – a humorous take on the less-than-liquid nature of our Antarctic earnings, which are, in fact, contributing to something truly solid: conservation.
