News Archive

In the Shop till we Drop!

Kevin Spicer, the Park's Retail Manager, has transformed our retail operations with the help of some special people over the last few years.

Six years ago, I joined the Wildlife Park as Retail Manager for the shops and kiosks. To me, retailing has always been an opportunity to have fun, so it must have been my calling when offered the job.

Choosing fun products, meeting people in such a beautiful environment, and just a ten minute drive through the country-side to my home in Witney: I still have to pinch myself!

During this time, we have completely re-fitted the Children's Shop and Gift Shop, built a new store, developed a coffee and sandwiches shop, introduced Santa's Grotto at Christmas, and most recently have taken over and re-fitted the Leopard Kiosk.

I am happy to say also that these changes have helped the profits from the Park's retail operations, which have increased by over 300% since 1997, all of which is ploughed back into improving the facilities here for our animals - and for our visitors too!

70 years service

Perhaps the very best part of the job for me and my deputy Andrea Squires is building the seasonal team of staff from local people, school and University students. This would all be impossible to deliver without the support of my core team of full-time lades of who I would like to make a special mention: Betty Vincent, Jean Smith, Pat Welstood and Sue Shedden, who between them have clocked up nearly 70 years of service to the Park.

Thank you ladies for your loyalty and support. Something tells me that, like me, they will be here a good while longer!

Want to Help?

A visit to the Cotswold Wildlife Park can now be even more worthwhile. By adopting an animal, you can provide a helpful contribution towards the costs of keeping and feeding the animals and supporting our conservation breeding programmes... click here for more information