Turnover tripled

– The first time in 2014 it happened three weeks after I took over. I didn’t have insurance, but luckily the damage wasn’t too great, says shop owner Monika Bjørsvik.

On the night of November 12 this year, it happened again. This time the flood water was at its highest about 30 centimeters above the floor of the entire store.

– All of the coolers and freezers are destroyed. We don’t even have electricity, said the shop owner when TV 2 met her in the shop the following day.

Never closed the shop

Still, she refused to close. With the help of the other employees and helpful neighbors, she was able to stack the goods from the bottom shelves up to the top.

– Literally everyone was at the pumps. People did a great job so that we could open just a couple of hours late, says Monika Bjørsvik.

The flood that hit Western Norway in mid-November was one of the worst in modern times. Several municipalities set up emergency staff. At Voss alone, damages of over NOK 100 million were reported. Several roads and the Bergen Railway had to be closed due to the masses of water.

Tripled turnover

Despite the flood challenges, the country store at Evanger is in many ways the story of the shop that makes the impossible possible. While many district stores are struggling with low turnover and poor visitors, it has only gone one way at Evanger.

– We have more than tripled our turnover since we started in 2014 and have now passed NOK ten million, says Bjørsvik.

She thinks the explanation is that they have built a convenience store decorated with antiques, while at the same time investing in their own bakery, cafe and local goods.

– We let the small producers who do not get shelf space at the big chains, says Monika Bjørsvik.

Received praise from customers

When TV 2 visits the store, there is a steady flow of customers. Some pick up the pork chops they have ordered, while others just want to drink coffee and eat cake.

– The land trade is the very lifeblood of Evanger. They have fantastic service, and if there is something they don’t have, they get it, says Elsa Mari Rasdal.

The coffee friend agrees.

– The shop is vital for everyone, but especially for the elderly who live here, says Nina Bergo.

Because here you can get help with most things.

– I remember a customer who had been without a phone for two days because he had switched it to airplane mode. We fixed that, laughs store manager Monika Bjørsvik.

In addition to the good customer relationship with those who live in Evanger, she believes one of the reasons for the store’s growth is the cabin people who often stop on their way from Bergen to Voss.

– I usually say that when you come here, it’s the weekend wallet that matters. Then you can treat yourself to slightly more exclusive cheeses and sausages than on a daily basis, says Bjørsvik.

Now she is looking forward to the most peaceful Christmas possible.

– There has been a lot of despair, but you have to go on with a crooked neck. We have been working around the clock, but now it is worth all the effort, says the store manager.

Several months of repairs still remain after the latest flood. It doesn’t bother the store manager.

– There is a little more noise than normal. Otherwise, customers don’t notice anything. When we are finished, the shop will be nicer than ever, promises Monika Bjørsvik.