Why do some shops still close on an afternoon?

[BendyBobbingApples]

We don't live anywhere particularly remote but there are a couple of shops that close on a Weds afternoon here. Our (v busy) Chemist completely closes for over an hour each day for lunch.

Then today dh was in town buying a thing to mend my tumble dryer from an independant shop that sells electrical stuff, and apparantly they always close on a Saturday afternoon.

I find it strange, especially now businesses are supposed to be hanging on by a thread and we're always being encouraged not to let high streets die etc etc that they shut when others are open (I don't mean Sundays).

Also our library closes on a Weds afternoon.

It just seems a bit..1950's

Possibly if they don't get many customers they are running at a loss (staff wages, electricity etc) at those times and close in the afternoons to cut costs.

Because they don't emply enough staff to cover lunch breaks and days off. It would cost them much more to employ extra staff than the money they would make during those times.

if the shop is not busy it is often more cost effective to close than to pay staff. Re your chemist, they probably all take lunch at the same time as the person that does the prescriptions.

Try Belgium - shops shut on a Monday; everyone in my town bar the cafes and the sandwich shops close for an hour at lunch, including the banks, sometimes longer. One could argue that the slower pace of life is good and that it just reinforces that life isn't all about shopping.

Your lucky your library only closes on a wed afternoon what with all those pesky cuts.

You're obv.

Because they can?

Because they want to close their shops at these times?

Because for every shop that closes on a weds afternoon there will be thousands that don't?

Because they are taking a small stand against our ridiculous need to constantly consume?

Don't know really, why do you think they do it?

Ok well not sure just wondering aloud really. I'm not infuriated over it but it does mean people buy elsewhere which I guess isn't what they want.