To ask where all those who said that WFH would be good for business are now?

[ChampagnePuppy]

Sorry, sort of a rant.
I work in a small local foodie business in the South West. I know there is a cost of living crisis, but I also feel that WFH culture is killing us.
So many said that they would spend more in their local high streets now they were WFH but that seems to have stopped.
People are online food shopping and then not leaving their houses. Three local businesses announced they were closing this week, two bakeries and one restaurant. I can count five since Christmas which have folded.
I know a lot are feeling the pinch from gas and electric but a lot of people are just WFH, squirrelling their money away, saving and then saying 'oh that's a shame' on the Facebook posts when a business announces they're folding. Why not support them? I'm not talking about those on the breadline but those who are financially comfortable.
If you want a diverse high street, you have to support local businesses or we won't be here in a years time.

I always used to take a packed lunch into the office anyway. It's expensive eating out in London.

Thinking about it, you could argue that if more people WFH they would have more disposable money to spend in a cafe.

I really think your anger is misdirected.

I've never had the spare money for that kind of thing - it was packed lunch and my own tea bags when I was regularly in the office.

Could you perhaps look at offering home delivery?

I still WE as I work for a charity. I don't think WE H is to blame though. I can't spend as much on local businesses as all my bills have gone up massively. I do whenever I can and I make an effort but I'm watching every penny.

WFH not WE

I think it's really shitty, OP. It's like people who are sad to see their local bookstore go but buy all their books on kindle.

Of course no one owes anyone a living. But choices have ethics. If your ethical basis is that money shouldn't all go to corporations, or that having a thriving city centre is important, or that zero hours, low wage contracts are a problem, then ordering everything in and ignoring your local high street shops, at least when you can afford to do otherwise, is hypocritical and unethical.

If you don't think that, then it's perfectly reasonable. Just don't complain when the high street is boarded up and your only shopping and banking options are online or in big suburban centres you have to drive to.

🤣 there's less WFH in the SW than anywhere else. There's also a COL crisis.

People have been doing online food shops for decades. This isn't new!

I suggest you do what everyone is and adjust your business to suit

1. we have new pizza van deliveries to the city AND rural villages. He's doing very well. We have a new coffee delivery service. We have a new pasty and cake van! We have a sandwich van. We also have a fish n chip van.

2. It's Winter and you're in the SW. You didn't realise it was a seasonal industry?

3. Many of your customers have moved away for better work. And those who are left have passed away. Everyone else is struggling with COL and you're surprised food treats has been slashed from people's budgets.

4. People don't want pretentious fluffy pancakes and a tiny posh coffee anymore! Cafes who have quirky upstairs / basement / cold outside eating areas are the worst. It's been instagrammed to death and back. Do something new!

What an odd OP 😁 clearly didn't know about the COL crisis and awfully low South West salaries and high rental prices. Super weird.

I’ve never been a regular café patron, but with current prices - I wouldn’t pay them now. I’m not going to spend £3.50 on a slice of cake when I can make an entire cake at home for less. I don’t need to go to a bakery because I’ve an old and trusty bread machine (and buy my fluor. in 25kg sacks). I don’t think takeout is worth it, because we can cook the same at home for less than 1/4 of the price.

Its all got too expensive. And it’s not WFH - I’m 100% office and still not going out to spend.

I ate out every week from as soon as we could sit outside, for months. My mortgage payments have gone up, my utility bills have gone up, my supermarket shop has gone up. I can now only afford to eat out once a month. Not sure how where I work has any relevance. And it’s nothing to do with “not being bothered”. I like going out. It pisses me off that I can’t afford it. You’re being shitty in the wrong direction.

It’s not that ‘people can’t be bothered’ supporting local businesses, but there is a cost of living crisis, most people are cutting back on something. Also, it’s not some sort of charity effort when you go to a shop/cafe, your buying goods or service, and they needed to be wanted/worth it. I think expectations are changing, but there are many factors at play, not just working from home.

Sorry my 3rd point was trying to illustrate that many people in the SW were elderly and passed away from Covid. Which is horrible but shouldn't be forgotten!

My grandma loved going out for a tea for two. She died of Covid and so did many of her friends in Truro.

Of course it'll have an impact somewhere.

It's a bit harsh, but I think if you have a business model where you have to beg people to support you (despite them not really wanting to because they're WFH and comfortable not going out as much)... then you don't have a great business model and need to change something.

Business is brutal. It's how it is. You have to make your business meet the need, not the other way around.

I couldn’t afford to spend £7/8 for lunch in the local cafes when I did work in the office so no, it’s not the fault of wfh.

@Devonhousehunter
You realise there is more to the SW than tourism right? Like there's whole cities where people work and commute that have their own industries. We don't all have farms or live by the sea.

I do agree with all of this, but I still think the reality is that people will behave how they behave and good luck with changing that on a large scale (cynical I know).

The businesses that surive will always be the ones which adapt to people's behaviour, rather than the opposite.

You’re getting annoyed at the wrong people. It’s not the fault of the people who work from home not buying your goods. A lot of them probably never came to your shop anyway 🤷‍♀️ These people have seen their bills going up, as have you, and have to tighten their belts accordingly. If that means them changing shopping habits then so be it. Get annoyed at British Gas who have reported tripling their profits whilst people are hungry and cold.

If you start a self employed business then you have to be prepared for the good times and the bad, sorry. Maybe it’ll pick up or maybe consider getting another job.

It's not wfh. My local cafe is charging £9 for a meal deal. Sandwich crisps and a drink. I can afford it but won't on principle. I bought lunch in order the other day, it was £10, the sandwich filling was way reduced from pre covid.

I understand why bot won't be doing that again.

I think you need to direct tour anger somewhere else not wfh.

I know my darling, I live here 😉

There's also more to cafes than pretentious fluffy pancakes and shit coffee by the sea

@Nancydrawn thanks for getting it. I'm trying to listen but it feels like people want to have their cake and eat it too (if you'll pardon the pun). If people want to have high streets with independent businesses, their own identity, employers who pay a living wage then you have to support it. If WFH is saving you £££ on childcare and commuting then I feel you have some sort of obligation to share that wealth rather than just support Amazon or Tesco or whoever.

While it sucks for businesses who before had trade from local workers, the times are changing and sadly it is very much adapt or go like with other sectors.
However, it is not just wfh. Even takeaways around are suffering massively since October. Massively. Their bills went up, customer's bills went up, so less money spent by customers, but more money spent by the business.
Again, they are all trying to adapt somehow to survive. But it is hard, you know that.

It was nlt this bad in 2008- credit crunch. It's worst many of my friends in hospitality seen for a VERY long time.

I'm saving my lattes and avocado on toast money for a house deposit.

That's all well and good but when people's energy bills are 100-200 pound per month more expensive, people have far less spare for frivolous spending. Which lunch in your local eatery is. Regardless of your "ethics"

We have a gorgeous local vegetarian cafe. It’s always packed because the food is delicious and it’s a lovely environment. If you give the people what they want they will come….

@SomeCommonThing so those who work in customer service are exempt from those bills going up for them personally too?

I don’t think people are obligated to spend their money anywhere. It’s their money so their choice.