That some small businesses are failing because they don’t adapt to the needs of their customers?

[Isawyou]

I try to shop local. Fortunately I do have some great independent places nearby.

What I am finding frustrating is for example the fruit and veg shop closes at 4.30pm. They start packing up at 3.45pm and it is really difficult to buy things from there where they are stacking all the stands with the produce inside. They also look unhappy at customers coming to buy at packing up time. It is easier to go to the Tesco express that stays open until midnight.

Other shops do not open until 10am and close early. So I can’t get there before work or after work.

They complain their businesses are not doing well and people do not shop local but they are not exactly facilitating it for the customers either.

We had a local butcher and greengrocer
Open 9-5, and no parking which was a pain
I work 9-5 so could never use them and imagine it was mostly locals who could due to the parking situation
They both closed down

Have them working different shifts, 6-2, 2-10 or suchlike. Like many people in different jobs do. Why should doctors expect to always work 9-5?

Totally agree. We live in town but have a holiday house in a very popular summer area that survives on tourism.There are heaps of tourists itching to spend ££ from spring to late autumn and yet it’s hard to get a coffee after 4.30pm. It’s ridiculous, the independent tea rooms and coffee shops, gift and novelty shops and local produce shops all close between 4 and 5 and just as you say are grumpy if you nip in 15 mins before closing. All the tourist on the way back from seeing local sights and days out would stop for tea and a bite to eat but no, all closing up by 4.30 except for Starbucks, Tesco etc, it’s crazy.

My GP is open on a Saturday. And not sure what you mean about OOH closing in the evening and the weekend...isn't that the definition of OOH? Ours is open all evening/night and all weekend.

My GP has a hub so open evenings and Saturdays and Sundays
Locality hub it's called and you ring a different number
The chemist however... 9-5. I can't get my repeat prescriptions there which is annoying as it's 0.4 miles up the road

Well it would be nice but given the massive shortage of GPs, I would say this is a pipe
dream at the moment.

We tend to go into Morrisons cafes when we're away from home, often at tourist destinations or cities. We'd usually go in around 5-6 pm, and they're nearly always virtually empty. So where are all these people desperate for a coffee/snack/meal late afternoon?

(Yes, I know Morrisons isn't a particularly good "destination" for food & drink, but they're usually ram packed at lunchtimes, which means there is a demand for them, but just not late afternoon!).

Perhaps the cafes etc that close mid afternoon have it right after all?

I popped into a local coffee shop on Saturday morning and it was lovely and jammed. I have just checked on Facebook where they have posted a statement saying ‘use us or lose us’. I was planning to pop up on Sunday morning with my DH (who works on Saturdays) and guess what! They are closed on a Sunday! Surely prime-time for grabbing a coffee and some breakfast!!

It's sort of witchy/new agey things. Lots of incense, candles, crystals ornaments and fun gifts. A lot of homemade jewellery and stuff too all with a magical element to it.

@Cottagewitch

Snap x

I'm on the Gorhic end as well ☺️

Gothic even - would probably help if I could spell my own sub-culture 🤣

My husband who hasnt seen our GP in six years is feeling really unwell over the last two weeks and rang for an appointment today...first available telephone appointment on April 3rd. Its frankly taking the piss. They have seven GPs and are .5 of a GP short. So from pre Covid when you could see your GP the same week...we now have six weeks for a phone call or eight weeks for a face to face. I wouldnt mind but the average salary is around £100k full time equivalent.

Also they advertise their opening times and don't honour them. The number of times I have been to local shops that advertise that they should be open, only to find they are closed, sometimes all that day! A work colleague took the morning off to buy a present for his wife and visit a particular area in my town specialising in antiques only find them shut. He won't be returning.

Getting cross with some of these posts. Small businesses are usually an individual with maybe a couple of staff. They may well have kids themselves. They are likely to be well aware when their customers would like them to be open (earlier, later, half terms, holidays) but are constrained by their own circumstances. Also by availability of staff (ditto), the difficulty and cost of putting on another shift of staff, and the extra overheads in being open at quieter times. Which might mean it makes no financial sense with already tight margins.
The chains and Amazon have their place but if you want your small local business to be a constant in your community you need to understand this stuff and make allowances when it doesn't measure up against Costa or Amazon or whoever.

I get that 100%
But the simple fact is if they're open working hours only, I can't use them. That's not a complaint or anything, it's just a statement that I imagine other people are in the same boat
People say shop locally, would be lovely but physically can't go as they're not open

Completely agree with you.

There's a parade of shops about half a mile from me - a Co-op, a dry cleaners, a chemist, a florist, a hairdressers, and a cafe. Only the Co-op is ever open. The rest operate part time hours. Te chemist closes at 4pm most days and is shit on Saturday, as is the dry cleaners and the florist. The cafe opens at 11 and closes at 4.

I dont know why, there are never any signs for staff vacancies.

if you want your small local business to be a constant in your community you need to understand this stuff and make allowances when it doesn't measure up against Costa or Amazon or whoever

Make allowances? you mean pay double the price, and have to take time off work simply in order to shop there? yeah, not doing that- I ALSO have family obligations and kids to look after- do you really think these things dont apply to customers as well? or is it only shop owners who have children, work and have family commitments?

So those of us running small independent shops who have tried opening outside of normal working hours and still have no extra custom, please tell us the answer?

Most of us make alot of effort on social media, do as much market research as we can to adapt, yet things still don't work.....

I mentioned the big disconnect between what customers say they want, and how they actually behave.

It is utterly baffling to me.

Cool! I hope things pick up for you soon too 😌

@Cottagewitch

Thank you - hopefully we can keep the Coven with a roof over its head one way or another ☺️

Amazing. Closed up on the one morning many people have to mooch out for coffee and a bite to eat.

It might be because they have to be up very early to go to the fruit and veg wholesalers, this was traditionally the reason.

I understand the difficulties but the fact is that these shops need customers more than the customers need them. I'm not going to use up annual leave so I can be on the high street when the shops are open.

I would suggest that perhaps the shopkeepers need to cooperate with one another in a creative manner. For example, a bakery and a cafe combine forces so that they are able to cover multiple shifts and be open from 7am to 7 or 8 pm.

Was in a shop not long ago that was really three shops in one: a home decor shop (not furniture but stuff for the walls, vintage/antiquy items, candles, etc.), a t-shirt type custom printery and a lady who sold raw materials like chalk paint, brushes, unpainted items to do crafts with, decoupage & decals, etc. The wares complemented one another and they took turns running the shop.

I can imagine many interesting combos such as a DIY/hardware and craft store, cafe and art gallery, etc. that might be viable.

The cash only is a big reason a lot miss out. For some reason fish and chip shops tend to be cash only still. You get a few that take cards but a lot don't so I don't bother because going to the cash point is a pain when you just want to grab a quick dinner on the way home.

I think people on SM love to make suggestions about things they have no interest in using.

My friend worked for the museum service providing children’s workshops. keyboard warriors were always complaining about the museums lack of activities, without actually going to the museum or looking up what they had on (they had lots on). Some people just have to comment.

Id see if you can get opinions from regulars to start with.