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.

Suppliers collude with them in that they do a "carousel" of offers around the supermarkets, so there'll only be one supermarket at a time doing a BOGOF or a big discount on multipack crisps, but there'll always be one supermarket doing them

they do do discounts on the same products at the same time

And the Monopolies Commission hasn't existed for decades.

A lot of small museums are staffed by volunteers so it's harder for them to have late nights or open at the weekend. They probably need someone like a paid volunteer co-ordinator who can work across local attractions to reach a wider pool of people who might prefer to volunteer at those times.

I think a lot of the local cafes that close early are mainly staffed by people who have chosen to work there precisely because they have other commitments. There are a couple of cafes near me which are only open 8-3, mainly for drivers from the bus garage and other people who want a reasonably inexpensive hot meal. They are thriving. They have lots of breakfast deals which probably make them a lot more money than someone popping in for a takeaway coffee. There's another cafe which keeps changing ownership and hasn't managed to find the right customer base. The current owner is going for hipster which is not the dominant demographic where I live!

I go to a local museum run totally by volunteers. It does open Saturday, but not Sunday or Bank Holidays. I am guessing there are not enough volunteers prepared to work those days.

Also agree that some cafes have a very specific customer base. I know a cafe that opens at 7.30am and closes at 2.30pm Monday to Friday. It serves mainly builders and is near a big builders merchants. It is very busy at breakfast and lunchtime. It seems to do well, or well enough anyway for the owner to only focus on this market.

Lots of local authorities cut from the bottom up. So they cut roles like Museum Assistants first. There’s a misguided idea there are lots of volunteers who want to commit to working set hours. One of my local museums has suffered this fate as volunteers don’t turn up if the weather is bad, or they don’t feel like it and they don’t want to do things they don’t feel like doing , look after GC, because they aren’t paid and it’s not for a CV!

7.30 to 2.30 is a 7 hour working day, so is enough for anyone really, unless it's a huge business that is busy enough it can afford staff and a manager to run it when the owner isn't there.

You are absolutely right. Once large corporations, with their massive profits and resources squeeze small business, you have monopolies, not choice. You also have issues of ethics, requiring people on minimum wage to work all hours, day, night, weekends. Yes, large companies can add convenience, but small, independent businesses add so much wider choice but probably can't afford being open all hours. I support small and independent business whenever, I can. It adds diversity, choice and ethical choice

It’s true. We have the most amazing local butcher, he delivers all over. His wife and kids run the business. They are all on board. People recommend them, they do bundles, it’s a roaring trade. In lockdown they were so busy they had a waiting list for new customers.

Compare that to the local tea shop which is empty as a tea costs you £4 and you get scalped if you touch anything.

Also he does pick up, delivery time slots, you ask for it and they will find a way for you or ask if other people want the same. There’s a reason some businesses go under and it’s all about adaptability.