To think *some* independent shops really aren't helping themselves...?

[BeansAndNoodles]

I'm massively supportive of small businesses, I try to use them as often as I can. We are lucky to have a high street with lots of independent shops. However, my trips to town are limited due to being short of spare time, plus parking costs a fortune unless you limit it to the free 90 mins that you get in the supermarket car park, etc.

But time and time again I go to one of the independent shops to find them randomly shut. I get that they probably only have one staff member so it's hard to stay open if anything out of the ordinary happens, but it's still so flipping frustrating.

The last few trips to town have ended with me ordering stuff online or going into one of the chains because the independent shops I wanted were closed for no apparent reason. The independent health food shop is the worst, they close for an hour at some point between 11 and 3 for lunch but it's not the same time day to day and they don't say on the closed sign what time they'll be back, so if you get there and it's shut you don't know if it's worth trekking back to that end of town in 30 mins or not. I tend not to even bother checking now and just go straight Holland & Barrat instead. Several more shops seem to rely on posting that days opening hours on their FB page, but thats hardly a reliable way to tell people if they're open or not! Last week I had an afternoon off and took a trip to a different town specifically to go to a shop that stocks work by local artists to get some cards and gifts, only to find it closed with no indication of why or if it was opening late or what. I checked their FB page while stood outside but nope nothing. Later that day (3 hours after their stated opening time) they posted that they'd decided to open later for the Christmas lights switch on and that they hoped people would come and support them

Anyway I've just seen yet another slightly passive aggressive plea from one of the owners of the worst shops for this, complaining how quiet business is and telling people to use them or lose them yada. Well yes I totally agree but more often then not when I try to use them they're not bloody open!

I mentioned on another thread that I often seem to be against the Zeitgeist eg I agree with ID cards, I agree with reducing jury trials...and I prefer chains over independents (except for coffee shops). I know that is considered a horrific attitude in my town.

Chains have a vaguely accountable HQ. So the staff open the shop on time, there is a proper returns policy and they are open standard hours.

There's a zero waste shop in my town but it's open school hours, and I work school hours, so I can't go to it. It is open on a Saturday all day, but you can't run a business if you are only open 5 hours a day in the week.

I also find the staff in independent shops can be quite rude, eg once I asked why a shop didn't have their opening hours on their door and the owner was quite dismissive. I agree with the pp who said they run it like a hobby.

I don't feel any need to support local independent businesses. I do a lot for charity, but these are not deserving causes. Agree with other PPs about the frustration of shops and cafes closed during their so-called 'opening hours' and their prices being much higher than chains. I love Aldi, M&S, Amazon etc - they usually offer good quality goods at reasonable prices and are open long hours for the convenience of customers. Why would I want to shop elsewhere for limited options and higher prices (and, indeed, sometimes lower quality)?

I'll pile in with a complaint about lack of basic information to potential customers.

Case in point, there's a new shop opening up in our small town. There have been lots of chirpy posts on the local fb group saying 'We're opening soon at 1and something on the high street, we'd love to see you, do pop in!!'

And their friends (presumably) fall over themselves to post Good luck gifs and hearts and Can't Wait messages.

But as to what date the shop's opening, what their opening times are, and - crucially - wtf they're selling, not a word 😆Giving the street number isn't much use, because 99% of people don't know business premises by number. 'Next to Poundland' would be more helpful.

It's a shame because you just think oh, another 6-month wonder. When well-run, well established local businesses are being forced to close, this lot don't stand a chance.

There's a reason why Amazon, the supermarkets and big chains were able to get so big in the first place...

Exactly this

Not long after l moved here, l was delighted to find a lovely independent wool shop about ten minutes drive away.
When l went in, it was wonderful, very good range and choice of wool and yarn, so l had a good browse and chose quite a bit.
I went to the counter with my potential purchases, there was a woman sitting there knitting who completely ignored me, but a man came out of the back to serve me. We got talking while he was putting my items through, and we both had similar accents (not local to where l live).
He asked where l'm from originally, and it turned out he was from about seven miles away, so we had a bit of a chat about it. Whereupon he turned to the knitting woman (l got the impression he was her husband) said something like "This lady's from near where l'm from back up home".
She sat there with a face like a smacked backside and retorted "And why would l be interested in that?"
He looked so embarrassed, poor man.
I found out later that it's actually their shop, and she has a reputation for being rude.
I've worked in retail. I know well that the customer isn't always right.
But l was polite and was spending a fair bit of money.
Her business, her attitude, her loss. I've never been back.

Neither appealed to millennials or gen z people. I don't understand how they couldn't figure that out. There aren't many 60yo old Gary's and Linda's around who want their greasy spoon.Neither appealed to millennials or gen z people. I don't understand how they couldn't figure that out. There aren't many 60yo old Gary's and Linda's around who want their greasy spoon.

there was no need for the snide ageism

In my suburb there are about 4 clothes shops. Sometimes I would buy something just as a pick me up. Twice I've been in one and nobody greeted me. Frosty atmosphere. Won't be going back.

I live in a big tourist town and during tourist season the shops are open and eager to serve ... the tourists , go in there and a local and they practically snub you . They then close for the winter but open in December and the guilt trip posts on social media begin about supporting small businesses and shopping "local" with in their 4 hour opening window on whatever random day they choose. The shops that take care of the locals all year round are the ones thriving

I call some of ours the "hobby shopkeepers". Seems to only open when they feel like it. And then they close down - usually announcing it in our community newspaper with a tirade about how its the fault of the customers.

Well this customer is not going to stay loyal when they only open when they feel like it and close while they return to their home country (Italy) for a month at a time a couple of times a year

Can i extend this to the chemist in my village? It closes for lunch and it shuts at 18:00. Then they moan about the gp issuing prescriptions after 17:30. They don't have a choice of products for minor illnesses for example they only have lemsip for a cold. Okay i don't need decongestants for a mild cold. However day and night nurse is the only thing that works if i have a bad cold. They are not open on a weekend either. I use another chemist as they have longer opening hours and they are open on a weekend.

What's a LInda and why does she or doesn't she want a greasy spoon?

If a so called inde is empty I think it's a front for something else.

Yes, we have a few shops in our town like this. Loads on social media about ‘shop local’ and ‘use us or lose us’ but then they’re open three hours every second Wednesday (but not this Wednesday! Didnt’t you see the TikTok video saying we are opening this time instead?). If they’re open when I happen to go past I will go in, but I don’t ever plan around using them now.

You should be my friend - I agree with you on those - I do likes nice independent and posted below about my local cafe but do agree that just because something is independent doesn’t make it great -

I went to get a voucher for my dad for Christmas from his favourite coffee shop this morning. Id emailed the owner earlier in the week and she said she'd be in at 9 . Got there just after 9 and was told she'd be 5 minutes - no staff can issue vouchers apparently.
I left 40 minutes later without the voucher as the owner didn't appear. I will have to go back as it's the only coffee shop my dad uses but I'm not impressed - why doesn't she let her staff issue the bloody vouchers!!!

I doubt it's that easy to"just change banks." The town where my mum lives in Scotland used to have 4 banks, now it has none. Anyone wanting to get to a bank has to drive at least 30 mins to get there. This is in a town which still has a fairly thriving high street, with several independent shops, and lots of elderly residents who are more likely to be using cash. Those shops will still be receiving a significant proportion of their takings as cash, which has to be deposited sometime. And lots of banks have done away with their night deposit boxes.

There used to be 2 cake making shops near me that did celebration cakes (one attached to a cafe). Went in the first to order cake for DHs milestone birthday. Straight no as 7 weeks wasn’t enough notice?
went to the second and she huffed and puffed and lectured me about ordering it much earlier. I asked for something very simple but apparently that was far too much and it had to be a standard birthday cake. Wasn’t cheap and in fact, wasn’t very nice and she was horrid to me when I picked it up like it was a terrible inconvenience.
i heard from others that they complained at every single person who ordered a cake that it wasn’t ’enough time’ even months and months before. Both shops were empty when I went in and picked up, so not exactly run off their feet.
Both closed within a few months of course.

Oh I wasn't suggesting people gave them business tips or advice.

I just meant if the business is posting something pass ag online about how they are having to close down thanks to all the generous support of the local people who never bothered to use their shop, whether anyone replied "well I would've done if you were ever open" type thing. And did the comments stay or get deleted.

I'm not on FB so I'm basically being nosey really.

I’ve also found a lot of independents quite surly and unwelcoming. Then see them on social media moaning about people needing to “support local”.

Too many small shops seem to be run by people who don't really like people much, they'd like your money but preferably without too much chat. The small shops that do best understand customer service, they go the extra mile for you and do it with a smile. Also, please put some prices in your window display, I don't want to come inside to find you're three times the price I expected

May I also offer this- I don't want to know about your politics. I want to know you opening hours, what new stock you have got in etc. Ethically sourced? Great- tell me more. Made in the UK? Smashing- let's have the details. New range you are offering? Great- save me a trip, tell me about it with pics.

Do I want to know what you think about the current politician of the moment/most hated party of the moment? Nopity, no, no. Keep that for your own social media. Telling your audience who they should vote for? Unfollowed.

I do think many are set up by people with a bob or two who can’t find anything else to do that’s flexible and are actually totally unsuited to anything involving dealing with the public -

Yes to this. Not all of course, but some for sure...

Yes to this. Not all of course, but some for sure...