Appalled at the email I just received!

[PoptartPoptart]

I just received an email from my local Squires Garden Centre saying that their cafe is open as usual and basically encouraging everyone to go along to have a coffee and a look at the plants!
Am I alone in thinking this is bloody irresponsible?
A lot of their clientele will be over 70 and the government advice is for this age group to be socially distancing themselves from public places, not sitting in a bloody cafe that will probably also be frequented by mums and young children. Actually, the government advice is for everyone to avoid public places unless essential.
I honestly can’t believe they are using their email distribution list to encourage people to go along in direct contrast with the official advice.

People on Zero hours - financial help available.

Supermarkets are currently hiring to help cope with demand and reduced opening hours

Have to go into self-isolation for 12 weeks - financial support available such as ESA.

All this info and more is all over the web.

But the support that is available is minimal, particularly if you're renting and have no savings.

To say "people care about money and not people's health" is a statement that comes from a very privileged position. Not everyone can afford to just close up shop and risk not having any income for weeks or months on end.

Agree adaline. Looking for jobs here but over 5 miles is nearest one we can find to apply for - possible on bus so will try for that but also heard something about trying not to use public transport,

Grants never get paid back btw.

Loans or grants will vary on a number of things.
It was up to 3k, the news seems to be saying it's increased to 10k. Those who get the loan, the repayment will be set to help them re-open.

Those paying business rates will have them suspended for 1 year.

Knowing all of this would now make me very sceptical about a small business is staying open. It makes no financial sense. Yes I understand that staff will need to be paid, the 10k should help with this. No business rates to pay. Minimal utilities to run.

Yes, there is a chance of losing money still, so it's in their interest to close asap to kick this fucker away.

Again it's all over the web. And for other things like rates etc, I contacted the relevant people to try and get some kind of idea of what to expect. Over the past few days, this has been considerably easier as the government are making announcements. And various departments are working to implement these things as quickly as possible.

I saw an advert today from a holiday cottage rental facilitator saying something along the lines of "Easter has come Early - why not head for the coast with your kids".

More than a little shocked.

Knowing all of this would now make me very sceptical about a small business is staying open. It makes no financial sense. Yes I understand that staff will need to be paid, the 10k should help with this. No business rates to pay. Minimal utilities to run.

But it's really not that easy.

If you close while all your competitors remain open, you lose business and, sadly, credibility. Plus, £10k really doesn't go far - if you have three full-time staff, that barely covers wages for two months (as you'll need to pay yourself too).

Utilities will be on direct debit, so closing won't make an immediate difference. You still need to pay insurance and suppliers. You might not have to pay business rates but you still need to pay rent. 10k might sound generous but it really doesn't cover much.

"To say "people care about money and not people's health" is a statement that comes from a very privileged position. Not everyone can afford to just close up shop and risk not having any income for weeks or months on end."

Finally someone said it. The "work from home" brigade on MN just don't get it.

"To say "people care about money and not people's health" is a statement that comes from a very privileged position. Not everyone can afford to just close up shop and risk not having any income for weeks or months on end."

There's a difference between carrying on trading, and telling vulnerable customers they'll be fine because you've opened a window (really), and it's all a fuss about nothing anyway.

There's a difference between carrying on trading, and telling vulnerable customers they'll be fine because you've opened a window (really), and it's all a fuss about nothing anyway.

I don't know any business who's done the latter.

"There's a difference between carrying on trading, and telling vulnerable customers they'll be fine because you've opened a window (really), and it's all a fuss about nothing anyway."

No one is forcing people to go in?

Too late.

I got the “we are open, the show must go on” email from a london theatre on Sunday, yesterday it changed to “we’re closed, your refund or exchange is in progress”

I know it’s not easy.

I would be weary about a place like the garden centre still keeping their cafe open, now and in the future because of basic food hygiene.

If they cannot get to grips about how this spreads then I would be questioning their food storage and prep areas.

That will cause damage to the business now and in the future once the penny drops for a hell of a lot of people.

Are they using the correct cleaning materials to try and contain any cross contamination on seats, tables, counters, bathrooms?

Are they really doing a deep clean every single night?

I very much doubt it.

I'm really losing respect for the shops that keep mailing to say that they are cleaning and it's safe . It may be safe for one tiny snapshot of time until an infected customer comes in.

Exactly. One customer comes in, coughs and the clean-up should begin again.
Unless your customer wears a mask and touches nothing, you have a lot of cleaning.
Ok, so that customer pays. What about that money in the till?

By the time you have given that customer a coffee -

Properly cleaned all areas they might have touched, including the money.
At least three pairs of gloves and/or washing hands.
Running costs for the coffee machine and of course coffee, cup etc
The wage for the staff member
Electricity and any heating costs to open the shop.
If it's a sit-in also the cost of washing the cup.

For what? To sell a coffee for £2.50 or whatever

Makes no financial sense. You've spent all of that profit on the clean up in terms of equipment and labour, and you're heavily out of pocket.

Yes, you will still have the energy bills to pay. But because the place isn't open, they will be consuming the minimum needed. It won't need heating, or very low, and it really won't need water hot or cold. So more savings.

You open until you last delivery runs out if it cannot be stored for a long period. And fuck it, pay the money and take it home. You work a deal with your suppliers to give them some cash now from the stock they just delivered and an arrangement for when you open. Fuck your suppliers, and you have closed your business.

Without suppliers, you won't be able to recover. Suppliers and utilities will want to work now with people. They don't want you to go under. They need you now and in what is hopefully a few weeks.

I know if this drags on, I will get into trouble because of overheads. As soon as it became clear from what was happening in Europe, I have been planning and in constant touch with people, I need to pay. The more updates they get, they pass on so we can work together.

Don't forget. The people we work with are facing the same problems. Leaving until when everything goes back to before, people might not be so responsible. Restrictions on when things can be done might get applied to help the recovery, leave it too late, and again sorry bye.

Admittedly. Even though I've had a few successful businesses over the past couple of decades, I'm not and I doubt I will ever have a company as big as virgin. haha

Well they’ll be shut now. And possibly for twelve months according to the news.

I suspect the email was prepared and set up before all this by a third party company.

I also would go along with saying that the email was set for the date it went out before hand, and the their party company didn't think about it, before auto sending the email to the listing subscribers.

I suspect lots of companies that will sink during this time, especially the small independent ones.

Where I live there are a couple of independent coffee shops I use quite regularly. They have a couple of units, and a handful.of staff. Social distancing/exclusion wil effect them big time.

I'm not over 70, bit I am part of the vulnerable group, but as yet, I'm not staying home... I'm not unwell, and with my mental health, I can't state at 4 walls for long. So I go out still, but if a cafe is already busy, I go back when quieter. As a smoker, I sit outside anyways, in all weather, and due to this am slightly hardier than some who aren't used to being wet n cold!

So.long as we're sensible, we should be ok, just don't take stupid risks.

If you feel it's safe to do so, support your independent retailer.

Totally irresponsible.

I would email them and if they send you a shitty email put them on blast on FB and Twitter.

Selfish idiots.

I wonder how many people commenting are actually self employed or small businesses? It's very well judging others, but in my area, despite all the hype, there are still only 2 confirmed cases. I think these people are wondering how on earth they are going to make ends meet, but anyway they've been told to close so no longer an issue. Will the small businesses be getting 80% of their income covered like employees are supposed to be; I think I know what the answer to that is likely to be.

Will the small businesses be getting 80% of their income covered like employees are supposed to be

I think the self-employed qualify for the equivalent of SSP which is £94 a week. So, not at all enough to actually cover the cost of staying alive

Ssp is a gate way benefit.
Help with council tax and rent will also be available.
Just the same as anyone who will be on universal credit, which is less than ssp, additional financial help will be available.