Close early? Don't!!

[Joe Cool]

At least stay open til 6:00. Here's a true story why you should. I work til at least 5:00 everyday. It was my anniversary last week. My plan was to run out on my lunch and pick up flowers for my wife. The local florists in town are only open til 5:00. Well, I got extremely busy and time got away from me...I never made it out to lunch. When I left work at 5:30, my only choice was the grocery store on my way home. Not what I wanted to do, but at that point I was left with no choice.

 

[bloomz]

OK...butt face.... :bootyshak

Those pesky customers bought you a Honda...remember?

BTW, you need to upgrade your customer base...maybe some day you can buy a real scooter

I'm with ya on this one Boss......A Honda ?????

When he grows up maybe he can go from the kiddie Honda to one of these........

Yup a Honda Rickie, but a B-F Honda, and it ain't fer kiddies.


I'm thinking of a Harley someday, when I get too old to handle a Big Bike.

Some of them are rather "cute", if you like nostalgia, you know, antique farm equipment and stuff like that.

 

[RWK]

I's jest joshin wit ya JB - Here's a site you'll love - since you love your Honda - all kinds of custom choppers and everything else motorcycle - www.bikemenu.com.

Have fun JB.

p.s. - Don't feel like the lone ranger either - It might be when I finally retire - but I want a custom chopper too at some point.

 

[HeatherTuckey]

I think staggaring your staff is they key to serving our customers 12 hrs. If you are not doing this, you are losing business. Customers work and we need to be open when they are not working. Otherwise they will shop elsewhere.

When I left work at 5:30, my only choice was the grocery store on my way home. Not what I wanted to do, but at that point I was left with no choice.

Exactly.

And then florists complain that the grocery stores sell so many flowers and take away the business from the local florist.

The 9-5er florists have contributed to the success of the grocery store floral depts with their lack of convenience.

 

[RWK]

I agree totally Heather - the 9 to 5 or 8 to 5 is one of the primary reasons that mass marketers have enjoyed the success of conveinence.

My very dear friend in Tennessee stays open from 9 am to 9 pm.......and as a result, he sells the heck out of 'convienent' flowers......much to the chagrin of a mass marketer located a few stores down from his shop....who as a result of lackluster sales......closed their floral department.

 

[BOSS]

I think much of Heather and Ricks comments are, while true, market based.

Midland just about shuts down at 6pm...

 

[TGDragonfly]

We answer the phones 24/7. We also will be happy to set up consultations in the evening, at their home if need be. I know for fact that we have gained business from my comps by remaining flexible. Sometimes it is better to appear open then actually be, (huh, what? he's a loon)

 

[Carrieann]

I agree with everyone here on remaining open until you are posted to be.

But I would like to add one more thing I tell all my employees over and over.

Lets say it is 3 min till closing and a customer walks in. DO NOT RUSH THEM!! don't shut off ANY lights, don't pull ANY cash drawers, don't take your purse or jacket out, DON'T RUSH THEM.

if they stay 5, 10, 15, etc.. min later, fine not a problem, DON'T RUSH THEM

if they want an arrangement made up on the spot DO IT, with a smile on your face, as if it were 1pm and not closing time.

 

[Victoria]

One of my pet peeves too! And my staff knows that if they do lock the door at the correct closing time, but a customer comes to the door, they'd better unlock it, let them in, and welcome them!

Bang on.

When I reached my destination, with 10 minutes to spare, cash in hand (a good sum of cash), I pulled the handle to open the door. I dam n near lost my arm when it met the resistance of the locked door.

I rechecked my watch, looked at the big clock (for sale in the window of the store), yupper, 4:51. I saw a person in the store. I knocked, I waved, I knocked and waved again. I was ignored (after they looked up). I was pissed off.

They heard about it the next day. Apparently they had to close early due to an appointment. Fine, I can live with that. All they had to do was come to the door, acknowledge my presense, and explain their dilema. Ignoring me in such a rude fashion cost them my business, and the business of my friends.

If they were the last place on earth to get something I wanted for my whole life, well, I would go on wanting.

V

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

Bang on.

When I reached my destination, with 10 minutes to spare, cash in hand (a good sum of cash), I pulled the handle to open the door. I dam n near lost my arm when it met the resistance of the locked door.

I rechecked my watch, looked at the big clock (for sale in the window of the store), yupper, 4:51. I saw a person in the store. I knocked, I waved, I knocked and waved again. I was ignored (after they looked up). I was pissed off.

They heard about it the next day. Apparently they had to close early due to an appointment. Fine, I can live with that. All they had to do was come to the door, acknowledge my presense, and explain their dilema. Ignoring me in such a rude fashion cost them my business, and the business of my friends.

If they were the last place on earth to get something I wanted for my whole life, well, I would go on wanting.

V

OUCH.....that hurts, and rightfully so....

 

[Toddxxx]

Here there is always talk of de-regulating shopping hours (now there is no trade Sunday unless an exemption is applied for and no trading after 6 pm for most shops). Every decade or so there is a State referendum on it, last time 60% of voters (and here that means EVERYONE over the age of 18) said no thanks, but that hasn't stopped the big retailers pushing for it. Personaly I thought that was some pretty good market rersearch telling us most folks didn't want, but WTFDIK?

I used to think that giving people more hours to spend money doesn't give them more money to spend, but lately we have been having really good sales in the last hour of the day, particularly in summer. I am in a shopping centre which closes at 5.30, if de-regulation comes thru I guess I will be open later. It might be good for business, but it won't be good for me as I don't have one of these --> :ylinfant: so I'll be stuck doing the extra hours.

But hey quality time with the wife and cat is over rated I suppose.

My point is don't lose track of the work/life balance, not much point in having a successful business if you don't have the time to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

 

[RWK]

I agree with everyone here on remaining open until you are posted to be.

But I would like to add one more thing I tell all my employees over and over.

Lets say it is 3 min till closing and a customer walks in. DO NOT RUSH THEM!! don't shut off ANY lights, don't pull ANY cash drawers, don't take your purse or jacket out, DON'T RUSH THEM.

if they stay 5, 10, 15, etc.. min later, fine not a problem, DON'T RUSH THEM

if they want an arrangement made up on the spot DO IT, with a smile on your face, as if it were 1pm and not closing time.

This type of situation is also a pet peeve of mine. I worked with a lady......talented designer.....but she had a different mindset than I. THe shop closed at 5:00 p.m. At 4:45, she had already cleaned up, putting makeup on, getting ready to bolt out the door at five on the dot. If a customer came in or there was additional work to be done.......like processing flowers or putting stock in the cooler......general end of day stuff.......she would virtually ignore the situation in order to get out bang right on time.

Drove me nuts !!!!!

 

[Carrieann]

This type of situation is also a pet peeve of mine. I worked with a lady......talented designer.....but she had a different mindset than I. THe shop closed at 5:00 p.m. At 4:45, she had already cleaned up, putting makeup on, getting ready to bolt out the door at five on the dot. If a customer came in or there was additional work to be done.......like processing flowers or putting stock in the cooler......general end of day stuff.......she would virtually ignore the situation in order to get out bang right on time.

Drove me nuts !!!!!

She wouldn't last long at this shop.

 

[bloomz]

I agree with everyone here on remaining open until you are posted to be.

But I would like to add one more thing I tell all my employees over and over.

Lets say it is 3 min till closing and a customer walks in. DO NOT RUSH THEM!! don't shut off ANY lights, don't pull ANY cash drawers, don't take your purse or jacket out, DON'T RUSH THEM.

if they stay 5, 10, 15, etc.. min later, fine not a problem, DON'T RUSH THEM

if they want an arrangement made up on the spot DO IT, with a smile on your face, as if it were 1pm and not closing time.

Too funny I have someone in here right now we're waiting for them to leave.....and my wife is frigging hungry, and she gets dangerous when not fed on time.