Extending opening hours

[Dartfordian]

How much extra business could be expected for a convenience store by opening until 6pm on a Sunday, rather than the existing 1pm?

 

[Toby Willows]

Try it and find out. The only cost is wages and a bit of electric so nothing to lose.

 

[Newchodge]

That depends on so many factors that there is no point answering the question. Trial it and find out.

 

[Dartfordian]

Thanks for your replies. Actually, I’m writing a business plan with a view to buying a store for the first time and wondered if I could add on, say, 5% net profit by extending their opening hours. I appreciate every store must be different (this one's out in a village with no competition for 4 miles).

 

[Toby Willows]

If you are in a village with no competition then it’s unlikely you’ll increase turnover, unless it’s a tourist destination. If you were in a town then extending hours after the supermarkets have shut would usually be beneficial.

 

[Mr D]

You may get extra sales on the Sunday but will that be stuff that would otherwise be purchased later in the week from the same shop?

 

[Newchodge]

Thanks for your replies. Actually, I’m writing a business plan with a view to buying a store for the first time and wondered if I could add on, say, 5% net profit by extending their opening hours. I appreciate every store must be different (this one's out in a village with no competition for 4 miles).

I would write your business plan on the basis of no change. Then if extended Sunday opening increases turnover, re-write that bit. Whatever you do, don't rely on that 5% assumption.

 

[Page]

I realise you want a figure as something better than nothing but it will depend on so much

It could become your busiest day of the week - it all depends - on the shop type and its location etc

But take care before you throw away your spare hours - it will slowly drain you

PS Are village stores not being killed by food deliveries from the likes of tesco et al

 

[Toby Willows]

I realise you want a figure as something better than nothing but it will depend on so much

It could become your busiest day of the week - it all depends - on the shop type and its location etc

But take care before you throw away your spare hours - it will slowly drain you

PS Are village stores not being killed by food deliveries from the likes of tesco et al

Actually in affluent areas a village store can thrive. But it needs to done 100%, in the right location and ideally with a post office.

 

[Dartfordian]

PS Are village stores not being killed by food deliveries from the likes of tesco et al

Thanks for the advice. Re-deliveries from supermarkets, I've had village store owners tell me it has certainly made a difference but that it's levelled out. I figure it just means convenience stores in villages finally got the rude awakening those in towns did decades ago when the supermarkets arrived. They'll still get the top-up shoppers while the store owners learn to innovate.

 

[Mr D]

Supermarkets have been delivering for many years, shops have had time to adapt.

 

[Talay]

You can also be smarter with hours on any day.

Say you have two staff, both working from 9am to 5pm. Why not have one work from 8am to 4pm and the other from 10am to 6pm ? You get an extra two hours opening for no extra wages.

Equally, look at whether you need all the staff all the day. Certain days might work well with reduced staff in the afternoon, again you are covering lunch and saving wages.

Don't forget your suppliers too. Far too many just accept the status quo but you should really be pushing for better prices and terms as saving costs is pure profit with no "will it work or won't it ?" argument.

Sundays can be substitution but I know that it can work in the right situation. Do market research first and ASK your customers. Then ask people who are NOT your customers.