Longer Sunday hours & trading

[emmylou74]

I'm an independant I offer stay open after normal closing times for anyone that needs it - or to open on one of my closed days - I live very close to the shop so can be there fast for anyone.

I also offer online ordering where you can pick up in store whenever suits you or deliver for free within a reasonable distance.

I don't really know how much more flexible to the needs of a customer I can be.

I care about every product in the shop especially the food and treats line, making sure I am choosing only healthy items that will not poison your cat or dog.

To brandish all independants as dinosaurs is just crazy.

We need more Independants for the health of the economy - the big chains are bleeding this country dry.

 

[emmylou74]

Pop over here then, within 100 feet you will find independent Butcher, Green Grocer, Deli', Bakers, travel agents and a confectionery shop. Also Newsagents, post office, stationers, chemist, insurance broker and card shops (ok maybe 200 feet now!). You can park for free and get good quality products quicker, cheaper and with less legwork than you will in the supermarket round the corner and book your holiday and insure your car at the same time.

It's a shame more towns are not like this, perhaps that's why I'm blinkered and a bit stubborn concerning independents because I know they can, and do, provide a better and more convenient shopping experience.

where do you live Banned? I want to have a shop there! LOL

 

[Banned]

where do you live Banned? I want to have a shop there! LOL

Whilst it is a fantastic little town, with great shops, I would struggle to come up with a good enough argument to justify a 1,000 mile round trip to shop here!

If you really want to know drop me a pm

 

[firstmarket]

where do you live Banned? I want to have a shop there! LOL

He lives in Emmerdale

 

[Cobby]

I know, i must be so blinkered and dumb.

Come now that's obviously not tr-

For I shall now go forth, waste £3 per hour on parking, then spend 10 minutes walking to the butchers, a further 15 minutes walking to the local mini mart which sells sod all that i actually want and has someones son working behind the till who can't be bothered because he's on his phone and then i shall pop back to my car with lots of bags of shopping that has cost me more than a supermarket and in which the bags will split open and pour my expensive bacon rashes all over the car park floor.

Won't be told otherwise? You rude creature. This here folks is another reason why independents should just give up. Telling your customers are you, that's twice i've been 'TOLD' in this thread. Yes, you be told customer, told to shop when we are open and not when you are free, told to shop here and there, told to pay £3 per hour for parking! I've been told alright. Told to never ever step foot in an independent ever again. Banish them all..for good.

- okay, never mind, if you believe that then... lmao

 

[Cobby]

Like the supermarkets then.

'Local' to a supermarket can be anything up to 250 miles by their reckoning, and that's only where it starts. It can often go further away to their distribution centres before making its journey to the supermarket in question.

 

[josor]

I know, i must be so blinkered and dumb. My goodness, thank you for helping me see the light oh godly shop keeper.

For I shall now go forth, waste £3 per hour on parking, then spend 10 minutes walking to the butchers, a further 15 minutes walking to the local mini mart which sells sod all that i actually want and has someones son working behind the till who can't be bothered because he's on his phone and then i shall pop back to my car with lots of bags of shopping that has cost me more than a supermarket and in which the bags will split open and pour my expensive bacon rashes all over the car park floor.

Won't be told otherwise? You rude creature. This here folks is another reason why independents should just give up. Telling your customers are you, that's twice i've been 'TOLD' in this thread. Yes, you be told customer, told to shop when we are open and not when you are free, told to shop here and there, told to pay £3 per hour for parking! I've been told alright. Told to never ever step foot in an independent ever again. Banish them all..for good.

2 hours free parking, just outside my shop. I trade 6 days a week. Sundays usually are a free day as no other units open Sunday.

But I do open up especially for appointments on a Sunday, I also will work till late in the night rest of the days, via appointments.

 

[Photovision]

An example of why ordinary shops should die out, dinosaurs where they tell the customer what time they can shop...thanks but no thanks..i'll shop online instead, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Luxuries? Trust me. I run a number of websites selling a range of products and on a Sunday it is NOT just luxuries people are buying, it's stuff they cannot get because the local shop is closed e.g. plumbing parts that they want on same day delivery for Monday.

There must be a demand for retail at those times..why is Tesco open until 9pm on a Sunday and why are the tills full as people rush through all the stuff for school on Monday, jesus don't forget the Cheesestrings argh and the Fruit Juice!!!

The only issue we have when running a shop late is the staff costs because we cannot be in 9am until 9pm unlike the supermarkets who have staff changeovers.

It reminds of me of old fashioned television schedules..remember those? in the paper? where you have to wait until 8pm to watch that programme or sit through drivel for a hour...pah...wakey wakey, internet provides me with any programme i wish, any time i wish, on any device i wish from my iPhone to my iPad to my PC and TV.

Well done, it's great you have all those choices but what do you do if your internet is down for some reason?

Do you do ALL your shopping online?

, internet provides me with any programme i wish, any time i wish,

Can you tell me where I can see the season 2 finale for The Walking Dead? I know it's been shown already as I'm on their FB feed, can you point me towards it? I'd like to watch it on my Phone or Xbox please

 

[Banned]

Enlighten me about these secret places where newsagents source their newspapers from. wine merchants their wine, insurance brokers their policies, travel agents their flights.

Obviously a newspaper is a newspaper, never said it wasn't!

Now if you don't know the answer to wines, confectionery, gifts, toys (forgot to mention there is also an independent toy shop) and even holidays then as I said you are showing your ignorance of the independent shop and how retail works, probably because you don't use them and have followed the sheep to the supermarkets because you have been told they are cheaper, fresher and have those "best of" ranges which are top quality. Fair play if your happy with what they provide, but don't talk about what independents can and do (or can't and don't in your opinion) offer when you obviously don't know.

I do understand there are a lot of places where your only options are supermarkets, but if you get the chance do pop into an independent deli', wine merchant or butchers. And if they are worth their salt (i.e still trading in the present climate!) I'm pretty sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Philip Hoyle]

Enlighten me about these secret places where newsagents source their newspapers from. wine merchants their wine, insurance brokers their policies, travel agents their flights.

Missing the point again.

Try ordering a Blackpool Gazette at Southend's Tesco customer service desk - they've probably never even heard of Blackpool, let alone their local newspaper, and won't have a clue how to order it for you, not that they'd be interested in doing it anyway. Then try ordering it in Mr Smith's corner newsagent in Southend and you'll have it in your hand within a couple of days. It's not a matter of where they source their newspapers and magazines - it's a matter of whether they can be bothered to place special orders or give you any advice. The average small independent family owned business will go the extra mile whereas the Tesco customer service bod wouldn't be remotely interested.

Similar with toys. The range of, say, Lego, is extremely limited in supermarkets and even in the likes of Toys R Us. They only stock a fraction of the range and the same items are usually in all the big outlets - i.e. those in the current advertising campaigns. If you want something in particular, you go to a proper local independent who will have fewer "big box" current products but far more variety, more smaller sets, a few older sets, etc., and can order in anything you want from their catalogue. (Or of course you could order online direct from Lego or from other independents). You'll get nowhere trying to order something from a supermarket or big store that isn't in their current product range.

Supermarkets and other big stores simply sell you what THEY want to sell you. They are only interested in selling huge quantities. Want something unusual, forget it. It's not a matter of where they source it, it's a matter of whether they can be bothered to stock it or order it.

And further to my earlier post, good luck with asking Tesco to deliver your pint of milk or your Daily Mirror, or asking them to keep your shopping bags behind the till to collect on your way back from the doctor's surgery!

 

[Banned]

asking them to keep your shopping bags behind the till to collect on your way back from the doctor's surgery!

You psychic? I have two bags out the back for old dear who's gone to the surgery. One from the butchers and the other she purchased here. As you say would your Tesco Metro do that?

 

[Esk247]

Well done, it's great you have all those choices but what do you do if your internet is down for some reason?

Do you do ALL your shopping online?



Can you tell me where I can see the season 2 finale for The Walking Dead? I know it's been shown already as I'm on their FB feed, can you point me towards it? I'd like to watch it on my Phone or Xbox please

In the last 10 years my internet has never been down, i'm also in a WiFi area so i get internet on the go and i'm connected 24/7 through my phone even when washing the car.

Yes i do ALL my shopping online apart from when nipping to Morrisons for food as i get petrol at the same time and get so many pence per litre off. Morrisons has the cheapest petrol costs in the town and don't run out...unlike the independents

http://watch-the-walking-dead-online.com/ ???? I don't know if that works because i've never watched The Walking Dead although i do quite like Andrew Lincoln from when he was in Teachers. I usually use iPlayer, ITVPlayer etc. I can just watch it whenever i want..on my television because i have it all plugged in through HDMI cables. Anything i want, any dvd, any programme thats been on this week i can just watch it again. I can even watch some YouTube comedy programmes from years ago.

 

[Esk247]

If you want something in particular, you go to a proper local independent who will have fewer "big box" current products but far more variety, more smaller sets, a few older sets, etc., and can order in anything you want from their catalogue.

And further to my earlier post, good luck with asking Tesco to deliver your pint of milk or your Daily Mirror, or asking them to keep your shopping bags behind the till to collect on your way back from the doctor's surgery!

No you just go to a website that sells the product and can phone or email them for more information, especially if it's specific information you require. I'm not spending all day wandering from shop to shop when I can get it online, or on Amazon, or at a risk on Ebay.

Why would I want milk delivered? my god, back to the 60's we go for the independents. Got a milk float? I get my milk when i get my food or petrol at cheaper prices than the independents as already stated.

Errr my local Co-Op will hold your food for you or you can go through the check out and they'll take the bags and stick them in the van to deliver in the afternoon when you're in.

 

[Cobby]

And further to my earlier post, good luck with asking Tesco to deliver your pint of milk or your Daily Mirror

Of course they deliver. They'll offer to give you a 2 hour window they can miss by half an hour or even offer the option of not bothering to deliver at all and just marking your order as "customer not home". Should you get your delivery you'll be reassured to see that Kelly, the teenager only vaguely paying attention to the orders she's picking, will have offered you the shortest dated milk on the shelf and won't have noticed it's skimmed not semi, and since they were out of Daily Mirrors you'll be given a substitution of The BNP Gazette. Every little helps.

 

[Banned]

I just love the way people claim they shop online for "speed". It has to be the slowest way of getting your purchases there is.

 

[Cobby]

No you just go to a website that sells the product and can phone or email them for more information, especially if it's specific information you require. I'm not spending all day wandering from shop to shop when I can get it online, or on Amazon, or at a risk on Ebay.

Why would I want milk delivered? my god, back to the 60's we go for the independents. Got a milk float? I get my milk when i get my food or petrol at cheaper prices than the independents as already stated.

Errr my local Co-Op will hold your food for you or you can go through the check out and they'll take the bags and stick them in the van to deliver in the afternoon when you're in.

"If the supermarket I worship doesn't provide a product or service then it's from the dark ages and nobody wants it anyway, ugh".

These threads are always entertaining as they shows how the supermarkets can produce their own blinkered worshippers - religious zealots unmoved by facts and only interested in their 'truth'.

 

[Esk247]

"If the supermarket I worship doesn't provide a product or service then it's from the dark ages and nobody wants it anyway, ugh".

These threads are always entertaining as they shows how the supermarkets can produce their own blinkered worshippers - religious zealots unmoved by facts and only interested in their 'truth'.

Aww dear baby unhappy now. Go on. Back to your medieval shoppe selling rugs and flying carpets. Watch out for that pet Dragon as well, he bit your finger last time and you were crying all night!

Blinkered worshippers? Ah, this is what happens when someone disagrees with your olde shoppe views.

I've heard there are these new fangled things called 'Motor Vehicles' you know, you should look it up in ye olde book.

 

[GBIMPORTEXPORTRETAIL]

As an independent, if you want to compete with the big gun, it's the service that's important.

I worked ina very successful off-licence run by an ex-Area Manager for Safeway and Asda. That was the key thing he taught me.

I even had to wrap wine bottles. Each and every one of them!

 

You psychic? I have two bags out the back for old dear who's gone to the surgery. One from the butchers and the other she purchased here. As you say would your Tesco Metro do that?

Yes they have special compartments for storing customers shopping.

Earl

 

[Banned]

Yes they have special compartments for storing customers shopping.

Earl

What about customer number 3?

Edit

Darn, could have sworn there was a "two" in your post!

Fancy that though - Tesco copying the independents, oh wait that's all they have ever done.

 

I'm pretty sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

You do mean shocked and surprised when you see the prices.

Earl

 

[Banned]

You do mean shocked and surprised when you see the prices.

Earl

Yes, we do find people are very shocked and surprised by our prices, the Butchers, Fruit & Veg and Deli next to me say they get the same response as well on an almost daily basis.

 

[firstmarket]

Of course they deliver. They'll offer to give you a 2 hour window they can miss by half an hour or even offer the option of not bothering to deliver at all and just marking your order as "customer not home". Should you get your delivery you'll be reassured to see that Kelly, the teenager only vaguely paying attention to the orders she's picking, will have offered you the shortest dated milk on the shelf and won't have noticed it's skimmed not semi, and since they were out of Daily Mirrors you'll be given a substitution of The BNP Gazette. Every little helps.

I have tescos deliver to my elderly Mother. Every week without fail they turn up on time and even unpack her items for her. If they're later than 15 mins you can claim back the delivery charge.

 

[shadesofblue]

An interesting read. This thread seems to be split between those that enjoy the benefits of large stores and ordering online and those that actually own independent shops.

The fact that online deliveries and out of town supermarkets/retail parks continue to grow should be some indication as to the public's general like for them.

I would love to visit the town where you independent shopkeepers are based as it sounds perfect. Every shop run by a master in their trade and only the finest produce available. If I wanted an obscure magazine, rather than scour the internet I can visit the local newsagents who will order it for me with a glowing smile and a thank you.

Toys that are unavailable in the major chains. Quite clearly these shopkeepers have their finger on the pulse and follow current trends. A direct source for the newest playstation games shipped direct from Tokyo the next working day.

Finally, that copy of fly fishing by JR Hartley in an independent bookshop that would make the British library pale in comparison.

Rather than spending your working days on the internet slating these national chains that started off with one shop why try and work out why they are so popular and use them as a shining example of a great British business

 

[10032012]

Independents Vs Supermarkets

Size of store aside...

Its solely down to marketing (or lack of).

 

[kelvin1950]

You pay over the odds in a local cafe, i know, i used to work in one. If you want quick coffee you head to McDonalds or Costa, simples.

When did McDonalds start selling coffee? They sell a brown, scalding, burnt drink but it's not what I'd call coffee.

 

[kelvin1950]

Well i can't say as i've never visited every single Morrisons in the country..have you visited every single independent shop in the world? didn't think so.

Silly argument.

Local Morrisons has fish sourced locally and i know its sourced locally because i've seen Morrisons vehicles at the fish market by the harbour.

I'm sure the Reading one doesn't, their fishing fleet isn't that good.

 

[Consistency]

I reckon we do an experiment. I did one going back a few weeks. How many shops have opening hours on the door? Not many and what I saw was, in a town centre and I did not go to all the streets there were three shops at least that did have opening times but they were shut. There was a local fish and chip shop that was meant to be open from 10.00-22.00 or roughly that. It was about 3.45. Why was it shut? There was a lighting shop that traded closed at 15.00, yes, 3pm in the afternoon and they were closed, that was their opening times. There was a cafe that said it was meant to be open until 17.00 and that was shut and there was another one meant to close at 16.30.

So in this town it was useless. I went in a cafe and it was about 15.30. They close at 16.30. Come 15.40, those banner things they have outside were brought in and they were making obvious preperations that they were getting ready to go home.

While they were clearing up and shuffling chairs about, people came in and went back out without being noticed as if eye contact was to be avoided at all costs.

There was a craft shop where I brought something that I could have but from Tesco or online but chose to from there instead. The lady was first class and said "Hello, do you need help with anything or are you alright". That gave us the chance to browse if we wanted to without being pounced on or have her help. She was an absolute star and did not act as though we owed her a living. Very warm and welcoming.

Some small businesses are let down by others who by their attitudes deserve to go under as they are dragging others down with them, sometimes though they may well be employees. I really do not know.

 

[Cobby]

Aww dear baby unhappy now. Go on. Back to your medieval shoppe selling rugs and flying carpets. Watch out for that pet Dragon as well, he bit your finger last time and you were crying all night!

Blinkered worshippers? Ah, this is what happens when someone disagrees with your olde shoppe views.

I've heard there are these new fangled things called 'Motor Vehicles' you know, you should look it up in ye olde book.

Mmmm, love those tears. That's a delicious response from yet another average consumer zombie.

It's probably not your fault you don't seem to understand business. Supermarkets are great because they pacify the zombies; shallow, entitled and simple customers. They only cater for a certain portion of market demands though, and for the rest the independents are unbeaten. It seems to make you terribly angry which is a shame because it shouldn't - you should calm down.

 

[Consistency]

Tesco's sell handbags

 

[Consistency]

I think it is these businesses who can't wait to close and who randomly shut ought to be ostracised by their fellow local businesses. They are dragging them down and it is wrong.

I don't think there should be guidelines as such because there are far too many regulatory bodies, trade associations, guidelines agencies as it is without more springing up but I think they should get some kind of worse treatment than they get. They must be losing or missing out on custom but they don't care!

I have every sympathy for those decent businesses working hard, being consistent and trying to fair and make a simple living. It is they that suffer.

 

[Banned]

Independents Vs Supermarkets

Size of store aside...

Its solely down to marketing (or lack of).

Talk about missing the whole point. What has marketing got to do with anything :|

The independent doesn't try to compete with the superstores, it's not our market not even close. Why would I try and compete with Tesco's 5,000 plus stores, that's not business that's suicide.

The issue on this thread is that some people seem to think that the independents are more expensive, lower quality and offer bad service. In the majority of cases this simply isn't true and very few specialist independents (Butchers, Bakers, Deli's etc) will have just one item in their shop that you can get in the supermarket. That's what people get wrong when they say "I can get everything in the supermarket" - no you can't. All you will get is mass produced products. Pop into a independent if you really do want something different.

 

[Banned]

Rather than spending your working days on the internet slating these national chains that started off with one shop why try and work out why they are so popular and use them as a shining example of a great British business

See above post

 

[amac]

The issue on this thread is that some people seem to think that the independents are more expensive, lower quality and offer bad service. In the majority of cases this simply isn't true and very few specialist independents (Butchers, Bakers, Deli's etc) will have just one item in their shop that you can get in the supermarket. That's what people get wrong when they say "I can get everything in the supermarket" - no you can't. All you will get is mass produced products. Pop into a independent if you really do want something different.

This is true - the way to compete with larger companies of any type or size is to do what they don't do. (Otherwise obviously you will suffer from the comparitive advantage on offer form big co.)

 

[10032012]

Talk about missing the whole point. What has marketing got to do with anything :|

The independent doesn't try to compete with the superstores, it's not our market not even close. Why would I try and compete with Tesco's 5,000 plus stores, that's not business that's suicide.

The issue on this thread is that some people seem to think that the independents are more expensive, lower quality and offer bad service. In the majority of cases this simply isn't true and very few specialist independents (Butchers, Bakers, Deli's etc) will have just one item in their shop that you can get in the supermarket. That's what people get wrong when they say "I can get everything in the supermarket" - no you can't. All you will get is mass produced products. Pop into a independent if you really do want something different.

You missed the point!

Its not about independents marketing to consumers in direct competition with the supermarkets.

If people are addicted to supermarkets and losing out on quality and choice, whereas to me and you who go to our local butchers for quality food, most wont... most believe the food counters at supermarkets are butchers etc.

Independents just choose not to do any marketing.. its a vital area in business to get sales. Some do fine with their existing customer base and those who are prepared to try on the off chance... others suffer and wonder why, solely blaming the supermarkets.

I live within 15 minutes of 5 shopping parades - about half the shops are big chains, the rest of independents. In 20 years I have never known any of them to undertake any method of marketing - be it social networking, leaflets, or community involvement. 4 of 5 parades has a newsagent that deliver papers yet don't have the initiative to deliver their own leaflets to promote their business.

If I go into town... what few independents are left (any shops that are left, for that matter) its largely the same story. As a general rule of thumb, "if you have never been in the shop you wouldn't know its there" i.e. if I asked people what shops are within a specific area, I think hardly anyone would name over half the shops...

The independent record store might be having a hard time because everyone has CDs and mp3 (or other digital formats)... but at least they attempt to spread the word out there saying they are still alive on local radio etc. It also has brilliant word of mouth promotion also.

Marketing doesn't have to be traditional advertising, it could simply be giving away something as a prize for a competition/raffle or doing a feature for local TV news or radio. Many opportunities for that in the recession.

 

[Banned]

You missed the point!

Seems like I did miss your point then and we appear to agree. The joy of forums - where a post can be easily taken the wrong way

 

[Talay]

You missed the point!

Its not about independents marketing to consumers in direct competition with the supermarkets.

If people are addicted to supermarkets and losing out on quality and choice, whereas to me and you who go to our local butchers for quality food, most wont... most believe the food counters at supermarkets are butchers etc.

Independents just choose not to do any marketing.. its a vital area in business to get sales. Some do fine with their existing customer base and those who are prepared to try on the off chance... others suffer and wonder why, solely blaming the supermarkets.

I live within 15 minutes of 5 shopping parades - about half the shops are big chains, the rest of independents. In 20 years I have never known any of them to undertake any method of marketing - be it social networking, leaflets, or community involvement. 4 of 5 parades has a newsagent that deliver papers yet don't have the initiative to deliver their own leaflets to promote their business.

If I go into town... what few independents are left (any shops that are left, for that matter) its largely the same story. As a general rule of thumb, "if you have never been in the shop you wouldn't know its there" i.e. if I asked people what shops are within a specific area, I think hardly anyone would name over half the shops...

The independent record store might be having a hard time because everyone has CDs and mp3 (or other digital formats)... but at least they attempt to spread the word out there saying they are still alive on local radio etc. It also has brilliant word of mouth promotion also.

Marketing doesn't have to be traditional advertising, it could simply be giving away something as a prize for a competition/raffle or doing a feature for local TV news or radio. Many opportunities for that in the recession.

I'll bet that the average age of their customers has been rising for decades. Why ? because new customers are few, older folk dying off are not being replaced by the next generation and many young people won't even know they are there or what they sell.

I needed a child's bike last year. I didn't even know that we had a shop in our town. I've never seen any form of advertising. I don't know if someone does deliver papers to out house but I know there are two shops selling papers near me.

I know milk can be delivered from Milk & More but how do I know that ? Not by magic, but because they had the gumption to put a leaflet through my door, advertise in the local paper and offer me £10 off my first shop. Prior to that advertising I didn't know they existed nor that such a delivery for, admittedly more expensive, essentials.

As for the newsagent not delivering items with their own papers then that is just a criminal act of stupidity.

 

[Esk247]

Mmmm, love those tears. That's a delicious response from yet another average consumer zombie.

It's probably not your fault you don't seem to understand business. Supermarkets are great because they pacify the zombies; shallow, entitled and simple customers. They only cater for a certain portion of market demands though, and for the rest the independents are unbeaten. It seems to make you terribly angry which is a shame because it shouldn't - you should calm down.

Oh is that you, the independent, TELLING ME again? I thought so.

I best close my shop and my web businesses then because I clearly don't understand business

This is the problem with some independents. They tell the customer instead of listening and providing what the customer wants.

There are some independents that i use for specialist items that you cannot get in supermarkets, specialist car parts or DIY stuff that homebase don't do because they only do mass produced products.

The level of customer service i've found though in independents is well below average. They're dire. For every one independent that is good and informative there are 5 that are dreadful hobbyists who make it as difficult as possible for the customer. From not accepting credit/debit cards to reading a book while customers are in the shop.

In comparison to supermarkets, i've had much more trouble finding and purchasing products from independents. They're marketing is poor, the shop layout is poor, the communication is poor, the customer service is poor...sub standard in most areas to say the least. God help you if you end up in a family run shop that have employed their son or daughter, jesus, you get more information from the mop in the corner.

The best service i received was at an independent TV shop, sadly, he didn't open at weekends and closed down within 2 years. Never marketed. no website. Shop front said nothing much about what he sold (not just TVs).

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I always support our local small supermarket. It's called Tesco Express We've 4 of them now

My understanding re Sunday trading fro the Olympics is not just about local stores but West End shops like Harrods, Selfridges, HMV, Hamleys, Libertys, Matalan and the sort of places that the many people visiting London for the first, and possibly one and only time will want to visit.

Irrespective of one's views on Sunday trading it makes sense to allow businesses to capitalise on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

[mramos01]

Thank for this suggestion.