It’s definitely not a new thing. I grew up in a small town and remember when a large national discount chain store came into town - it was front page news that they would be open after 6 pm and on Sunday. Gasp! National chains changed how stores are run and it’s been brutal for small businesses.
Keeping a store open all day every day is not sustainable for small businesses - the cost of staying open is not supported by sales during those hours. It’s s delicate balance for small businesses to determine the best hours to be open to meet the needs of most customers. I don’t think the hours you have listed are particularly unreasonable. Not every works 9-5 (it’s actually pretty astonishing how many don’t) and local stores often offer personalized shopping by phone or email.
There are several local stores in my town with similar hours and I call them to see if they can help me get what I want within my timeline. I strongly believe in shopping local and will work within their hours to shop there. I find that local stores can provide some services better than national chains and will often go out of their way for regular customers. I have had them text or email me photos of merchandise for me select from - what national chains offers this kind of personalized shopping? They’ve wrapped gifts and had them hand delivered on their way home when I’ve forgotten someone’s birthday - note only when they offer this service I have never demanded it. Some keep a record of what I buy so I can order it again very easily.
One of the little secrets of large national chains are frequently subsidized by developers and/or local taxes. Small businesses don’t get these handouts to do business. And they have no ties to the community. Too often we hear news of a national chains closing stores in multiple locations/cities for reasons that have little to do with the success of a particular store.
It’s definitely not a new thing. I grew up in a small town and remember when a large national discount chain store came into town - it was front page news that they would be open after 6 pm and on Sunday. Gasp! National chains changed how stores are run and it’s been brutal for small businesses.
Keeping a store open all day every day is not sustainable for small businesses - the cost of staying open is not supported by sales during those hours. It’s s delicate balance for small businesses to determine the best hours to be open to meet the needs of most customers. I don’t think the hours you have listed are particularly unreasonable. Not every works 9-5 (it’s actually pretty astonishing how many don’t) and local stores often offer personalized shopping by phone or email.
There are several local stores in my town with similar hours and I call them to see if they can help me get what I want within my timeline. I strongly believe in shopping local and will work within their hours to shop there. I find that local stores can provide some services better than national chains and will often go out of their way for regular customers. I have had them text or email me photos of merchandise for me select from - what national chains offers this kind of personalized shopping? They’ve wrapped gifts and had them hand delivered on their way home when I’ve forgotten someone’s birthday - note only when they offer this service I have never demanded it. Some keep a record of what I buy so I can order it again very easily.
One of the little secrets of large national chains are frequently subsidized by developers and/or local taxes. Small businesses don’t get these handouts to do business. And they have no ties to the community. Too often we hear news of a national chains closing stores in multiple locations/cities for reasons that have little to do with the success of a particular store.