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#41
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On 1/3/04 6:25 PM,"Shstringfellow" posted:
Yes, the owners will argue that it's not worth being open late on the off-chance someone will come in. I could say that about being open 9-5, too. There were many times I worked in an office and the phone didn't ring for several hours. Yes, and it needs to be consistent, too. There are several stores that will stay open an hour or two longer one night a week- but when I need something right then, do you think I can remember if they stay open until 7:00 on Tuesday or Thursday- heck no! The hours need to be pretty much the same- maybe adding a few more hours on Saturdays. IME, if a shop has one or 2 nights a week that are the late nights, most people will remember it - or call to check. It helps if the LNS gives out something like a magnet card with their hours on it. Staying open late on a Saturday or Friday night doesn't really work. People tend to do other things on those nights, than go to a shop - they may go to the mall, but even that isn't very crowded on Sat night. IMO, it's better to open a little earlier on Sat. We always have people waiting for the door to open at 10. Another thing is all of the needlework (this includes embroidery, quilt, or yarn stores) that only have classes during the day on weekdays- don't they want anyone to come?!!!! I drive over an hour to a store that offers classes in the evening and on the weekends, because the store that is only 5 minutes from me has them only on week days. And, while I'm there for classes, I buy all the things I see that I "just can't live without." The local store probably has Wow - around here all the shops have classes at night, or on a weekend day. There are some quilting shops which offer day and evening classes - some might be the same class with a section choice. One of the EGA chapters actually has a daytime meeting - in the morning - and the same program that night. In the shop, people ask about daytime classes - but we almost strictly only do evening classes. Tried some weekend classes - which worked for some other shops - but for this one - evenings are it. Sometimes we even keep a list for "potential" sign-ups, and will have customers write down what evenings work best. It's great when we have flexibility to schedule the class. Personally, since I work from the house, and can control my hours, and have lots of evening commitments - I always like when I can get a class during the day. It may be less crowded, and also doesn't take away from time with DH. I do find that most of the other students may be somewhat older - as a lot of retired folks are around to take daytime classes, and the stay-at-home moms aren't able to leave little kids, and around here it's a very high percentage of working women. Shopping during a class evening, or stitch night is a boon for the shop. It seems to me that we all urge each other on. Not to mention, if one of us is having something framed - talk about getting lots of opinions on your choice of mat and molding ;^) ellice |
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#42
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My dream shop has a recorded message on the phone line that
tells you the days/hours of operation. Too many of them don't bother with this and it's such a small thing to do. A $15 answer machine with a message that only needs to change at the major holidays makes a world of difference. You can call anytime and know that you will find out whether or not they're open now AND when they will be open if they're closed. The machine can also state that "this machine does not take messages" and all machines can be easily programmed to NOT allow the recording of messages; that way the shopowner doesn't have to worry that she/he will arrive to a bunch of messages. MaryR |
#43
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#45
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I know most of the gainfully employed stitchers think it should be
simple for any LNS to be open to customers until at least 7 pm and have extended hours on weekends. Can't they just open later in the morning to accommodate those who must work until 5? Assuming this is a sole proprietorship, the owner must be there whenever deliveries arrive, check through them, add them to store inventory, and contact suppliers about any discrepancies. Not all shipping companies will let you request a time for deliveries to be made so the owner has to be around at 8 am just in case something arrives at that time. There would also be a couple hours of work after the doors close thanks to sales/inventory verification, closing out the credit card terminal, other bookkeeping, custodial work, dropping off the deposit at the bank, restocking bins/shelves/racks, etc. If the store accepts internet/mail/phone orders, add more time to prepare and ship orders. Then it is off to the computer or drawing board to make up sale flyers and ad copy. Does your shop have a e-newsletter or mailing list? Add time for list management and document prep. How about classes? If someone other than the owner teaches the class, the owner has to take the time to find that person. Class materials must be ordered and kitted. And, believe it or not, some shop owners like to have time to stitch and frame models for their shop. Even if the shop has an employee, there are certain tasks best performed by the owner. There is no way any shop owner can please every potential customer. I used to work 10:30 pm - 7 am. Stores weren't open when I was going to work at night and usually weren't open until two or three hours after I got off work in the morning--by which time I was often asleep. Shopping was inconvenient, but I chose to be employed and I chose to work a shift which paid me $0.60/hour more than the day workers got. I've also had a job where I worked from 8 am - 10 pm (sometimes later). It would not be right for me to demand that the owners of my favorite stores adjust their hours to meet my schedule. My time with my family is no more or less important than their time with their families. My job is no more or less important than their job. I quit the job with the long hours *because* I was literally and figuratively sick of working that many hours for my rather insipid salary. I would bet that salary was still more than many small shop owners make. Given that, why should we expect them to sacrifice everything else in life to be open late and still find the time to do all the behind-the-scenes work just so we can go buy a couple skeins at 7 pm? -- Brenda Lewis WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar |
#46
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It would not be
right for me to demand that the owners of my favorite stores adjust their hours to meet my schedule. You know, I would love it if I could say, "Hey, it's inconvenient for me to work 7:30- 4:00- how about 8:30-5:00?" but the truth is, I have to be there when needed. The same is true of a small business owner- they need to go into it with the idea that they are entering a service trade and to make a go of it, they need to be there when customers need them to be. SueS |
#47
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On 1/4/04 2:27 PM, in article ,
"Meredith" wrote: Cheryl Isaak wrote: On 1/4/04 2:07 PM, in article , "Deb Milner" wrote: On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 15:44:14 GMT, Cheryl Isaak wrote: I wonder if someone could pull this off - a cooperative set of shops set in a "court yard" plaza/mall. A yarn shop, a needlework shop (with broad range of areas), a quilters shop, a finisher/framer, a tea/coffee shop, maybe even a bookshop all opening in to a courtyard area (not necessarily open to the air) with comfortable seating. And don't forget a nice bathroom; how many times has your enjoyment of something been affected by a gross bathroom. They all cooperate on costs of operation for heating, lights and the ilk but maintain separate inventory costs. That is my dream, and DH has put in many an idea for it, to the point where it sounds much like the above. His vision is for the crossstitch store, with a book store on the other side, and the coffee shop with courtyard in between. A large comfy area for stitchers to drop in and relax while stitching, and lure my sister up to put a scrapbooking shop in also. Adding the yarn shop and quilters shop is an idea I hadn't thought of...... Great minds and all that! It wouldn't be it a great place to shop. Just imagine..... Oh, yeah. We have. We talked about it again last night, after a trip into the LNS in town. (I do wish Sally's wasn't over an hour away). The LNS I tend to go to when I can't get the Gainesville....well, I just always feel like an intruder when I go there. I see the knitters and quilters and others get greeted warmly, and made to feel welcome. I get the feeling that if you are not part of some secret club they have, that you are an interloper, get your stuff and get out please.....the entire front half of the store is cross stitch, so I know they do cater to us, but I have no idea what it takes to get a question answered without feeling like I'm in their way..... I know that feeling in some shops - the yarn shop in Nashua comes to mind. Cheryl I've gotten that a lot, especially because I'm young and they assume I don't have any money to spend. They lost out on a lot of money while I was working! Meredith These days, I'd assume that is a younger person came in, they'd have the $$$; no kids to absorb those excess funds! Cheryl |
#48
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The stitching shop that used to be in Jacksonville, OR (USA) was called:
Mimi's Yarn Shoppe & Liquor Store. :-))) The businesses are long and skinny (old mining town). One side and most of the middle made up the yarn/stitching area & along one wall and one side of one of the middle rows was the liquor. Something for everybody. :-))) Liz from Humbug -- |
#49
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As Cheryl would say: You should have put up a "spew warning" before
posting that. Loved it! Dianne Liz Hampton wrote: The stitching shop that used to be in Jacksonville, OR (USA) was called: Mimi's Yarn Shoppe & Liquor Store. :-))) The businesses are long and skinny (old mining town). One side and most of the middle made up the yarn/stitching area & along one wall and one side of one of the middle rows was the liquor. Something for everybody. :-))) Liz from Humbug |
#50
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You obviously missed the point I was making. You want them to change
hours to suit your schedule. Never mind all the customers who are completely happy with the store's current hours. And just because there are certain hours you prefer, it doesn't follow that everyone else who works has the exact same time available for shopping. The owners cannot please everyone! You might want them to be open from 10am - 8 pm. I might want them to be open from 8 pm - 6 am. Assuming the owner does not know either of us (and our shopping habits) my choice would be just as valid as yours. The owner has to set boundaries somewhere. Rhiannonveritas wrote: It would not be right for me to demand that the owners of my favorite stores adjust their hours to meet my schedule. Shstringfellow replied: You know, I would love it if I could say, "Hey, it's inconvenient for me to work 7:30- 4:00- how about 8:30-5:00?" but the truth is, I have to be there when needed. The same is true of a small business owner- they need to go into it with the idea that they are entering a service trade and to make a go of it, they need to be there when customers need them to be. -- Brenda Lewis WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar |
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