Days Of Operation

[doylestownboy]

I must have too much time on my hands today if I'm posting!

If you were only open 6 days per week what day would you choose to be closed?

Monday is the one day I find that frame shops close because they say it's not busy. I stay open on Monday to pick up the customers that can't find a framer open in town and want to place an order. I close on Sunday since I am a one person shop and need time to be with my family. What day are you closed?

[Hobbes03]

Sunday.

-Mike.

[Emibub]

I am currently closed on Sundays. Recently I have debated with myself to start closing on Monday's, because I'm tired. I am thinking closing on Monday would give me time to go out and market my business also. I simply can't be closed because I live in fear of missing a customer. A sales rep just the other day told me if I am out marketing my business on Monday and contact say 5 people and maybe turn a couple away because I am closed, hopefully they would come back plus I have just marketed to maybe a couple who wouldn't have come in otherwise.

Makes sense, I still would have a hard time not being here.

[ 09-17-2003, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: Emibub ]

[katman]

I was open every day 9 to 7 except Sundays, 11 to 5. I decided to close sundays during August. Got a few complaints about being closed Sunday, mostly from my photo processing customers.

I decided to stay closed Sundays till we get close to the holidays. Also, cut the hours back to 10 to 6:30. I'll do appointments after 6:30 and on Sunday for portrait work and regular framing customers who can't get in during normal hours.

Maybe I'm missing a few customers, but the time off clears the head. The customers do seem to be adjusting rather than going somewhere else.

[doylestownboy]

Kathy,

Thanks for your response. I'd be willing to bet you are good at what you do. That is all the more reason that you could talk yourself into closing on Monday to do some marketing.

In the event a couple of your customers get to the door and see that you're closed on Monday, they'll be back to get the personalized service and quality framing you offer when you reopen on Tuesday.

This advice comes with experience from me closing for vacation twice a year, for a week at a time. When I reopen the shop after vacation they do come back and don't complain.

[Meghan MacMillan]

My posted hours are Tues through Sat. THere are plenty of times however, when I am in the store on Mondays and I always have customers come in. If I were not someone's mother (or my son wasn't as accustomed as he is to regular meals and clean clothes) I would open on Mondays. Enough people come in on Tuesdays that say "I came by yesterday vyt you were closed" that I am still comfortable keeping it this way. My nearest competitor is also closed on Mondays or it might be a different story.

[wpfay]

Closed Sundays and Mondays, but all my information on shop hours feature a prominent "or by appointment". I am usually in at least half a day on Mondays, but most of the clients know to call before coming in on Monday.
It pretty much the norm for independent small shops around here. Some of the mall locations are open 7 days, but they are also having 75% off sales, and I wouldn't want to do that either.

[RozR]

Ah, the see-saw of self employment, one person shops!!!

I am closed on Sundays. I also work a "short" day Mondays - 10-2 - it seems to pick up some nice business that day - since others are closed AND that seems to be some people's day off who don't work a corporate M-F 9-5 job!! So, I have found it to be a good day to stay open. I also see a competitor has opened for Mondays. Hmmm.

I also will stay around longer if needed for myself or for a customer. I also post "By Appointment Any Time" but nobody has taken me up on that - yet.

I will not open Sundays ever - not even for the holidays. It may be a personal/spiritual choice - that I have to make - even though I may be here to do work during the busy season.

I toy with closing all day Monday - Kathy, to do what you say - Market the business and to add to your other comment: "I am woman, I am invicible, I AM TIRED"!!

I also closed Fourth of July week - and felt really good about it personally (really needed a va-ca!) and business-wise when customers said "Oh, I was here and you were on vacation" - that means - they came back. If they are good customer - they will!! If they are in a hurry - they will go somewhere else - that happens anyway.

This week, I could have been closed all week for the lack of traffic. What's going on!??

Roz

[D_Derbonne]

Originally posted by Rozmataz:
Ah, the see-saw of self employment, one person shops!!!

I also will stay around longer if needed for myself or for a customer. I also post "By Appointment Any Time" but nobody has taken me up on that - yet.

I toy with closing all day Monday - Kathy, to do what you say - Market the business and to add to your other comment: "I am woman, I am invicible, I AM TIRED"!!

This week, I could have been closed all week for the lack of traffic. What's going on!??

Roz I hate this new time limit on the edit feature.
:mad:

[ 09-17-2003, 07:38 PM: Message edited by: D. Derbonne ]

[frame farm]

I'm probably really by myself here but I'm open wed-fri 10-5:30 and Sat 9-1 sunday off and mon and tues by appointment (this allows me to go to doctor, hairdresser etc.without closing) My customers sometimes question my hours, but normally I'm in the shop anyway. I have also found that if I'm open all day every day I can't get enough of the work done to stay caught up. Mon and Tues allow me the extra work time. The wonders of being a one woman shop.
Candi Dunlap
Curry's Frame Farm
Waynesboro, Va 22980

[D_Derbonne]

My hours are M-F 10-6
Saturday 10-2


I have a question for the folks that close on Mondays.
What are your Saturday hours?


Originally posted by Rozmataz:
I toy with closing all day Monday - Kathy, to do what you say - Market the business and to add to your other comment: "I am woman, I am invicible, I AM TIRED"!! Would it be better to stay open longer on Saturday and close all or part of the Monday?
Even though I am closed on Sunday I go into the shop for a couple of hours anyway. There is always something that needs to be done.
I think I could accomplish more networking tasks on Mondays.

I also live in fear of missing a customer.

[AWG]

We're closed on Sundays and I don't ever foresee changing that. We bought into this business to NOT work endless retail hours; we want to work hard for ourselves AND have a decent quality of life. Being open 6 days a week is enough. Throw in on-site consultations, deliveries, installs, etc., we work plenty.

BTW - I have newfound respect for you guys in one-person shops. Kassandra left for Florida today, leaving me alone for the week. :eek:

Today I had 2 walk-in, need it now, what can you do for me (or is that needitnowhowsooncanihaveit orders?)orders, finish up a rush job for delivery tomorrow a.m., prep for an installation at 8 a.m. tomorrow, along with regular stuff.
She just left and I miss her already...

Tony

[McPhoto]

We're open from 8:30 until 5:30 Monday thru Friday and Saturdays from 8:30 until Noon (other hours by appointment).
Many years ago most of the businesses in our community were open Monday & Friday evenings until 9:00 PM - Also, most closed Wednesdays at 12:00 Noon - mainly because all the banks in town were were closed. We started staying open on Wednesday afternoons and did more business that day than we did on Saturday afternoons - because our customers were off that afternoon. Later, other downtown businesses followed our lead.
With the advent of the malls, K-Marts, Wally Worlds, etc the "shopping" public expects you to be open 24/7 (notice I didn't say "buying" public) but, you need to make room for your life - family, friends, non-business pleasures, etc. - We did and I don't regret it.

[Bill Henry-]

Posted Hours:
10-6 Monday throught Friday
10-5 on Saturday
closed Sunday and Monday.

(From Thanksgiving though Christmas, we're open on Mondays, too.)

Although like a lot of you guys I am here a few hours on Monday to do bookkeeping, cleaning, and to get away from the wife (although I do bring the dog to the shop – which is why I have to clean).

But on most mornings, I am here by 8:45 to do catch up and lurk on the Grumble.

[ 09-18-2003, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: Bill Henry ]

[framah]

Tuesday thru Saturday 9:30 to 5:00 Closed Sun and Mon. This summer, I've been in here all seven days to keep up on work and try to do bookwork as well as clean and re-arrange the shop to include a CMC. Whenever I have to close for a few days for something or other, I put a sign in the door and offer 10% off to all who come back when I get back. It really works. Very seldom is the work so important that they can't wait a bit for 10% discount. This way I can take short breaks from the store and feel comfortable about it. I've also had to close for a couple of days this summer just to catch up on work already in the store. Felt good to get so much done but as soon as I reopened, I was swamped with the work waiting for me to reopen!!
:eek: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[lyoncat]

Like Wally & Bill Henry, I am closed Sun & Mon, but also make appointments. We have many people that work noght shift in this area, and want to accomodate their hours of function. Work quite abit on Mondays anyway, and am almost always here.

This week is strange, because I am only working the moring hours, but gone for another job for the afternoons. It is sort-of a vacation(not), but it is strange not being here. I have made sure I am here for almost 12 years!!Slow or busy.

I really love my business, but don't want it to consume my life either. I have children, and grandchildren...that I feel I don't spend enough time with. Running your business really requires more discipline that I understood when I first signed up. Just grew into it.

[Mike Labbe @ GTP]

Our hours:

M-F: 9-6
Sat: 10-5
Sun: Closed

Saturdays and Mondays are usually busiest.

[RozR]

Deb - I agree with the time limit on the edit!! You probably didn't mean to post my whole comment, eh!?

I just input my sales figures yesterday and my average Monday sales are the 2nd largest day of the week over Saturdays - and that is with only 4 hours!!! Worth staying open Mondays - even for half day!!

If I need to make an appointment I try to do it in the a.m and then put a sign up the night before saying what time I will be there.... or if I duck out for a few minutes, rather than say "back in 5 minutes" - I'll say "back at 2:30" so they know - happened today!! Works good!

[DTWDSM]

We are closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will stay that way til people stop buying!