Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Artful - would the shops necessarily need to open for longer, or just vary they're opening hours a bit? As I said, open a bit later on certain days and close later, so they're still open for the same period of time. I imagine there are people who shop very early maybe on their way home from a night shift, and some market research would probably need to be done, but, judging by rush hour, most people still work office hours.

Twirly


A good point, and one that maybe local shops should look into to see what would attract the best business for them.


personally I would prefer local shops to survive rather then be crushed under the heal of the supermarkets and I was interesed to watch the demise of Lordship lane when Sainsburys first opened and the subsequent revivial of local shopping once the luster and alure of a big supermarket started to wear off.

The main issue will be do the shops want to embrace the change or are they going to resist it. Sadly, as they all seem to be doing quite well for themselves at the moment, I'm not sure how many of them will want to change their opening hours. Is there a local retailers consortium who we could contact regarding this?

Talking of milk men and the like, when I was a kid in Liverpool my Dad would, every Christmas, leave a fiver for....


- milkman

- postman

- bin men

- newspaper kid

- pop man


Does anybody do this anymore? I remember when I got my first flat thinking I should and then not knowing what to do? My paper round would bring in an easy ?30 at Christmas [massive amounts in 1993 when a trip to Anfield and a bag of chips cost ?3.30].


[please note, I'm aware I should probably write postPERSON, milkPERSON etc...but they were all male specifically to us]

I would like to tip our binmen at Christmas to show my appreciation, but don't know how to do it or even if it is appropriate. When I was little they would come and knock on the door and my Mum would give them something. Maybe they are not allowed to do that any more. Should I just go and accost them on the round before Christmas? I'm a bit too shy, and fear it would be taken the wrong way? Also our hardworking roadsweepers, who do a great job and I am sure are rarely thanked....

Inspired by this thread I just did all my shopping for tonight's curry on the Lane, mostly in SMBS. They were very helpful about different types of chilli, best potatoes for bombay aloo etc. Can't imagine that happening in Sainsburys somehow...


Then I celebrated with a mini spree in Shannon's Garden Centre, a new discovery, so I reckon I've done my bit for the local economy today!

To be honest 95% of my shopping comes from the supermarket but is delivered to the door. I leave for work at 6.30am and get back around 7pm. I don't know how else I could do enough household shopping for two people and a dog other than on-line every 10-14 days. The time it would take to go to individual stores and pick up everything throughout the week would be just impossible for me

Hi Artful, can I put the independent retailers point of view? I have recently started a fruit & veg stall attached to our butchers shop. It has proved v popular with customers & much more cost effective as they're buying quality fresh products in the quantity they need.(1 red chilli for example, thanks Marmora Man) Also less for the recycling food waste bin.

The butchers start at 6.30am in preparation for opening at 8. And when I go to New Covent Garden Market it means a 3am start. It would be difficult therefore to extend the opening hours with just a small team of staff. We are not complacent of the fact that we are missing a large part of the local shoppers, hence the queues on Saturday.

In answer to your original question, yes your weekly bill can be less than when you shop in the supermarket as you're not always getting the bargain you thought (thanks Maritrap)

In terms of varying hours to suit needs reminds me of Selsey where my father and stepmother gave kived since 1975.

Up to a few years ago when we visited them the only restaurant, not in a pub, closed at 6 pm in the summer. This to me was madness as Selsey has a number of caravan sites with several thousands of people being accommodated and not everyone wanted to stay on the camp site. For an area whose income depended on tourism 5.30 closures of retail shops and 6 pm of the only restaurant always seemed odd. However the last few years, they have seen sense and close the restaurant around 10 pm in the summer. The retail shops still close at 5. 30 and they still have half day closing.

It is an area where more couples are living due to the cheapness of housing and large number of teenagers and young parents. There is a ready labour market for part time workers if the shop hours wee extended. The same could be said of ED

Ariadne Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi Artful, can I put the independent retailers

> point of view? I have recently started a fruit &

> veg stall attached to our butchers shop. It has

> proved v popular with customers & much more cost

> effective as they're buying quality fresh products

> in the quantity they need.(1 red chilli for

> example, thanks Marmora Man) Also less for the

> recycling food waste bin.



> The butchers start at 6.30am in preparation for

> opening at 8. And when I go to New Covent Garden

> Market it means a 3am start. It would be difficult

> therefore to extend the opening hours with just a

> small team of staff. We are not complacent of the

> fact that we are missing a large part of the local

> shoppers, hence the queues on Saturday.

> In answer to your original question, yes your

> weekly bill can be less than when you shop in the

> supermarket as you're not always getting the

> bargain you thought (thanks Maritrap)



Where is your shop? I've not noticed a butchers with conjoined veg stall - but would like to come and see.

I rely on special offers/buy one get one free to survive.


Therefore I only ever shop in supermarkets.


Really envy all these people that can afford to buy in independant shops. (personally, can't even afford food shopping at all)


If I ever win the lottery, will join you on Lordship Lane.

Aquarius Moon, are bogoffs such a bargain, I popped into morrisions today to get some pasta, where 500g was on offer of buy two for ?1.50

Yet the one kilo bag was ?1.30


Go figure that as a bargain !


Ariadne, I totally agree with you, as a young man I worked in a green grocers so I do know the early starts equating to wanting to finish at a reasonable time, and I was speculating that maybe the best way to get more of the later shoppers (after work) is to stay open a bit later however each business would end to do the research, evaluate the cost vs profit options and also understand what it would mean to quality of life for both the business people / owners and the shoppers


It is however encouraging that so many people do (or want to) shop locally

AQ: I'm also now on a very limited income and I can second that about the supermarket special offers. It's really worth checking out the non-offer items as it's sometimes the case that they work out cheaper. Doesn't make much sense but I've found it to be true. For fruit and veg, Lewisham Market and Rye Lane are much better than supermarkets, e.g. I got 12 red peppers for a quid last time I went to Lewisham, and a big pineapple for 60p. Depends what's in season, but there are some great deals to be found outside the supermarkets.

Hi Marmora Man, best not upset anyone & advertise the business name, but you can find us on Rosendale Rd, at the Rosendale Pub end (well recommended) we look forward to seeing you.

Thanks for your comments Pugwash, but we have not found a ready labour market for part-time workers. Butchery is a dying skill as its not trendy to leave school & become a butcher. 1 of our staff is over retirement age & 2 more are approaching it. Having advertised apprenticeships this summer in line with government promotions we only had 3 applicants. Only one lad turned up for an interview then did a half day trial and decided it wasn't right for him, but all credit to him for giving it a go.

Looking to the future independent Butchers shops may become as rare as fishmongers

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Thanks for posting this JMK we have had 3 children at Charter East so have been involved with the school from the very early days and have watched the impact of inconsistent, unsupportive and at worst unprofessional and biased management on them over the years. Individual teachers have at times been great and as JMK says it is the overall structure that creates a toxic and punitive atmosphere which directly impacts some families more than others and these are the kids overwhelmingly that have an SEN.  The experience of these families is night and day compared with the families with children that can cope in this system.  
    • Another recommendation for Lukasz, he sorted out our bifold door. He came at the agreed time, found the issue very quickly, adjusted it, all very carefully and with attention to detail. And he was very reasonably priced as well. 
    • Well sure someone will correct me but years ago, in Singapore and I was quite young so not sure if it is true. but if you were caught stealing, your little finger or just the  tip part with nail was chopped off.  Stigma for  life as all know that was punishment for stealing… no questions asked.Totally agree it is barbaric but equally putting people  into overcrowded prison for minor offences is also not right. Tagging I guess would not work or maybe does… no idea at all.  Not so long ago, heard a talk about how European’s cope/deal with prisoners and how the suggest rate is higher and offences lowered greatly as in not going back to prison for same  or another offence.  The general gist was their approach was each prisoner mattered , was heard and listens to and a suitable package was tailored towards their needs. Not  b one package for all. Not cooped up for the majority of the day - encouraged as an example to cook, garden, grow food, other household stuff  plus study if wanted for courses, languages etc. and mental health, dependency on substance abuse also addressed. Can’t remember if they were paid c pocket money which clearly accumulated or could be used to  I purchase whatever in prison. If they can do it by experimenting and I think but not sure, at the time an English prison was learning why can’t this sort of program be rolled  out throughout UK - cut backs not an excuse - think of the millions lost by govt during Covid…  Maybe it is - no experience in the matter at all.   
    • Why have things got so complicated? I suppose a cat flap with a timer might be useful for people out all day but can't really see the point of them when its so easy to flip a simple mechanical lock. This is how my last cat flap operated but had to be replaced when cat wearing cone of shame tried to escape and broke it. The cat flap I have now is one of those linked to cats microchip but even then there is just a four way dial which allows different kinds of access - or not. Not that cat is bothered, refuses to use it and demands i open the door for her. This is bit of a rant because along with a new boiler I got a new electronic programmer which is really annoying as it takes 5 minutes to change a simple temperature whereas with old programmer it took 10 seconds. Hope you get sorted @oglander and enjoy your future servitude to your feline master.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...