Every so often, we feature common small business mistakes, so you can learn from them.
Lots of small business make a mistake in setting and keeping their business hours.
Here’s an example from a retail business, open only 11 hours per week. But hey, they do say you can call and they’ll come open up. This may be more common in small towns, where we’re more informal. It’s still a mistake. How many potential customers are you turning away?
Two years ago, I wrote about a couple of other local business, one with inconsistent hours that were always changing and one that wasn’t always open when it said it would be.
The tips on setting business hours that I offered in 2007 are just as good today.
- Think about your target customers when you set your hours. Ask them when they want you to be open.
- Set an incredibly easy to understand schedule.
- Publicize your business hours in all the media you use.
- Be open when you say you will. Open on time, and don’t close early.
I know, emergencies will occur, but do your best!
New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.
- Shipping container businesses downtown: don’t make this big mistake - September 24, 2018
- Easy economic development tip: Write down all new businesses in your small town - September 17, 2018
- Commerce builds communties - September 10, 2018
- Quick insights into local tourism trends - September 3, 2018
- US small businesses can get small loans through Kiva - August 27, 2018
- Want to sell more in the evenings? Use this easy promotion - August 20, 2018
- When things go wrong, this is the secret way to keep customers happy - August 13, 2018
- From kids with summer jobs to kids with summer businesses with these small town business ideas - August 6, 2018
- Finding the money to renovate an old building in a small town: grants, loans and other funds - July 30, 2018
- Rural tourism trend: digital detox and off-the-grid vacations - July 23, 2018
This has really annoyed me lately. I really want to shop local, but I guess I’ve been conditioned by box store accessibility. Seemingly random closures really hurt business.
Have you seen this “store hours” poster I posted to TwitPic a couple weeks ago?
http://twitpic.com/lsgdb
Marc, that is a excellent point. Inconvenient hours hurt our efforts at shop local.
Marc, that is an oldie but a goodie! And it’s a perfect companion to this post. Thanks!
Hi Becky,
As you know, I focus on rural tourism related businesses. In August I ran a post tackling this question for tourism at http://ruraltourismmarketing.com/2009/08/setting-retail-hours-in-tourism-towns/. I recently got a request from two local first organizations for a more general post for ALL small town businesses. You’ve saved me the effort. I’ll pass on this post!
Great article, Joanne! Thanks for sharing it. You know we are big fans of your stuff around here.