It is disappointing that in this week of busy trade for many newsagents, plenty of our suppliers are already fully closed for Christmas – with most that are closed not reopening until January 5.
Given the tough and competitive marketplace of today, suppliers that are closed should not be surprised if newsagent customers find others who can supply this time of the year and beyond.
While I appreciate suppliers will close when trade is the quietest for them, they should at the very least have a process in place for handling urgent orders. A sale is a sale after all. Too many that are closed already have not done time.
Stock up early, isnt that common sense ???
Carmen that’s what I do but there can be situations where a product unexpectedly goes nuts.
It’s not just suppliers of retailers. One of our most popular local pizza cafes closed yesterday until the second week of January. The next three days/nights would have been three of the busiest days of their working year – when people are looking to celebrate and spend money. It’s nuts!!
Same in our area BruceH, a lot of local restaurants finished up on weekend for 2 weeks and then a few cafes and bakeries closing from Xmas eve till the 5th.
It’s crazy because we are a tourist destination as well as so many locals being on holidays, but then these guys work so hard all year and want to have time off with their young families over the holiday season.
If a small business owner is able to take a couple of weeks off over Christmas and spend the time with family or go away somewhere, I say good on them. We all work hard all year. Most newsagents may not be able to take time off, by why hold it against a small business wholesaler or café. It is probably the only time off they get all year.
Each to their own but personally I take the money. My holidays are in March and my young children have a few days off school despite their school having a no holidays during term policy. Their principal knows that when parents work like we do they need time with parents.
As far as suppliers go well once the couriers can no longer guarantee delivery then it’s over. The past few days the couriers have been really under the pump and slowing down so my top up ordering finished Friday.
As a small business owner it is an unwritten law that you take time off in the quiet times (except for special events, weddings etc). I have sold out of certain stock and the suppliers do not have an option over the Christmas period where they can fast track orders. Two weeks they say, I say the ship has sailed by then. Makes my business look slow and not progressive.
I’m taking Christmas and Boxing Day. If papers turn up I will throw them in the door and go home.
In writing the post I was thinking more about bigger suppliers.
Sorry we went off course!
Just phoned a diary company today to place an order for a local business but closed till 5th January.
Not good enough, they could at least work a couple of days this week and then I would know before the 5th to let my customer know if I can fill their order.
Fair enough Mark. I agree large business suppliers should have at least a token presence this week. I would not necessarily expect delivery this week but at least be able to take orders. Next week though, I don’t think you could even expect large suppliers to be open.
How about this for form – our local NAB (which is the only one left of the majors) closes tomorrow afternoon and doesn’t re-open until Monday 5th January. Bad luck if you happen to bank with them – standard response has been something along the lines of stuff small business, stuff the locals and stuff the tourists or words to that effect!
Thank God for the community and regional banks who have the brains to conduct business as normal through this period.
And our Post Office subbie is totally annoyed at being “forced” to open on Friday Jan 2nd – ruined his whole holiday plans apparently.