Announcement, and An "Off the Record" Poll for my Hobby Shop

[tigeraid]

First off, my business proposal was accepted, and I am now entered into the Small Business Development phase of the program! So now I get to use their resources further to help me open the hobby shop, as well as unemployment insurance WHILE I do so. Great program, I must say.

So now the hard work begins, actually getting everything going. I do have another quick poll though, hope you all can help out. I was driving around today and was suggesting my hours of operation to my girlfriend, and she brought up a valid point. I was thinking 10 am - 8 pm, but she knows my demographic tends to be over the age of 35... And older people often get up much earlier in the morning than some people.

So anyway, it's hard to put it into words that aren't a little touchy, but when do you guys typically shop at your LHS? Should I really be opening at 8 or 9 am? What a rough day I'd have!

As for weekends, I'm considering 10-5 on Saturday and possibly only 10-2 on Sunday, thought Sunday will vary depending on my customer traffic.

Thanks guys.

[mike@af]

Something we all hate in the Atlanta area is that the Hobby Shops close at 6:00PM. We always end up needing some paint at 8 o'clock. Same goes for the weekends.

If its one thing I cant stand, its hobby shops closing early on weekdays.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

Something we all hate in the Atlanta area is that the Hobby Shops close at 6:00PM. We always end up needing some paint at 8 o'clock. Same goes for the weekends.

If its one thing I cant stand, its hobby shops closing early on weekdays.

Precisely. Atlanta is a wasteland of bad hobby shop practices. Banker's hours for a hobby enterprise? People are working longer hours than ever, and with horrible rush hour traffic the hobby shops are all closed by 6 pm-so if you need anything during the week you may be out of luck until the weekend...not good. I think once word was out that a shop stayed open a bit later that it would do very well, at a minimum by staying open later at least one evening a week. Perhaps have banker's hours Mon-Wed; and stay open until 8-9 PM Th/Fri nights, and then open 9-6 on Sat. and perhaps Noon-5pm on Sunday, and then adjust the schedule w/real customer input and your own observations as to when it's the most profitable to be open and keeping your customers happy. Perhaps even close on Mondays to have a day off. Perhaps hosting a model car club in the store on a Wed. evening would be a way to keep the doors open longer and get customers used to the convenience of a shop that isn't closed up tight before they even have a chance to make it after work or dinner.

[hirofkd]

I know a dozen of hobby stores in the downtown and suburbs of Tokyo, and the earliest closing time that I know of is 7:30 pm, but many of them stay open till late like 9 or 10 pm.

People in Tokyo work late, and they mostly use public transportation to get around in the city. I guess it varies city by city, so the question is how the typical working style is like in London.

[drunken monkey]

i'm not sure if you need to open late every day of the week.

i know an old time shop that works the usual 10am to 6pm for five days of the week and open until 8pm on wednesdays (closed sundays).
for him, the normal shop hours are mainly for him to mainly concerntrate on the paperwork and whatnots involved in running a business as well as dealing with customers of course. What i mean is, he deals with work during those hours ONLY and refuses to take work beyond those hours. You might not agree with this but i for one can see the sense with this.
the one day late opening is, in his experience, enough to satisfy the needs of his customers as, along with saturday, gives them a sort of routine; y'know, a set time that they do and get their supplies.

[tigeraid]

Thanks for the input guys... I like ZoomZoom's idea, a couple of days til 5 and the rest til 8. Certainly I can adjust as I go... Keep the answers coming guy!

[freakmech]

Heres a thought, my old hobby shop in new orleans always got there orders in on Tuesday and Thursday. So they would stay open till 9pm those nights so everyone could get there stuff the day it came in. they would close on Wed. and Sun. and the rest of the week it would be 9-5. I liked this, cus i always had stuff on order and i could pick up the rest of the stuff i needed when i got my ordered stuff.

[rsublime4life]

Thats a really good question. During the week I go after work. Fortunetly there is one just down the street from work so I can make it there before 6. But on the weekends I usually go first thing in the morning because I figured out what i needed the night before while building at some late hour. SO, 11-8 Tuse-Fri, 9-8 Sat, 9-3 sun, Closed Mon. Just my 0.02

[tigeraid]

Closed Monday, now there's something I hadn't considered... there's a book shop in town here that does that... hmmm

[willimo]

My old hobby shop in Baton Rouge closed at 5, and while I was friends with the owner, and he was a great guy, it was a pain getting there in time and if I was doing work during the week, I had to pray I didn't run out of stuff. The one up here is well staffed and is open 'till 9pm every night. This may not be feasable for you if it's a small outfit, but certainly give late hours, even if it is just for part of the week. Being able to go to my LHS when I need, and them being well stocked with paints, styrene and other things, means I do a lot less internet shopping, which I reckon will be your biggest competition these days.

[drnitrus]

My lhs is closed on wednesdays and stays open late thursday and friday until 8pm. You could open early and close early a couple of days(7am-4pm, 8am-5pm), then open later and close later on another couple of days(11am-8pm) and keep normal saturday hours(9am-5pm) and close early on sunday(9am-2pm). with a day off for yourself. Just my opinion....

[ScaleCentral]

I would have to agree with Bob. I shop mainly on the weekends or my days off. I'm on a rotating schedule now, but when I was on day shift and in school, I could only get things on the weekend or I would have to order them via mail. If I needed something on Monday it was actually quicker to order it than wait for the weekend, lol. I would say 10am is fine for opening. My suggested schedule would be Monday off, Tuesday through Thursday 10am to 7 or 8pm, Friday to 9pm and maybe five or six hours on Saturday. I wouldn't suggest opening before noon on Sunday as most people that are out are in church until that time. I do like the suggestion of hosting a model club in the shop. This will definitely attract business. BTW, where will the shop be?
Nic

[tigeraid]

It's in London ON... don't worry, it'll have extensive online store though

[nugundam93]

anytime actually, mall hours of 10am-9pm.

[mike@af]

A 24/7 Hobby shop would be nice. Unrealistic, but nice.