Though it’s not likely to rain today, it’s still a January Monday in Rhuthun—the weekday when fewest shops open.
Lest we be accused of entering the debate over so-called ‘hobby shopkeepers’, we need to say that for those larger shops with more staff, it’s easier to spread the burden and therefore open six days. Many Rhuthun businesses are small and family run. For those who are basically sole proprietors, taking a day off isn’t so easy. Choosing Monday gives them a ‘weekend’. And if Monday happens to be the quietest day, why not? It seems to make sense, especially if employing staff to cover a day where income dips would result in a business risk. If these shops remained open, it’s likely their owners would be working 60-plus hours a week, or longer.
“half-cut” on Sundays? : )
As for other shops, Traed Bach, Rhuthun Wholefoods, Goble choropodist, Sweetie Heaven, Annie’s, Spread Eagle Books, Blossoms and recently Mococo all feel it isn’t worth opening on Mondays. It’s interesting that at least one charity shop (Sue Ryder) *will* be open later this morning. [Update: we inlcuded Cerrig & the Green Lady in the Monday closed list: this is an error and she remains open].
During pre-supermarket days, butchers used to be closed on Mondays. Mondays and possibly Tuesdays used to be days when households used up their weekend meat. Another reason for food shops closing on Mondays was simply getting deliveries of fresh foods; Monday was the day when supplies are likely to be lowest.
And in the world of seven-day-a-week supermarkets and 10 p.m. closing times, are Rhuthun traders selfish in closing on a Monday? Or are consumers just over demanding? Should we perhaps commend rather than condemn shopkeepers for balancing work and family, for taking one day out when the rest of the week they will invariably bend over backwards to help, far more so than supermarket staff.
We used to manage in Rhuthun with half- or full-day closing on a Thursday, remember...
Lest we be accused of entering the debate over so-called ‘hobby shopkeepers’, we need to say that for those larger shops with more staff, it’s easier to spread the burden and therefore open six days. Many Rhuthun businesses are small and family run. For those who are basically sole proprietors, taking a day off isn’t so easy. Choosing Monday gives them a ‘weekend’. And if Monday happens to be the quietest day, why not? It seems to make sense, especially if employing staff to cover a day where income dips would result in a business risk. If these shops remained open, it’s likely their owners would be working 60-plus hours a week, or longer.
“Hanging around, nothing to do but frown,Most if not all Rhuthun hair salons and barbers close on Mondays. This is a long-held tradition and is probably no different to most market towns, though we’d bet there was no longer anything like the so-called “hairdressers’ weekend” in larger towns. Hairdressing sees a peak towards the end and not the beginning of the week. Or is it that hairdressers just get
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down”
As for other shops, Traed Bach, Rhuthun Wholefoods, Goble choropodist, Sweetie Heaven, Annie’s, Spread Eagle Books, Blossoms and recently Mococo all feel it isn’t worth opening on Mondays. It’s interesting that at least one charity shop (Sue Ryder) *will* be open later this morning. [Update: we inlcuded Cerrig & the Green Lady in the Monday closed list: this is an error and she remains open].
During pre-supermarket days, butchers used to be closed on Mondays. Mondays and possibly Tuesdays used to be days when households used up their weekend meat. Another reason for food shops closing on Mondays was simply getting deliveries of fresh foods; Monday was the day when supplies are likely to be lowest.
“Walking around, some kind of lonely clown,So it’s time to ask that Chicken or Egg question: are shops shutting on Mondays because there are fewer people about; or is the town quieter because shops don’t open on Mondays?
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down”
And in the world of seven-day-a-week supermarkets and 10 p.m. closing times, are Rhuthun traders selfish in closing on a Monday? Or are consumers just over demanding? Should we perhaps commend rather than condemn shopkeepers for balancing work and family, for taking one day out when the rest of the week they will invariably bend over backwards to help, far more so than supermarket staff.
We used to manage in Rhuthun with half- or full-day closing on a Thursday, remember...
Tags:
Shops