This is the shop I started my illustrious career in. Click to read about me as a kid.
Open or closed? is the question when shopkeepers start talking amongst themselves about holidays.
Here’s a simple guide to whether your consignment, resale or thrift shop should be open, or close for a holiday date.
- Most of all, what’s the likelihood of folks being in town? If “everyone goes to the beach” is your answer, be sure that you’re comfortable with that statement. Obviously, not everyone goes to the beach or the continent will tip over.
- Will there be MORE potential customers around than normal, for example, a holiday weekend with lots of families visiting relatives?The 4th of July was like that for my town: lots of early-morning parade goers but by 1pm or so, they’d had their cook-out fun and welcomed the chance to leave the cousins with Granpa and have a little Girls’ Afternoon Out” adventure out of the sun and heat.
- How many folks who work in offices can’t normally shop with you? Can you make the opportunity to explore your shop super-motivating to, say, potential customers who normally have a hard time shopping with you due to their work schedules?
- Is it a boring holiday? If I’m home on, say, Labor Day, what else is there to do but shop?
- Do you have the staff to stay open?
- And, of course, last but far from least: Will the shop being open or closed affect your enjoyment of life? Obviously, if the specific holiday date is important to you and loved ones, and you are willing to forgo opportunities offered by being open, your decision will be an easy one.
Whichever path you take, be sure your potential clientele knows about it through your web site, blog, and social media.
You don’t want a gaggle of friends to come and find your shop locked and dark… and you sure as heck don’t want to miss the opportunity to INSPIRE a gaggle of friends to come explore “that darling shop I’ve been meaning to visit” on their day off!
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
The employment laws in Alberta make it very expensive to be open on a statutory holiday. If staff regularly work that day they get paid regardless, even if we are closed. If they work it they get the regular pay plus time and a half. Our min. Wage will be 15.00/ hour Oct 1. So I would be paying staff 37.50/hr. – I have had some holidays that were a total bust. If I open I make sure I have a great promotion because I agree with what you said Kate about out of town guests etc. I need a min of 2 or 3 staff working so I usually am one who works that day to help cut down on costs. By the way…..surprise, surprise I never have trouble finding staff to work that day, they all want to. 🙂
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It’s always interesting when government declares itself a partner in your business.
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We’re CLOSED on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and July 4th (yes, we’re open New Years Day). We’ve been in business for 13 years and have always been closed on these important days. We’re closed these days not to get an extra day off, but to reflect on the meaning and significance of the day. One advantage of owning your own business is the freedom to make these choices, and I cherish them!
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