My wife and I like to do our shopping on the weekend. For some reason, that whole "working" thing tends to get in the way during the week.
That's why it blows my mind how many businesses have hours that aren't just consumer unfriendly...they're flat out stupid.
Ok, ok, you started your own business because you wanted to determine your future. Great. But guess what? The whole 9-5 schedule thing is going to put you out of business. And if you're stubborn enough to think that as a business owner you can decide 9-5 will be your hours no matter what, then perhaps you deserve to go out of business.
First example: two weeks ago, on a Sunday, my wife and I were shopping for a vanity bathroom. We couldn't go into any stores. Why? They were all closed on Sundays. So we started shopping around online.
Want to know how many local companies we found where we could at least LOOK on their website? None.
Yet time and time again, I hear companies complain that they are losing sales to the internet. Here's a little secret for you complainers. You're not losing sales to the internet. You're losing sales to people who are out hustling you.
We're in the middle of a digital revolution. You KNOW business has moved online and that as a result, your brick and mortar location is suffering. So what do you do? You bitch and moan. Get over it. Fix it.
Back to the vanity for a second.
So we found a store that was open until 12pm on a Saturday. We got their at 11am and were still closing the deal with the salesperson at 12pm when they locked the doors.
The phone rang. Our sales guy picked up.
"Dan, it's for you," he said to the manager. "It's a customer."
"How many times do I have to tell you?" said Dan. "I don't take calls after 12pm."
*Insert sound of screeching brakes*
I'm sorry - you don't take calls after 12pm? How will you feel in six months when you try and collect unemployment because you went out of business and they don't want to take YOUR call after 12pm, bozo?
Here's my pet peeve as an entrepreneur. I can't STAND it when people complain about money or lack of traffic....then aren't willing to hustle.
Shut your mouth and work harder. You've just wasted two minutes complaining that you could have been making money.
I had a guy who we send a lot of business to tell me a couple of weeks ago that working weekends isn't part of his business model.
*Mic drop*
I don't think anything more needs to be said. So I'll leave you all with just one question to ponder.
Is your business suffering because people aren't buying...or because you aren't hustling?
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