Holiday Debate
System
5,885 Posts
There is a fierce argument going on around here about wether or not to open on Thanksgiving. Before everyone starts screaming about family values and such let me explain.
We are a supermarket of two locations
We are closing early
We will pay employees double time and a half
We will only require people to work on a VOLUNTEER basis
Most of our competition is open
We were open last year and made big bucks
We are a struggling not for profit and need every bit of profit we can get.
Everyone around here wants to put me in front of a firing squad for suggesting such a thing. The store manager of our second location was'nt here last year and the GM for both seems not to remember what it was like last year. I can't refresh his memory because he isn't at the second location and I am.
The store manager is now stating the it goes against MA state blue laws to be open on Thanksgiving. HUH?????
Any help on this?
We are a supermarket of two locations
We are closing early
We will pay employees double time and a half
We will only require people to work on a VOLUNTEER basis
Most of our competition is open
We were open last year and made big bucks
We are a struggling not for profit and need every bit of profit we can get.
Everyone around here wants to put me in front of a firing squad for suggesting such a thing. The store manager of our second location was'nt here last year and the GM for both seems not to remember what it was like last year. I can't refresh his memory because he isn't at the second location and I am.
The store manager is now stating the it goes against MA state blue laws to be open on Thanksgiving. HUH?????
Any help on this?
Comments
As for the liquor thing, I heard they are going to repeal that law. When they do you can come sit on my roof deck on a Sunday and we'll tie on!
Most stores near me post the notice a few weeks in advance announcing shorter hours so the employees can be with their family also.
My $0.02 worth.
DJ The Balloonman
Elizabeth
We were the last store in town to open on thanksgiving and Easter (for limited hours). It was bad for business before we opened on those days because we forced our existing customer base to a competitor.
The employees did not mind working (for double time).
Customers did not come in and cherry pick the store for add items, or lost leaders. They bought higher margin items, and they did not worry about pricing (how often does that happen in the grocer business).
Good luck with your decision,
Rob
On a side note, how many of you had to get something on thursday? We forgot to buy milk and chicken broth and I had to send out my guy to get some.
Despite the whining above I am secretly pleased. I will give myself kudos even if no-one else will.
Congrats Deez - as long as you stuck to the criteria in your original post I'm sure the folks who worked will appreciate the extra cash for the holiday season!
I misread the Cranberry Conserve recipe and bought one package of cranberries instead of one pound, so I had to make a quick grocery store run on Thursday. Considering that was the only dish I was responsible for, not a very good showing.
I didn't forget anything - my sister cooked! x;-) I left WA state on T-Day at 9:00 a.m. and arrived at my sister's house in OR around 1:30 p.m. On our way we stopped for lunch, gas & at the corner grocery store for some scissors. Thankfully everything was open at least to 2:00 p.m.
And Portland is so logically laid out it's impossible to get lost.
Bull...loney! It's logical if you're 8-} crazy.
mwild- no big bucks, in fact the opposite. I stay because of a combination of really believing in keeping co-ops alive, the hope that with a new BOD things will change and a wee bit of low self esteem.