| Let’s
keep the Delta open—at regular hours |
This
column must begin with a disclaimer: I am not slamming any
businesses with the remarks I am about to make. I’ve
been a huge cheerleader for the Delta since I came here
nearly four years ago and still toot the horn at regular
intervals. What I am doing is offering constructive criticism
concerning a problem that needs correcting in my opinion.
A minor problem at first glance perhaps, but an irritating
one nonetheless, which could very well be costing local
merchants a ton of revenue. I refer to the habit of keeping
regular hours.
If I have one complaint about my new home in the Delta it
is the irregular hours of locally-owned shops. I cannot
tell you the number of times on the weekends or weeknights
when I wanted to make a purchase—sometimes out of
pleasure, other times out of necessity—and was aggravated
to find my business of choice closed. We’re not talking
midnight here, either: 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning or
3 o’clock later that afternoon comes to mind.
To stay competitive, I maintain that businesses must stay
open at specifically stated times and stay open, even if
it’s hunting season or Spring break or little Bobby’s
birthday. Such things don’t matter to the customer.
Wal-Mart so often draws the ire and downright hostility
of locally-owned businesses. Well, many times I’ve
had to go to that mega-store because I had no other choice.
The convenience of simply being open (often for 24 hours)
is a necessity in today’s fast-paced world. It is
for me and it probably is for you.
Several times I’ve gone to pick up my dry cleaning
after being out of town on Saturday only to find the store
closed, leaving me in a fashion bind (dress shirts are required
at my job). In another instance, my two year old once got
over zealous with a kitchen utensil and accidentally broke
my glasses on a Saturday morning at 10 a.m. The only place
I could get them fixed was in Greenville! Since I cannot
drive without my glasses, my wife had to trek in the pouring
rain to...where else?...the Super Wal-Mart in order for
me to get my vision back.
Also, when I want to buy a CD or a book now, I usually go
automatically to the internet because I can’t keep
up with local store hours! Or, their hours are nine to five
and that’s when I work. And so on and so on and so
on. I have more examples, but the scenario should be clear.
We have some absolutely wonderful, charming and top-notch
stores and outlets in the Mississippi Delta. It should be
made as easy as possible for customers to come in, shop
and spend money at their convenience. If this is done, revenue
will go up and all will be happy. Especially me. I’d
rather spend my money locally then it have it go elsewhere
as I believe most Deltans would. Someone, though, has to
be on the store premises to take my order. Surely that’s
not to much to ask.
The point is, customer convenience should always be the
top priority of any business. That means keeping regular,
dependable hours and even staying open a bit later to accommodate
folks with tight schedules, if the business can justify
it. For Delta merchants to hope to compete with Wal-Mart,
the internet, Jackson and Memphis, their doors are going
to have be open when they are supposed to be. It’s
that simple.
If you have any comments on this editorial, or any suggestions
for the DBJ, please drop me a line at jack@coopwood.net.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! DBJ
Jack
Criss
DBJ Executive Editor
