On 18 Jan 2011 at 9:00pm tony wrote:
shops that have an open door policy thus letting valuable heat out and cold in. I'm thinking of shops such as Monsoon, Fat Face and White Stuff in Lewes although there are probably more. I emailed Monsoon about this and although they take their environmental responsibilities seriously (haha) they have an open door policy 'to enable all customers to easily access their store'. A mealy mouthed and nonsensical response. At least they resonded, White Stuff didn't.
What about asking managers to shut the doors despite corporate policy and all emailing any company that has its doors open in the cold and not shopping there. Any other ideas?
On 18 Jan 2011 at 9:28pm Fishy fat plant wrote:
On cold days I like to take a few moments to stand in the doorways to warm up. People who want to go in and out have to wait until I am warm enough. I make a point of informing these customers about the detrimental and wasteful effects of the shops policy.
On 18 Jan 2011 at 11:29pm Peter purvis wrote:
Tony Have you got nothing better to do than moan about such things? If ever there was a non-issue.
On 19 Jan 2011 at 9:43am solipsis wrote:
What we should do Tony is let business get on with providing service and jobs and find a productive use for our time. If they think they will sell more by closing the door they will do that. So many folks in Lewes moan about shops closing and Tesco taking over. How about letting them go about their business and get out of the way.
On 19 Jan 2011 at 10:42am Mystic Mog wrote:
I believe that you have a fair point Tony. Other posters who link this request with moaning and reducing jobs are being a bit pathetic. Retailers are very poor at reducing energy levels. For example keeping all lighting in the middle of the night when there is no one passing the shop. When Oxfam in Lewes first started they were leaving the lighting on overnight; not the best thinbg to do given it is a charity. If we as individual are being encouraged to reduce energy levels then so should retailers.
If all shops had keep their doors closed then there would a level playing field and loss of sales as a result.
Also perhaps the White stuff and Monsoon could make their clothes in the UK thus creating more jobs.
On 19 Jan 2011 at 11:17am miss pathetic wrote:
The problem with this position is that you are assuming that the stores have not considered what is the best policy for them. Of course they could save a lot of money by cutting heating bills so why don't they? Are you some kind of marketing genius? Tony assumes a morally superior position yet doesn't present statistics on effect on footfall etc.
On 19 Jan 2011 at 11:35am Mystic Mog wrote:
Heating
I believe that a mandatory ruling would not effect footfall much. However at present, where there is no rule, then empirical statistics may prove that an open door policy encourages more customers. However there are many factors, location for example. In a Shopping Mall a shut door would obviuosly reduce footfall. In a town like Lewes I believe it would make little difference. So a single national policy would not be the best idea.
Lighting
I would be very surprised that retailers have done extensive research into leaving shops illuminated at night. Professionally I have looked into this and have found retailers in the past to be fairly uninterested in saving power. However recently, in the last 5 years, they are beginning to take more interest. Partly due to legislation and increasing energy costs.
On 19 Jan 2011 at 12:54pm sashimi wrote:
It's simple. If you feel strongly about open doors and lights on at night, let the shopkeepers know you won't shop there until they change their policy - and persuade others to do the same. It's like plastic bags in supermarkets, the shops will go on doing these things because they've always done them - until enough people tell them to think again. It doesn't have to be a majority - just enough to make a difference. Then, as with plastic bags, they'll be happy to pocket the savings as well.
On 19 Jan 2011 at 1:21pm queequeg wrote:
Heating systems in large chain shops are designed for the open door policy, you will tend to find a hot air blower over the door which produces a heat curtain designed to stop cold air entering - it's not perfect but goes a long way to ameliorate the effect of the open door. It's not the same as you at home keeping your front door open with the heating on full blast.
Keeping a retail outlet viable has to be the number one priority for any manager and small percentages matter a great deal. With 30% of the annual turnover at stake in the two coldest months of the year, who would be brave enough to close the door if it meant 10% less takings and the shop closing as a result?
Were the government to introduce compulsory Energy Performance targets for businesses then how would you differentiate between say Iceland and a furniture shop, a swimming pool or an auction gallery?
On 19 Jan 2011 at 6:04pm bony wrote:
i think we can solve 2 problems at once here.(possible 3)
all we need is to do is employ someone to be in the shop overnight and whenever someone walks past turn the light on. this would save electricity and also help unemployment. however, i can see the point of view from shop keepers that this would affect their bottom line.
what is the general opinion on here for using criminals?
instead of locking them up. put them in shops overnight manning the lights and this way they would be to tired in the day to cause crime? we would save a huge amount of taxpayers money!
seems like a win win situation to me.
On 19 Jan 2011 at 6:39pm MC wrote:
Why criminals? Use the homeless instead. There's bound to be an increasing supply too.
On 20 Jan 2011 at 1:44pm Bits n Bobs wrote:
Bony - classic post, I'm still laughing.
This thread is like Viz 'Top Tips'. Hahaha, oh deary me.
On 20 Jan 2011 at 2:34pm 'ere be monsters wrote:
A GUINEA pig makes an ideal paint roller for your next home make over. Use a mouse for areas that need finer detail
On 20 Jan 2011 at 3:49pm Cobbler wrote:
I have more beef with shops that treat the pavement as extensions of their premises, such as Bill's who spills out all over Cliffe High St.
On 20 Jan 2011 at 9:33pm Peter purvis wrote:
From personal experience I can tell you that a closed door very definitely DOES effect footfall. Potential customers are more likely to pop in If the door is open so don't Tell me to shut my door. I have wages / suppliers/ rates/rent to pay.
On 20 Jan 2011 at 9:45pm tony wrote:
Peter could take up Bony's suggestion and so keep his wages down, keep the door shut, keep energy costs down and then the reduced footfall won't matter, assuming the footfall is affected and he doesn't mind exploiting the homeless.
On 20 Jan 2011 at 9:53pm Brixtonbelle wrote:
'effect' Peter ? surely you mean affect.
Funnily enough as I walked round Lewes today I was surprised to see so many shops with doors open. But strangely I was under the impression that if a shop is open , it puts an open sign in its door and if closed, well - it's obvious isn't it ? Seems like it's a fairly simple and easily understood system.
As a former Saturday girl in a few shops, it's no fun for the staff standing round in a freezing shop. The only time I worked in a shop with an open door was one that was packed all day long (shoes). I notice the big department stores don't do it though.