View Full Version : How do we improve business in Caithness?
Obviously assistance is hard to come by at the moment from the bodies which have been specifically set up to do just that! The local council doesn't help matters by being full of OAP's (lacking fresh young individuals willing to try new ideas) who aren't up to scratch/ don't have the drive to pursue options for the county. So how about sharing some ideas on how as a county we can improve our current situation and prevent any further local businesses from going down the pan, whilst improving business and in turn moral in Caithness. I'll start with my idea: -
Why doesn't every company in Caithness pull together and form a new body called 'Caithness Enterprise' rather than being fobbed off by 'HIE'. Each company would pay a monthly fee which would be stored in a 'pot'. Any member companies within 'Caithness Enterprise' requiring assistance could submit a request to 'Caithness Enterprise', where on a monthly basis a vote between every company would decide who should be awarded a loan from the 'pot' with minimal interest being charged. This method would require every company being committed to pulling together and working with each other rather than at present working against each other. Too many companies in Caithness are dealing with similar goods, this just simply cannot work, resulting in price cuts to the extent of earning no profit, this is not business, this is a JOKE. New ideas like what I have submitted here have to be introduced to ensure that we save our county before it's too late.;)
Here's an idea I had two and a half years ago........
http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?126957-HIE-Comment-in-response-to-Rok-Announcement&p=787161#post787161
Ms Skene got 10k plus 10k loan and free office plus mentoring........
rogermellie
12-Jun-13, 15:14
Too many companies in Caithness are dealing with similar goods, this just simply cannot work.;)
quick example of solution to this not working ... went into Biron's looking for paint supplies, was politely directed to McAllan's as the 2 shops have an agreement not to step on each others toes, low and behold McAllan's were shut for lunch (my only time to get stuff) so i had to go to homebase instead.
your idea sounds a bit rose tinted, but i agree with you on all the other points, the council and HIE appear to be doing nothing to support business up here
It may be 'a bit rose tinted' but sometimes ideas like these are what it takes to generate new, more realistic ones. I think any idea is worth looking into rather than sitting back and saying 'ah well there's another business collapsed in Caithness'. The way things are going up here at the moment cannot continue, something has to be done about it!! Not only for our sakes at the moment but for future Caithnesians too!!
Proper businesss should not need support. Too many here are limping along from handout to handout.
We need to attract fresh entrepreneurs capable of standing on their own two feet and either delivering goods and services modern Caithnessians need or capable of dealing with the logistical challenges of dealing with the wider UK and world market.
How? I don't know, and neither do HIE or CCC it would seem.
I would like to know what has happened to the new industries associated with tidal energy we were told about. I expect the valued incentives and grants have not materialized :roll:
rob murray
12-Jun-13, 15:35
It may be 'a bit rose tinted' but sometimes ideas like these are what it takes to generate new, more realistic ones. I think any idea is worth looking into rather than sitting back and saying 'ah well there's another business collapsed in Caithness'. The way things are going up here at the moment cannot continue, something has to be done about it!! Not only for our sakes at the moment but for future Caithnesians too!!
You are dead right ! Ive long been on this site ranting about the Dounreay situation and how, whilst we wait maybe 5 years at best before major redundancies hit the plant, the local economy is crumbling...and it is falling like a house of cards. The naked truth is that Caithness needs a substantial long term employer, generating jobs and incomes which in turn can keep the local economy going. The population base and income spread isnt there for small mostly service firms to survive. Sorry I cant see it...and as for renewables.....well Ive not got the time to make the case that its all smoke and mirrors.
rob murray
12-Jun-13, 15:36
Proper businesss should not need support. Too many here are limping along from handout to handout.
We need to attract fresh entrepreneurs capable of standing on their own two feet and either delivering goods and services modern Caithnessians need or capable of dealing with the logistical challenges of dealing with the wider UK and world market.
How? I don't know, and neither do HIE or CCC it would seem.
I would like to know what has happened to the new industries associated with tidal energy we were told about. I expect the valued incentives and grants have not materialized :roll:
Correct they haven't have they ??
I think that is an unfair comment to make about them not needing support, as at some point, every business requires assistance. I understand your point if money is being handed out to companies that are obviously not going to succeed, this is certainly a pointless exercise. I feel that more assistance/ funding should be made available to smaller retail companies who have been successful in the past but notice a problem now and are flexible in that they will adapt to current market needs.
rob murray
12-Jun-13, 15:46
I think that is an unfair comment to make about them not needing support, as at some point, every business requires assistance. I understand your point if money is being handed out to companies that are obviously not going to succeed, this is certainly a pointless exercise. I feel that more assistance/ funding should be made available to smaller retail companies who have been successful in the past but notice a problem now and are flexible in that they will adapt to current market needs.
Problem is that HIE have funding criteria rules and dont fund retail ! Go to a bank if your struggling and its good night vienna, HIE is basically the bank of the last resort, issue is it can be better !
I think that is an unfair comment to make about them not needing support, as at some point, every business requires assistance. I understand your point if money is being handed out to companies that are obviously not going to succeed, this is certainly a pointless exercise. I feel that more assistance/ funding should be made available to smaller retail companies who have been successful in the past but notice a problem now and are flexible in that they will adapt to current market needs.
I disagree. A fixed site retailer with fixed margins is unlikely to turn round a poor trading position. The only criterier for grant aid I could see justified would be a short term injection to fund recruitment to service a new contract, or in any event to be attached in some way to new employees.
But...if a bank won't lend it is because the risk is too high. So should be the same for public (MY) money!
Rob,
I think Dounreay, over the years has provided a false sense of security to most folk in Caithness brainwashing employees into thinking that there is nothing but Dounreay as an employer and preventing them from trying something else such as Offshore. You will find nowadays the majority of people in black trades, from Caithness are working offshore, but still living in Caithness as it is a lovely place to live. The money being earned from Offshore is still available to be spent in Caithness, so I think the fears of Caithness being a dead county once Dounreay is out of the equation is untrue. Caithness councillors need to put more effort into attracting large companies into Caithness whether it is involving renewables or the Oil & Gas, but one thing is for sure, by sitting on their backsides and waiting for the companies to come to them is totally insane. A note to the councillors, put your cake and cup of tea down and do what you are paid to do, keep the County afloat, by being creative and putting some effort in!!!
rob murray
12-Jun-13, 16:03
Rob,
I think Dounreay, over the years has provided a false sense of security to most folk in Caithness brainwashing employees into thinking that there is nothing but Dounreay as an employer and preventing them from trying something else such as Offshore. You will find nowadays the majority of people in black trades, from Caithness are working offshore, but still living in Caithness as it is a lovely place to live. The money being earned from Offshore is still available to be spent in Caithness, so I think the fears of Caithness being a dead county once Dounreay is out of the equation is untrue. Caithness councillors need to put more effort into attracting large companies into Caithness whether it is involving renewables or the Oil & Gas, but one thing is for sure, by sitting on their backsides and waiting for the companies to come to them is totally insane. A note to the councillors, put your cake and cup of tea down and do what you are paid to do, keep the County afloat, by being creative and putting some effort in!!!
Agree that lots of Caithnessians work off shore / abroad in black trades, but what will replace the Dounreay jobs...these guys wont be off shore ! Unless something radical is done the counties population will fall to early 50's levels ( pre Dounreay ).when Thurso's population was c 4,000 ? I share your concerns but have no faith in councillors, mp's msps, public agencies etc, people create businesses !
Give the customer what he/she wants rather than what the shopkeeper thinks the customer wants.
Its only natural that when Dounreay finally begins the major lay off's that the majority of folk employed there will need to migrate also.
There are plenty folk who commute to Aberdeen and much further afield on a weekly basis.
orkneycadian
12-Jun-13, 23:09
Sorry, but as long as you prefer to shop at Tesco (yes, its popped up again....) and Amazon, you are all stuffed!
Have to agree with you Rheghead, there are a few shops that are willing to put themselves out and treat customers as though they are special and welcome. The number of shops that are closed for lunch and extended lunch and closed half days is amazing especially when that is the only time that a lot of folk have to shop. We try to use local outlets where ever possible but there are times when one just wants to tear one's hair out as service does not seem to be in their vocabulary.
Half day and lunchtime closing astonishes me, it's so backward it's unreal.These days you need to be open every hour you can, including Sundays
DunnetKnowe
12-Jun-13, 23:44
went into Biron's looking for paint supplies, was politely directed to McAllan's as the 2 shops have an agreement not to step on each others toes
Well that's me not going to be patronising either of these price fixing connivers ever again - as much as I hate the service in Homebase they can have my business from now on.
Well that's me not going to be patronising either of these price fixing connivers ever again - as much as I hate the service in Homebase they can have my business from now on.Price fixing was never mentioned
Jockaholic
13-Jun-13, 00:47
seems the phones bin ringin enite hie bois must be freet
buisness would do better when a few bent councillors stopped mekin a few people rich with other peoples money rpund these parts
concerned resident
13-Jun-13, 09:19
I tried a few years back to encourage a company that was interested in setting up a part of there company up here in Caithness, they inspected the property which they were delighted with, then a mistake on my part was to refer them to Case which i thought would be of assistance to them, they told the company that we did not have people suitable for assembly of parts etc, i even went in and spoke to some one in there, as i thought there had been a misunderstanding, i was told the same, i even countered with so what do they do at Ice-tech. It was just negative, i could not believe it there are places which will even pay you to move into there area down south. That was thirty jobs less for Caithness. There should be money made available from Dounreay and Vulcan (Government) to encourage company's to set up in the north, and not just a lot of what we are going to do ( Hot Air) The clock is ticking and Dounreay and Vulcan young people are going to start trying to get jobs in the south, and older ones retire.
I tried a few years back to encourage a company that was interested in setting up a part of there company up here in Caithness, they inspected the property which they were delighted with, then a mistake on my part was to refer them to Case which i thought would be of assistance to them, they told the company that we did not have people suitable for assembly of parts etc, i even went in and spoke to some one in there, as i thought there had been a misunderstanding, i was told the same, i even countered with so what do they do at Ice-tech. It was just negative, i could not believe it there are places which will even pay you to move into there area down south. That was thirty jobs less for Caithness. There should be money made available from Dounreay and Vulcan (Government) to encourage company's to set up in the north, and not just a lot of what we are going to do ( Hot Air) The clock is ticking and Dounreay and Vulcan young people are going to start trying to get jobs in the south, and older ones retire.Why would / should Dounreay and Vulcan make money available out of their own budgets to assist new business in the area?
Sorry, but as long as you prefer to shop at Tesco (yes, its popped up again....) and Amazon, you are all stuffed!
21 century orky...sorry
quick example of solution to this not working ... went into Biron's looking for paint supplies, was politely directed to McAllan's as the 2 shops have an agreement not to step on each others toes, low and behold McAllan's were shut for lunch (my only time to get stuff) so i had to go to homebase instead.
Well that's me not going to be patronising either of these price fixing connivers ever again - as much as I hate the service in Homebase they can have my business from now on. It would seem I lost trade before I have even opened the door this morning. We have no agreement with McAllan's and have very little interaction at all apart from good morning and other pleasantry's. We have a relatively small shop and would like to stock many more products than we do, so it would make no sense for us to stock items that a shop two doors away sell, especially that they are very competitive and good at what they do. When people come down the street for a product it is our ambition to either sell them what we have or direct to where they may be able to find what they want. I send people to any shop that may be able to help without bias or reward and most other shops in the town do the same. www.birons.co.uk (http://www.birons.co.uk)
macadamia
13-Jun-13, 11:07
Wrong, O wonderful Birons! You have gained trade, because most people will see the uninformed calumny hurled at you to be nothing more than a bit of passing pique. We know you to be a blooming marvellous institution, and Wick would be all the better for taking note of the personable and professional way in which you trade.
More power to your formidable elbow, and indeed, other bits, from a devoted Birons fan. And I'm not even looking for a discount!
hedgehogger
13-Jun-13, 12:12
Well that's me not going to be patronising either of these price fixing connivers ever again - as much as I hate the service in Homebase they can have my business from now on.
SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS! do you have proof? I can see serious repercussions if you don't have
I think what you find nowadays is shops trying to introduce new lines not already available in the county, then another shop decides oh we'll do that, then another shop and so on! This spoils it for everyone as prices are driven down so much that virtually no profit is made. It is very easy to copy others, but doing this will not improve your business. Every shop should stay as individual as possible and specialise in your own area and for example return to the days where you go to a local ironmongers for a bit of chain, or a paper shop for a magazine. Without a doubt large supermarkets and online stores have spoilt things for smaller retailers but it's all about being creative in restructuring your business to succeed in the mordern world, but I think to admit defeat to them is completely wrong!! Like I have said before local businesses need to wisen up and look at what each business is currently catering for and leave them to cater for that, get their thinking caps on/ make enquiries into what other types of product are sought after in the county which are currently unavailable and proceed in this direction, work together and not against each other and possibly this may improve business in the far North.
What type of products/ shops are sought after up here in Caithness?
hedgehogger
13-Jun-13, 12:48
All good and well starting a new business but you need support from both suppliers and customers. An idea i had which was fairly sound and no-one in the area has the same business, was hit at the starting gate with all the majors manufacturer/suppliers wanting a VAT number. I would love to turnover near on a hundred grand in my first year but realistically that wouldn't happen. So i approached smaller distributors and their prices were almost double the manufacturers prices. Overall if i took their stock of say £100k and sold it all at current market prices i would make approx £10k profit, whereas stock from the manufacturer would return me nearer £35k profit. Take a shop on and buy from smaller supplier = a loss and no personal income. Where's the fun in that?
There's also Ebay etc to contend with. I cannot for love of me understand why someone pays over the odds plus postage for something they CAN get locally and cheaper. Paypal also has a lot to do with this "online shopping mentality" as people who have a chunk of cash in a Paypal account do not seem to sense the true value of it and merely spend it online because they can.
Theres also the issue of a particular online retailer on Ebay selling their stock at pennies above cost from the manufacturer. I have the manufacturers pricelist and theres no discount option to let me sell at the same price even if i did get my stock from them! So i checked the seller's details and despite the sellers name addresses being different, surprise, surprise, the telephone number is different by one digit. A quick call to both soon clarified that the online "retailer" is ALSO the manufacturer! so that leads to the question of just exactly how many more manufacturers and suppliers are selling directly on Ebay and stuffing the local companies by doing so?
As for help and aid in setting up shop, you only have to look at what an enterprising initiative company did to a friend of mine with their prospective business startup idea. Sent by the jobcentre to the initiative with their business idea, the initiative rep hummed and huffed, yeah, no, problems, money, etc etc but worked with them for around 7-8 weeks to see "if it was viable". Sourced funding options, looked out a possible site for the business and did the costing but basically told them it was a non-starter. So my friend gave up. What did she see a few weeks later in the same building but a business doing exactly what she was going to do. A few enquiries brought up some names and she waited a little time and finally caught the initiative rep on the premises with his girlfriend. Between them they had opened the business that my friend was going to start. So much for trust and a non-starter of an idea...
VAT registration is optional below the threshold of £79000, thus you can apply to be VAT registered below this amount, so I cannot understand why you didn't go VAT registered?
All good and well starting a new business but you need support from both suppliers and customers. An idea i had which was fairly sound and no-one in the area has the same business, was hit at the starting gate with all the majors manufacturer/suppliers wanting a VAT number. I would love to turnover near on a hundred grand in my first year but realistically that wouldn't happen. So i approached smaller distributors and their prices were almost double the manufacturers prices. Overall if i took their stock of say £100k and sold it all at current market prices i would make approx £10k profit, whereas stock from the manufacturer would return me nearer £35k profit. Take a shop on and buy from smaller supplier = a loss and no personal income. Where's the fun in that?
There's also Ebay etc to contend with. I cannot for love of me understand why someone pays over the odds plus postage for something they CAN get locally and cheaper. Paypal also has a lot to do with this "online shopping mentality" as people who have a chunk of cash in a Paypal account do not seem to sense the true value of it and merely spend it online because they can.
Theres also the issue of a particular online retailer on Ebay selling their stock at pennies above cost from the manufacturer. I have the manufacturers pricelist and theres no discount option to let me sell at the same price even if i did get my stock from them! So i checked the seller's details and despite the sellers name addresses being different, surprise, surprise, the telephone number is different by one digit. A quick call to both soon clarified that the online "retailer" is ALSO the manufacturer! so that leads to the question of just exactly how many more manufacturers and suppliers are selling directly on Ebay and stuffing the local companies by doing so?
As for help and aid in setting up shop, you only have to look at what an enterprising initiative company did to a friend of mine with their prospective business startup idea. Sent by the jobcentre to the initiative with their business idea, the initiative rep hummed and huffed, yeah, no, problems, money, etc etc but worked with them for around 7-8 weeks to see "if it was viable". Sourced funding options, looked out a possible site for the business and did the costing but basically told them it was a non-starter. So my friend gave up. What did she see a few weeks later in the same building but a business doing exactly what she was going to do. A few enquiries brought up some names and she waited a little time and finally caught the initiative rep on the premises with his girlfriend. Between them they had opened the business that my friend was going to start. So much for trust and a non-starter of an idea...
What is wrong with a manufacturer selling direct to the client?
Cut out the middleman then the manufacturer gets a sale and the client gets the product at a discounted rate.
Perhaps retail is not the best business to be investing in at the moment.
Surely there must have been a paper trail of the assistance you friend recieved from the enterprise initiative company that could be used in a complaint against them. I would like to think that there must be more to it than you have said or else ther is no integrity in the enterprise firm at all. Did your friend make an oficial complaint?
DunnetKnowe
13-Jun-13, 14:05
was hit at the starting gate with all the majors manufacturer/suppliers wanting a VAT number.
VAT registration is optional below the threshold of £79000, thus you can apply to be VAT registered below this amount, so I cannot understand why you didn't go VAT registered?
Totally agree - even a dormant company can have a VAT number. And it costs nothing. You're better staying out of business hedgehogger if you are going to be that naive. And avoid being a sole trader.
hedgehogger
13-Jun-13, 14:18
Nothing at all wrong with selling direct to the client but if every manufacturer did this, then there would be no need for shops at all. Would you wait a few days for a newspaper, pint of milk or a loaf of bread to be delivered?
yes my friend is in the process of legal action at the moment but the difficulty is in proving it. The only connection is the girlfriend of the initiative rep and she denies all knowledge.
hedgehogger
13-Jun-13, 14:25
VAT registration is optional below the threshold of £79000, thus you can apply to be VAT registered below this amount, so I cannot understand why you didn't go VAT registered?
No objection to being VAT registered at all but rather it wasn't in the first year of business. No point in VAT registering and not hitting the threshold and other side of the coin is if you aren't registered and do hit the threshold then all good and well. Last thing i wanted was the immediate costs of being VAT registered from the start. Whether other sole traders view this differently then each to their own opinion.
Can't believe some of the things I'm finding on the Internet regarding The Chamber and HIE, all accessible to anyone in the world, I'd be embarrassed to publish most of it.......
Here's the Chamber staff.....7 of them no less!...
http://caithnesschamber.com/about/meet-the-team/operational-team
A quick 5 min look at the accounts about somes the show up, £167,000 in admin costs (salaries) and £42,000 paid to directors in their most recent accounts.
Theres 2 people working on the 'Make the Right Connections' project and it appears from the case studies that they've put 3 people on courses, one on an offshore survival, one to make and ice cakes and I can't remember or be bothered to check out what the third one was again.
People in real business want as few and as efficient staff as possible to maximise profits, why do quango leaders seem to need as much staff as they can get public funding for to make their empires seem more creditable?....it's a joke, and it's a joke with our money.
DunnetKnowe
13-Jun-13, 14:37
Last thing i wanted was the immediate costs of being VAT registered from the start.
It costs nothing to register for VAT. And it costs nothing to submit your VAT return. Where's the cost ?
DunnetKnowe
13-Jun-13, 14:39
Can't believe some of the things I'm finding on the Internet regarding The Chamber and HIE
In that case you'll love the fact that HIE gave the Chamber about £125,000 to employ Trudy Morris - the goal they set her was to triple the membership of the Chamber. No goal for businesses or the economy.
hedgehogger
13-Jun-13, 14:39
You're better staying out of business hedgehogger if you are going to be that naive. And avoid being a sole trader.
Oh right then, i'm naive am i? thats why i run my own business now and it's making me a living just fine. Suits me to a tee and everyone i deal with, suppliers for the few small items i need and customers alike, are happy. Im not turning over, nor am i near the threshold for VAT so it's fine for me and if i were to go VAT registered now, i would have increased costs and the headache of administering it. A lot of the materials i use are naturally gathered and self made so dont cost me anything other than time or costs to go collect them. If i was VAT reg'd i'd have to increase my prices and always be paying VAT to the government with very little benefit to the business or myself. One product i get from the supplier costs me £150 inclusive of VAT yet that product when remade into what i make will return me around £600, so do the math. Oh and before you ask, i do pay tax & insurance too. Happy now? got any more oars left on that boat of yours?
hedgehogger
13-Jun-13, 14:41
ha, the VAT return works it all out by itself, fills itself in and submits the return for free does it? who is the naive one now!
There are different VAT schemes that you can register for such as flat rate scheme, which can be more beneficial to a company than the standard VAT scheme. So VAT registration isn't all doom and gloom!
rob murray
13-Jun-13, 15:19
I think that is an unfair comment to make about them not needing support, as at some point, every business requires assistance. I understand your point if money is being handed out to companies that are obviously not going to succeed, this is certainly a pointless exercise. I feel that more assistance/ funding should be made available to smaller retail companies who have been successful in the past but notice a problem now and are flexible in that they will adapt to current market needs.
Sorry Im not making the comment...I didnt make the policy decision on not helping retail directly ie with funding / grant support, just stating the situation
In that case you'll love the fact that HIE gave the Chamber about £125,000 to employ Trudy Morris - the goal they set her was to triple the membership of the Chamber. No goal for businesses or the economy.
Afraid it was more than that......
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/article.aspx/1009045
HIE make a habit of giving her money though.........
http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/News/Jobs-cut-could-be-thin-end-of-the-wedge-says-union-rep-50.htm
DunnetKnowe
13-Jun-13, 16:26
If i was VAT reg'd i'd have to increase my prices and always be paying VAT to the government with very little benefit to the business or myself.
No you don't - go for the flat rate option - no paperwork, just submit your turnover figure once a quarter. And you'll probably find you actual gain a small amount on your profit.
rob murray
13-Jun-13, 16:57
Thinking about it the thread should have been re named : how do we attract business to Caithness and improve whats still there ??
Attracting business to caithness is still improving business isn't it??
Kevin Milkins
14-Jun-13, 18:24
Well that's me not going to be patronising either of these price fixing connivers ever again - as much as I hate the service in Homebase they can have my business from now on.
The OP was asking what can be done to help a small business to survive, not what can we do to help close them.
hedgehogger
14-Jun-13, 20:03
The OP was asking what can be done to help a small business to survive, not what can we do to help close them.
well said Kevin!....i'm sure duzznyknowe will come by and apologise.....or will he?....
Next time folk complain about shops shutting and Wick becoming a ghost town just remember that crap like this doesn't help, what happened to supporting your local businesses??
DunnetKnowe
14-Jun-13, 23:47
Next time folk complain about shops shutting and Wick becoming a ghost town just remember that crap like this doesn't help, what happened to supporting your local businesses??
What happened to local businesses not having "agreements" to not compete with each other (i.e. cartel) ?
What happened to local businesses not closing for lunch ?
What happened to local businesses providing decent customer service ?
What happened to local businesses not having "agreements" to not compete with each other (i.e. cartel) ?What happened to local businesses not closing for lunch ?What happened to local businesses providing decent customer service ?Didn't you read the post by Birons, there is no agreement. It just doesn't make commercial sense for either to sell the same products. Birons doesn't have the space to stock a range of paints and wallpapers, and if they did, what they'd stock would be small compared to the choice you'd have in the other shop, where you're also paying for their knowledge and experience. Or would you like Birons to stock some paint exclusively for your benefit?
The only person who has mentioned 'agreements' has been you, what happened to common courtesy, would you like to see the shop next door stock the same goods as you were offering, I think not! Not all shops close for lunch in Wick you know and I too expect and give nothing less than excellent customer service!
DunnetKnowe
15-Jun-13, 00:05
The only person who has mentioned 'agreements' has been you
Wrong. It was first mentioned by 'rogermellie' and although that post has gone the quote from it remains in a previous one of mine.
DunnetKnowe
15-Jun-13, 00:08
would you like to see the shop next door stock the same goods as you were offering
It's called 'competition'. So should Meiklejohn's be the only place you can buy a Mars Bar in the North of Scotland ?
lo and behold McAllan's were shut for lunch (my only time to get stuff) so i had to go to homebase instead.
Here's a laugh- I work at Dounreay and am available all day, even when I have a sandwich in front of me.
DunnetKnowe
15-Jun-13, 08:16
I work at Dounreay
The concept of 'work' at Dounreay has always been a rather different one to other people. I remember years ago that a day's work at Dounreay for some people often involved getting off the bus and sitting in the toilet with the Daily Record until it was time to go home again, or to spend your day doing 'homers' in the workshops.
What you say some people did years ago is of course fascinating and valuable. They were probably unavailable at lunchtime too. Most of the heroes from those golden days have literally died of old age by now, so maybe it doesn't affect this argument all that much.
Why the Daily Record? There's always been plenty of toilet paper.
orkneycadian
15-Jun-13, 10:11
Half day and lunchtime closing astonishes me, it's so backward it's unreal.These days you need to be open every hour you can, including Sundays
Customers want the prices to be lower to compete with Tesco and the likes, so prices and profits have to go down.
Employees want a "living wage" so wages have to go up, and number of employees goes down
Employees want lunch breaks and tea breaks too. With not enough employees to cover (see above), the shop has to close at lunchtime.
You cant have it both ways. Expecting to get your lunchbreak and go shopping, and finding that others stay open to suit you!
Then, on here, you get folk saying they are unemployed because no one is offering full time jobs. The Tescos of this world get by with mainly part time workers, so again not pleasing the folk that say they will only take a job if its full time.
I have no doubt that employees at shops that shut at lunchtime and have half days think they have a great job.
Shop owners can do as they please. If locking the door in customers' faces is part of their business strategy, best of luck to them.
Damned if you do and damned if you don't, Birons is probably one of the few shops who don't have a designated lunch break, don't shut up shop at lunchtime or have a half-day on a Wednesday or Saturday, there's just no pleasing some people!
Spongeboab
15-Jun-13, 13:39
and is one of the few shops open till 5.30, Biron's is a great shop, excellent customer service and customer friendly hours
I went to howdens garden centre in Inverness last night., shop closes at 19:30, I turned up at 19:28 to be told we are closed.I said it is not 19:30 yet and I will only be a minute as I know what I want, she said its almost 19:30 and we close at19:30 come back in the morning.I said I don't think so, I will go elsewhere in future.
orkneycadian
15-Jun-13, 14:45
Ah but, MI16, that might have caused an employee to have to work some overtime. Here, they won't even do overtime to keep the boats running.... So you can turn up at a timetabled boat, and its not there - Vamoosed, tied up in Kirkwall.
Moderator
15-Jun-13, 20:41
Some posts have been removed from this thread which detracted from its' purpose.
Thanks & apologies to those of you who posted in support of local businesses whose posts were removed.
Pink Lippy
16-Jun-13, 10:22
The ball at Dounreay
Like an old lady sits
Bereft of utility
She smile and she knits
What is her future?
Will she lord over our kids?
Or will she encounter
The fate of no bids?
What is our future?
Our County so proud
Will its windmills support us?
With hi-tech endowed.
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