Dear editor:
Support local Cochrane small businesses!
What a great idea…no question this should be a priority for all Cochrane shoppers, to help support the privately owned small businesses in this awesome town. Why spend our money in the large corporate chains (Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc), or in Calgary stores, when these small businesses need our patronage?
Well, aside from the perception of cost savings in the large retail chains, there’s actually another very good reason why: many Cochrane small businesses – in fact I would suggest most – are only open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (or something similar to or less than this time range). Most are closed evenings and weekends, a few may be open Saturday mornings.
For Cochrane residents who work in Calgary (and let’s face it, this is probably at least 75 per cent of the employed population in Cochrane) it’s pretty much impossible for us to get home in time on weekdays to shop in Cochrane before the small businesses close at 5:30 p.m. The only window of opportunity we have is Saturday mornings, in many cases not even that.
This is a choice that Cochrane small businesses make, and each will have their reasons. So if they want to compete with the big chain stores and Calgary businesses, then perhaps they should reconsider their hours of operation.
How about staying closed Monday in favour of a full day of operation on the weekend? How about picking two weekdays where they are open from noon – 8 p.m.? As much as I would very much like to support all Cochrane small businesses, if they aren’t open when I’m available to shop, it’s off to Wal-Mart I go!
Judy Bailey
