BY ANNE MCNAMARA-MCGEE
and DIANE GOUCHIE
Here we go again! The subject of extended store hours has become newsworthy one more time.
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No matter how many times city council votes to uphold the bylaw, this topic will not go away.
We have read and listened to countless opinions regarding the city bylaw requiring stores to close at specific times. The topic is becoming tiresome.
The latest attempt to change the bylaw has compelled us to speak out on behalf of those who oppose any such change.
Is our society really so focused on being able to shop at all hours of the day or is this a myth perpetuated by big box stores and the media? In the very recent past, stores closed on Sunday and evening hours were limited to Thursday and Friday. Somehow we all found time to do our shopping.
Most store owners will agree that extending these hours did little, if anything to increase sales.
Once the novelty of being able to shop at different times wore off, shopping trends readjusted themselves to what they had been before. To this day stores in this city are most quiet Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings.
It is a fallacy that extended hours will increase sales. Extending store hours will not increase the number of disposable dollars in the consumerÂ?s pocket. The same number of dollars will be spent in stores regardless of how many hours they are open.
Retailers will be faced with increased overhead costs. Independent businesses, owned and operated by citizens in our community, will suffer the consequences. They will be forced to open their doors in order to remain viable, but at the same time they will suffer the burden of extra costs.
Time off is precious to those of us who work in a retail environment, as it is to everyone. Retail workers have families who enjoy their company
Saturday evenings and other holidays. They work long and difficult hours, too often at rates of pay that do not reward them well for their time.
Have any of the polls canvassed retail workers to see what their opinions are on extended hours? These are the people whose lives will be directly
affected by the extension of store hours.
We believe they should have a platform for their opinions. We have canvassed the people we work with and not one is in favour of extending store hours.
We should spend more time as a city debating the issues that really impact our lives and stop worrying about whether or not we can shop on Saturday nights or any other time prohibited by the bylaw.
Why should Sudbury follow other communities? Let us lead by example and show we are a community that values time with family and friends and quality of life. Sudbury will always be a great place to shop as long as those in the retail sector are content with their lives and can provide good customer service.
Rest assured that if stores are closed for an evening, the world will not spin out of control. Increased shopping hours will not make our city a better place to live or do business; it will merely make it more closely resemble our American neighbours where stores are open on all holidays and the almighty dollar reigns supreme.
We applaud the actions of city council. Thank you for having the strength to stay the course, not give into pressure of the American retail chains and to continue to ensure Sudbury is a breed apart.
You have made us proud to be citizens of this community.
Anne McNamara- McGee and Diane Gouchie own The Leprechaun.
