What time do the renovation centers close on Sunday or Wednesday evenings? Customers and DIY stores agree on one thing: the decision to shorten opening hours would be a “lesser evil” if it means having competent employees on site at all times.
Another observation: closing on Sunday would be the least “disturbing” option for both camps.
As a result, nearly 77% of retailers are willing to make scheduling concessions rather than reducing the number of staff present to answer questions in the aisles. 61% of consumers prefer this option: fewer hours but always service.
This is according to two surveys conducted by CROP and the Quebec Association of Hardware and Building Materials (AQMAT), the results of which were released at the organization in Saint-Hyacinthe on Thursday.
“The retailer is there and the consumer is ready to go there,” said Richard Darveau, President and CEO of AQMAT. He admits that the two surveys give him free rein to continue his campaign to reduce opening hours. According to him, they cannot apply to all companies in the same way. “Expectations are not the same when you enter a bike shop, a supermarket or a hardware store. »
The press revealed earlier this year that Almost half of hardware stores have reduced their opening hours in 2022, according to a review conducted by AQMAT. Of around 800 stores, 400 made this change. However, Mr Darveau wants legislation to be passed to prevent unfair competition.
“I have members who tell me they would like to reduce their hours but are afraid of the consequences,” he confides.
68% of the customers surveyed – homeowners – stated that the closure of their hardware store on Sundays would cause them little or no inconvenience. This proportion rises to 66% if the store was closed on a business day.
For their part, 71% of retailers believe that closing on Sunday would pose “no disadvantage” to customers. On the other hand, the idea of closing the store on a weekday attracts few home improvement stores, with 87% agreeing it’s not a good idea.
The results of the two surveys were sent to the Office of Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Pierre Fitzgibbon, as well as to the Conseil Québécois du commerce de retail (CQCD) and the Retail Council of Canada (CCCD).
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