RETAIL: Craft Shop Owners Need A Break
Listed under: News
Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Whilst much of the UK grasp their last opportunity for a summer holiday, our research suggests retailers are working longer hours and taking less breaks than ever before.
A recent poll by telecoms firm Unicom has backed this discovery, suggesting 42% of small business owners are unable to take breaks as often as they would like, with some working up to 50 hours a week.
Diane Brain, owner of Harmony Crafts in Shoreham-by-Sea, says “For the past few years, I have always managed to get away but this year its been impossible because I can't afford to shut the shop and don't have anyone that can cover for me. At the moment, if I do get someone in, its difficult to know whether I will make enough money to cover their wages. I don't employ anyone, so it's just me. It's definitely much harder to get away this year because of the current economic climate.” Michael Wilson of The Craft Shop in Derbyshire agrees “Although we've got enough staff to cover us when we go on holiday, it's getting the money for the holiday that is the problem. It has definitely become much worse this year. I take very few days off. We are supposed to take 22 days off plus bank holidays but I only took 11 last year and its just got worse over the last two or three years. Initially, I was taking 18 out of the 22 but now I'm lucky if I take 11!”
However, not all business owners are in agreement. Nigel Macfarlane, owner of Khadi Papers in Chichester, says “We haven't had any problems at all. We like going on holidays and do so often. It hasn't been anymore difficult to get away this year. We have a lot of staff that can cover for us and haven't experienced any problems covering their costs. The current economic difficulties haven't been a factor for us at all.”
What do you think about the amount of holiday you take? Email me your thoughts on this issue at
Diane Brain, owner of Harmony Crafts in Shoreham-by-Sea, says “For the past few years, I have always managed to get away but this year its been impossible because I can't afford to shut the shop and don't have anyone that can cover for me. At the moment, if I do get someone in, its difficult to know whether I will make enough money to cover their wages. I don't employ anyone, so it's just me. It's definitely much harder to get away this year because of the current economic climate.” Michael Wilson of The Craft Shop in Derbyshire agrees “Although we've got enough staff to cover us when we go on holiday, it's getting the money for the holiday that is the problem. It has definitely become much worse this year. I take very few days off. We are supposed to take 22 days off plus bank holidays but I only took 11 last year and its just got worse over the last two or three years. Initially, I was taking 18 out of the 22 but now I'm lucky if I take 11!”
However, not all business owners are in agreement. Nigel Macfarlane, owner of Khadi Papers in Chichester, says “We haven't had any problems at all. We like going on holidays and do so often. It hasn't been anymore difficult to get away this year. We have a lot of staff that can cover for us and haven't experienced any problems covering their costs. The current economic difficulties haven't been a factor for us at all.”
What do you think about the amount of holiday you take? Email me your thoughts on this issue at
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