All I know is that when I worked in a similar area at a computer shop (another place where people have to lug bulky and sometimes heavy items from their cars), I would park anywhere that didn't block a customer from parking. Seems like simple logic to me.
Also, I did it because I was just as lazy as the customers. I didn't want to carry their stuff a long distance any more than they did, and I would always offer to load and unload anything. If they're parked closer to the door, I had to do less work myself.
I guess I didn't think a 2 block walk was a big deal, especially when I would come in and sit down for 30 minutes in the AC getting everything ready for the day.
I grew up in a small town where parking was and still often is at a premium. It does not help that this town is built on the side of a hill/small mountain so that unless you are parking on Main Street you will have to walk uphill to either get to the store you want to visit or to get back to your car. For years (DECADES?) the idea that parking in front of your own business was not helping to bring in customers fell on the deaf ears of business owners.
THEN, along came a spur to action. Across the river, a quick 5-10 minute drive, a new shopping center opened with a HUGE parking lot that siphoned customers away from downtown. Within months, the same selfish business owners that parked in front of their own businesses were clamoring for the C of C to agree to rip out all the parking meters downtown and placing time restrictions on the parking spaces.
There is, unfortunately, still very little parking and some business owners still park in front of their own stores...even tho there is a municipal parking lot behind some of the businesses. Until a Wal-Mart comes to town and threatens(sp?) the businesses you share your spaces with, these folks will continue to take their customers for granted.
poopshovel wrote:
"March 24, 2012
For the attention of our neighbors, fellow business owners, and their employees
Dear Neighbors:
Recently, business owners and employees on this end of town have begun parking on Main Street. At the time of my writing this, almost every parking spot from (shop down the way) down to the Stop Sign is occupied by either a business owner or employee. This means that anyone wishing to do business at this end of the street is forced to park on (side street) or in the Municipal Lot next to the gym.
Please, as a courtesy to your neighbors, and to the customers that keep our businesses alive, park either on (side street), or in the Municipal Lot. Particularly in our business, our customers are often having to unload and load large, heavy items, and if there are no spaces available on Main Street, they will simply not do business with us that day.
PLEASE FEEL FREE to park on the side of our building on (side street). When I pulled in at 9 o’clock this morning, every spot on Mountain Street was open. Also keep in mind that the spots on the North side of (side street) are available.
I am writing a letter (rather than addressing this matter personally with each business owner,) only out of convenience. If you’d like to discuss the idea of leaving parking spots on Main St. open for our customers, please give me a call at xxx-xxxx, or come by the shop near the end of the day, and I’ll be happy to talk face-to-face.
Thanks, and best wishes to you all for another prosperous year in (our town)!"
Cool?
The problem with this letter is it focuses on your situation which I'm sure the other store owner could really care less. Add something about it reducing customer base for "all" the shops which affects income to "all" the shops then maybe that will get their attention. Maybe talk to some of the other shop owners and get them on board with it also. Maybe a committee of fellow shop owners to talk to the chamber of commerce. Oh, the comment "talk face-to-face" seems intimidating, would be more PC to say talk personally instead. Learned the hard way that simple wording can change attitudes.
Thanks! I might just ditch the bit about our shop altogether, and I'll definitely ditch the "face-to-face" part. It does come off as 'confrontational.' It's not about people parking in "MY" spot. It's about there not being spots available for ANYONE spending money. I have no problem at all with a consumer parking in front of my shop, walking across the street and spending money.
