If everyone generally works from 9 am to 5 pm, how do businesses expect to get any customers during that time?

Question

I mean, aren't all the potential customers WORKING during business hours? I don't understand how businesses can operate 9-5, when everybody works, and actually do business.

You are critcizing me for making broad assumptions. But the fact is, most people aren't retired, and most people don't set their own hours. Most people work M-F, 9-5. So are businesses open during those hours solely for the few people lucky enough not to be working then?

Answer 1

Depends on the business. Depends on what you are trying to sell. Are you selling to businesses or individuals? If you are selling office supplies then your target is an office manager during business hours. If you are selling vacation packages to individuals, you would want to get them on their break or stay open until 6 or 7 so that they would have time to meet you. Also - what about all the people who work 2nd or 3rd shift? And all those who work weekends? Or those who are retired or on disability?

Answer 2

I think the first question is what businesses do you know that only operate from 9-5? There aren't many that I can think of - at least not if they serve consumers and are NOT in a specific downtown area that shuts down at night. Some banks perhaps- but even those tend to be open later on Fridays and are open Saturday.

In the U.S. at least there are very few 9-5 companies. Most retailers probably open around 10AM and stay open until 9PM on weekdays. Many grocery stores and pharmacies are now open 24 hours a day as are some Home Depot stores. Restaurants and bars certainly don't keep those hours. So I think you need to look a bit beyond wherever you are.

The ones that do keep regular business hours probably serve other businesses or, as noted above, are in commercial centers which shut down in the evenings and so have no reason to be open.

And as noted by another user, many people can get out during the day to do errands even if they work. On top of that are millions of people who each day are off from work, those that are retired, work alternate shifts, etc. So while busineses are often slow in the middle of the day, many can still afford to be open.

Answer 3

You have made a broad assumption, my friend. I am self employed, and set my own schedule. I try very hard to not work any later than 2 or 3 in the afternoon. You have forgotten all of us who do not have the constrictions of working for someone else, in addition to the aforementioned people who work shifts, work in restaurants & clubs, etc.

Answer 4

People work during all shifts. While you're sleeping at night, there are people who are at work. There are also homemakers whose spouses are at work during the day and they're not. Also, there are many people who work on the weekends and have some weekdays off. Some people even run errands and do business on their lunch breaks.

Don't assume anything.