18/03/2020
Corona Virus has affected many people in many different ways. Among those hurting are small businesses, some through loss of revenue, others through a change in the public's behaviour. After talking to a number of other businesses, ranging from dentists, to detailers, cleaners and gardeners, we're all noticing a significant increase in the number of cancellations we're receiving.
Cancellations aren't something we generally have an issue with. Rarely do we have bookings cancelled and when we do the customers typically give plenty of notice.
However since the outbreak of the Corona Virus, things have changed significantly. In the past week we have had five appointments cancelled, that in itself isn't so much an issue as we have work booked in for the next few months, the issue is that every one of them have been a last minute cancellation, and all have blamed the Corona Virus.
If a job is cancelled with enough notice then I can move someone else that's waiting into that spot. However when it's cancelled with little notice, then we're forced to have time off, the nature of our business means we can't just do a different job, which means we lose income. With five appointments cancelled this week that's almost an entire day lost, which costs us money.
So please spread the word, this is not an issue which affects just my business, it affects many others as well. If you have an appointment for a hair cut, with an accountant, the optometrist etc, and you feel the need to cancel due to the current situation, then please don't do it at the last minute and think you're not hurting anyone, you are. We're all in this together, lets all help each other out.
