I have been involved with 2 different printers to try and get some brochures, posters, tickets, cards printed for the end of August. The music organisation is going to start up again in October with one concert every month (except January) 2022) until the spring.
Things have not been straightforward... so what is going on?? Having dealt with various printers for 4 decades (egad!) I have certainly seen some changes. Time-served people saw their businesses merge, and/or close; equipment sold off as computer generated desk top publishing (like the stuff I do) replaced it. Not all printers disappeared but methinks I am now seeing a similar decline right now.
Due to the pandemic, as we know, many businesses were forced to close and lay off staff. Times have been very uncertain over these past 18 months. Businesses, services etc that have remained open were either forced to reduce staff, days e.g. dentists, and others closed everything and operated from home; some are still operating but it seems only part-time.
The concept of 'service' in the UK is, and never has been, the same as US or Canada; you get used to limited, surly or none. That being the case as things are now opening up slowly and getting back to 'normal' it is still a case of: sitting on the phone waiting for a human being to attend your call; goods not delivered when arranged, websites with out-of-date phone numbers, increasing difficulty processing things because of 'security protection', people not at the office so "I'll get so and so to deal with it." (not).
The 2 printing jobs finally were completed. However what I began to suspect is, indeed, the case: businesses have closed and relocated or are working with skeleton staff. I appreciate that they must be having problems with their supply chain. I hope there is not a paper shortage at the moment!
A post-script to this: on the other side of this problem I am finding some shops that are not only open but have queues outside e.g.new ice-cream shop locally. And plumbers, plasterers, driving instructors for Learner Drivers, have big waiting lists.
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A short drive from our house is Dobbie's Garden Centre located on the edge of our Bearsden/Milngavie suburb of Glasgow. The business appears to be re-styling itself. They have got rid of their Edinburgh Wooden Mill section and have now a big 'grocery hall' with lots of Sainsbury brand on the shelves.
They still have tacky stuff that comes in containers from China e.g. home decor stuff; they even sell plants and garden equipment but not very exciting stuff (and certainly no staff who know anything about plants!) For the record the day I visited was September 13th (Monday) and there were piles of Christmas stock starting to fill the emptied corners.
However outside in the car park these photos show the superb location: the cows are grazing on the line of the Roman Antonine Wall.
And it is that time of year.... jelly making time:
Back in Bearsden - a trip down memory lane when I parked my car alongside this fence on Russel Drive
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