After Midnight

After Midnight.
Patsy Cline goes walking.  Eric Clapton lets it all hang out.  And retailers turn out the lights and lock the doors.  Or at least they used to.

In the new internet-based, global economy it makes sense to be open 24/7.  Your customers are getting used the the "always there" nature of the internet.  Who among us hasn't, at least once,browsed the virtual aisles of Amazon or Macy's at 2 am?

But it is not just on the internet.  More and more bricks and mortar establishments, including fast food restaurants and big box discount retailers are staying open 24/7.  They are realizing that we are no longer a 9 to 5 economy.

There are many reasons for this.  Fewer and fewer jobs are the types that you can "punch out" at a certain time and head home.  Work hours are getting longer (the average work day is 8.7 hours long according to some sources) and commutes to and from work are getting longer (26 miles each way is the average work commute in the US.)  More families have both parents working at least one job.  That means that people are looking for the convenience of a quick dinner or the ability to do their personal shopping when it is convenient to them.

Successful businesses are open when their customers are looking for them.  More often than not that is after midnight.