But restaurants do. Try finding somewhere for lunch in the Mdina/Rabat area, outside the peak season, after 2 p.m..

People speak with their money.

Again a very poor understanding of the retail environment by this supermarket.

Good retail practice has nothing to do with being a Mediterranean habit.

It’s got to do with understanding trends and customer spending habits.

It’s all about great customer service that makes you stand out from the competition.

In Malta it is difficult to understand this concept as our shops are mostly run by owners who live day by day instead of investing in a good well trained staff to help move their business forward.

After returning to Malta from a trip overseas most of us are shocked at the service inside most shops.

No ‘hello, how are you today’ or ‘did you find what you were looking for today’, no please or thank you at the till. Not even a smile or eye contact. Some cashiers even carry on conversations with other employees while serving you.

Some weeks ago I drew the attention of a security guard in a well-known supermarket to the fact that lately the area below the office, where many people shopped, reeked of cigarette smoke. His reply was a shrug.

An illegality and a health issue ignored because the next time we went the smell was just as bad so we changed supermarkets. People speak with their feet when all else fails. Only the arrogant don’t listen.

As their visit was only for a day I gave them a few ideas of places to visit.

Valletta, Sliema and Mdina.

When they arrived back to Canada I asked how they enjoyed Malta. Here is what they told me.

In Valletta most shops were closed in the afternoon.

They passed through Sliema and they enjoyed the seafront etc.

In Mdina they were asked to leave a souvenir shop because the store wanted to close for siesta. They did tell the salesperson that they wanted to buy but still were asked to leave.

The government is worried about the retail industry in Malta and Gozo when they have no clue what retail means.

They blame internet shopping. Of course people shop on the internet if you close for business, stupid.

This group did not tell me how beautiful Malta was but had in their memory that shops were closed and treated them badly.

In Toronto we are open from 10am to 9.30 pm Monday to Sunday for everyone’s shopping pleasure especially our large tourist trade.

When we decide to open our mind to how retail works then the shops will thrive.

So forget your siesta and open your business to capture the euros that the tourists are willing to spend.

I don’t mind if you publish this on your main blog.

Maybe somebody who is not on a siesta break will take notice.

Jilbes il-hwejjeg ta’ Toni Abela.

I can think of about a million things worse. Is he a genuine airhead or is it all an act?