Johan Holmström, who operates the "Jontten Kyläkauppa" village shop in Kirkkonnummi says that more liberal opening hours for larger retailers have been reflected in sales.
"It has indeed meant a big loss for us. However, with hard work we've made up for it. In that respect, we're better off than compared to some others. For many other village shops further away from the capital region, the liberalization of Sunday opening hours has been a really hard blow. Nobody saw what the final significance would be to smaller shops when the decision was made," says Johan Holmström
During the ongoing heatwave, business at village shops has been brisk. Even so, according to Holmström about every other month at least a couple of small shopkeepers in the Uusimaa region have closed their doors.
Holmström sees service as the key to the survival of village shops. His own shop offers not just foodstuffs, but also trailer rentals, DVDs, topsoil, fertilizers, lottery tickets and he takes orders for home deliveries of heating oil.
Unlike many smaller shops, it is horse feed, not cold beer, that draws many customers to Holmström's shop. Local produce, such as lettuce, tomatoes and strawberries has a special appeal for local shoppers.