31/08/2026
The Artful Dabber has it spot on!! Please just let us know if you don’t require our services so we can make other plans 🤞🏼
👻 PLEASE DON’T GHOST SMALL BUSINESSES 👻
A couple of weeks ago, I received an enquiry from an established events organiser asking about my availability for three days of promotional events.
As I always try to do, I responded quickly. I checked my diary, explained which dates I could personally cover, looked at arranging another professional painter for the date I couldn’t, and took the time to respond with a proper quote.
And then… nothing.
😞 No “thank you, I’ll get back to you.”
😞 No “we’ve decided to go in a different direction.”
😞 No “we’re no longer going ahead.”
😢 Just silence.
Because the dates had been discussed as a possibility, I was reluctant to agree to other work from different clients.
So, after a week or so, I followed up.
😞 Still nothing.
And unfortunately, this isn’t unusual.
So please….
If you contact a small business and expect them to respond quickly and spend time checking availability, working out costs and providing you with a quote, please just have the courtesy to reply.
I completely understand that not every enquiry becomes a booking. Plans change. Budgets change. Decisions change. That’s business.
But behind most small businesses is an actual person trying really hard to provide a professional, efficient service. We answer enquiries quickly because we respect your time and want to provide good customer service.
It would be lovely to receive the same courtesy in return.
You don’t owe us a booking. You don’t even owe us an explanation. But a two-line reply to say “thank you, but we won’t be going ahead” really isn’t too much to ask.
A “no thank you” takes seconds. Silence leaves us hanging.
Please don’t ghost small businesses. 👻