14 FEATURE


MARKET TRADER, NOVEMBER 9 - 22, 2018


Market By Roger Mills


Has he lost it? Not quite! Having just had a pretty significant birthday I suppose it was inevitable things might happen to reinforce the old saw ‘you’re not as young as you were’. A thought almost as depressing as the saying ‘remember today is the first day of the rest of your life’ that used to appear on England’s Glory match boxes. (Considering they sold mainly to smokers it had an ironic twist too!) There’s another old saying


‘use it or lose it’ and that one was the buffers my rickety old intellectual train ran into around the big day. First up an ex-pupil got in touch – in midlife she was doing a degree, could I advise her on the research? Ringing with


confidence I said ‘Oh yes just ring when you’re ready’. She rang just after, on


market as it happens, a trader asked me point blank ‘what is Sociology?’ Eighteen years ago I could have answered him in a flash with some well-worn phrases. Now I was forced to really think on my feet and give him my best shot all the time wishing his query was about the Food Act or The Craft Carnival VAT business. Badly scarred by this grindstone I realised I couldn’t bluff the up-coming research session and gave myself a crash revision in research methods so I could at least sound like the chap who held a Masters with Distinction in the topic. Both encounters made me


think about the sea change that came over my life that cold day in March 2000 when I set off, at the request of then editor Edward Vaughan, to cover a Farmers Market at Waterlooville. The start of a sequence which has seen my work appear in every issue of this paper since.


History is not bunk!


Preparation for reporting markets set off me off on a familiarisation crash course using the nearby reference library’s copy of Pease and Chitty and any other source I could find. Wanting a good example of a desk research project to show my undergrad I pulled down a tome I bought then: The British Market Hall – A Social and Architectural


Market Halls can be modest like the Chichester Buttermarket...


History by James Schmieshen and Kenneth Carls. Over the years it’s proved invaluable time and time again and it struck me that any trader interested in where we are now in this game and how we got here would find it an enlightening read. They’d also find there’s nothing new under the sun particularly in parsimonious local authority market investment. Take Glasgow in 1878. Income from the market £3,118 a year (£184,994 at today’s prices)... approximately twice the average expenditure on the gaff. Yet the city was mulling a decision to axe the market. Five decades later, Liverpool


1921, market income was £22,216 with a mere £2,000 used on maintenance, the rest going to the relief of local taxes. Travel south to Worcester


30 years later and you’ll find the closure of the 1857 market hall because the council voted not to repair the roof. Go for- ward another two decades to the demolition of Bradford’s Kirkgate market, after huge public outcry, at the hands of planners more interested in car-parks than the architec- tural heritage of the town. They say that those who


ignore history are doomed to relive it and our recent market history is replete with tales of councils taking the rent are


putting nothing back. But this book hammers home time and time again the real, and appalling, extent of local council neglect and disinterest in the inter war period and the fifties and sixties. And it was more than


simply neglect of some fine buildings. At the same time we lost some of the, agreed partly superseded, engine rooms powering the growth of mass retailing and the consumer society. Forget today’s identikit shopping malls, for a century after 1846 Manchester’s Smithfield Market, locally dubbed Shudehill, was ‘a feature of every worker’s Saturday night out.’


Reflections


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01709 365021 SERVING THE NATION’S TRADERS SINCE 1922 www.market-trader.co.uk APRIL 28 - MAY 11, 2017 Trader’s fears for a Devon market


A stallholder at Plymouth City Market has told local media that he is increasingly concerned about the number of businesses moving out, despite an ongoing multi- million pound revamp of the 1950s building. With more than a dozen businesses having left in the last year, the worried trader, who wished to remain anonymous, blamed discontent among stallholders at the market on a “lack of leadership” on the shop floor. But market bosses in the


city have given assurances that they are doing everything possible to keep stallholders happy as the £3.5m refurbishment reaches the halfway point. “The current occupancy


rate is quite low,” the trader said, “lower than it was at the height of the recession. There are 27 empty, around a sixth of them. Also the perimeter shops are emptying quickly. “The main issue is the


lack of leadership on the shop floor, so to speak. The management team are uncommunicative; we see them once a week, on rent day, and we have had zero communication regarding the refurbishment works. “All of the traders are


THE MARKET HALL, SCOTCH STREET, CARLISLE (01228) 513991


SERVING THE NATION’S TRADERS SINCE 1922 www.market-trader.co.uk JUNE 9 - 22, 2017 No. 4902 70p City promotes its markets


Market traders are known for providing friendly service and a shopping experience that is very different from the High Street, and a city in West Yorkshire has recently launched a campaign to promote the fact. Bradford is blessed with a number of markets including the Oastler Shopping Centre, Kirkgate Market and Keighley Market Hall, as well as outdoor markets in Shipley and Saltaire and a successful wholesale market. Now a new campaign – the


first of its kind within Bradford Council’s markets service – has been launched to inform people of the many benefits of market shopping. The Council has teamed


up with the University of Bradford’s Digital Media Working Academy to launch a campaign which is aimed at raising the profile of the district’s markets, using digital and social media to highlight the advantages and benefits they bring. Having taken inspiration


from the World War Two ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign, market traders have been actively involved in the bid to encourage more people to support the local, friendly and knowledgeable service they offer. The campaign, which is


due to run for a year, was launched on the same day as the national Love Your Local Market fortnight in May. Khansa Tufail, Bradford Council’s markets, promotions and projects officer, told local media: “It is David and Goliath; we want to attract people to


these small businesses, many who have been in Bradford for many years and have such a lot of expertise. “The markets have so


much to offer and are part of Bradford’s heritage.” Making the most of social


media, the campaign uses video footage from the market showing traders talk about their own journey in becoming a market trader, the advantages of shopping at the market and the future of markets in Bradford. Other social platforms will


also be used to link back to a main Facebook page. Traders are backing the


initiative, hoping that it will increase awareness of the markets and result in an increase in footfall and trade. Butcher John Smith, who


has a business in the Oastler Centre, told local media: “This is still a thriving market but we have struggled, especially since Morrison’s closed. We cannot manage without the public. “I myself have been here for


55 years. I hope the campaign will help bring more people to the market. As soon as you walk into the market, you save money.” The Second World War


poster theme is being used as a template, with images of real traders in the Oastler Centre superimposed on top to deliver key messages such as: ‘Your Markets Need You’, ‘We Can Do It’, ‘Deserve Local Food’ and ‘Shop for Victory.’ The second phase of


the promotion will focus on Instagram, using local photographers, while phase


Bradford’s Oastler Shopping Centre.


three, due to take place in autumn, will see the launch of Market TV on Youtube.


Reaching out


“The markets are reaching out to the public for support,” explained Khansa Tufail, “highlighting the importance of shopping locally for the welfare of their community, their local economy, employment and entrepreneurship. “Facebook has shifted from teenagers to parents and more mature adults, and we want to alert them.” The campaign is focusing


on what market shopping really stands for: local, friendly service, spending money that will benefit the local economy, and a departure


from “barcodes, packaging and faceless shopping experiences”. Chris Holmes, of Stickey’s


Honey, said: “I don’t want to take my products to London necessarily, it’s important for me. I’m a beekeeper in Yorkshire and I’m quite happy to sell all my honey in Yorkshire. There are five million customers within 40 miles of here.” Head of the Digital Media Working Academy, Simon Couth, told local media: “The Working Academy provides a unique opportunity for undergraduates and recent graduates to gain experience of working on a properly commissioned digital project. “We love what the Bradford


Borough Market attack


At around 10pm on Saturday June 3 a terrorist attack took place on London Bridge and at nearby Borough Market. A van drove into pedestrians


on the bridge before three men got out and began attacking people at random with knives.


ISSN 2057–6781 The three men, wearing


what transpired to be fake suicide vests, then ran down to Borough Market, entering the many pubs and restaurants in the area to stab as many people as possible. Seven people died and


almost 50 were injured as a result of the horrific attack. This area of Southwark is named for Borough Market itself, a wholesale and retail food market and one of the largest and oldest food


markets in London. Speaking soon after the


attack, Chair of Borough Market trustees, Donald Hyslop, said in a statement: “We are deeply shocked by the events that took place around Borough Market last night. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this senseless act. “Borough Market is in the


heart of a strong, diverse and creative community, a community that supports each


other and will pull together to show solidarity in the face of this callous attack. “We would like to thank the


emergency services for their bravery and quick response. We continue to work with the Metropolitan police with their investigations and the Market and surrounding area remains closed at this time.” At the time of going to


press we had been unable to confirm when the market would reopen.


Opening Times: The Market Hall


Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm. Stall opening times vary. Wilko


Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. Sunday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. T.K. Maxx


Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Sunday, 11am to 5pm. (Times subject to change).


Markets team is trying to achieve in promoting the traders and what they offer. “They want to attract new shoppers and we hope that this campaign will help them to reach some different audiences. Our students involved in the filming have become regular shoppers.”


Trader under investigation for displaying racist flags


Page 20


Sgt Pepper pop-up emporium in Liverpool


Page 10


INSIDE... Page 3


Vote of confidence


Market traders in a North York- shire town have expressed their gratitude to residents and customers for their support. The message comes after


a strong vote of confidence from locals and visitors alike


ISSN 2057–6781


to keep Pickering’s Monday market in Market Place, rejecting a proposal to move it to the town’s Ropery car park. Stallholder Joanne Dawson


told local media: “I just want to publicly thank all the customers and shop holders – they’ve given us a lot of support.” Overall 81 percent of


those who responded to the consultation were in favour of


keeping the market in Market Place, including 100 percent of traders asked. The market recently moved


back to Market Place after a brief stint in the Ropery during roadworks. Although Ms Dawson admitted she hasn’t had any confirmation that the matter is settled, she said: “At the moment it’s looking like it’s in our favour.”


aware of the fact that it is vital to present ourselves professionally and that customers will only come if we have goods worth buying – we are running businesses. “The market management


team do not feel that their role is to help develop footfall to the West End and the market.


As far as they are concerned they are administrative management only. That doesn’t work.” The trader compared Plymouth’s market to the successful Bury Market in Greater Manchester , describing the management team at Bury as “proactive” and accusing Plymouth bosses of failing to entice customers.


Retirements


Although occupancy levels at the market are currently 83 percent compared to 92 percent at this time last year, a spokesperson on behalf of the market and the council said this was due to a number of personal trader issues, including retirements. They added that five stalls


and three shops have been let to new traders since building work on the facility commenced. The spokesperson told


local media: “This is a £3.2 million refurbishment project which will secure the future of the market as an anchor shopping destination for the city for many years to come, and work on this scale was always going to take time and cause some disruption. “We expected that the


works may have some impact on footfall and the situation has not been helped by current development works in Market Way, which has resulted in the road being closed.” In response to the trader’s


claim that stallholders have not been kept informed, the spokesperson said everyone was initially briefed in 2016


No. 4899


INSIDE... Page 3


70p


Launch of register of approved wholesalers


Page 10


Hartlepool trader’s ingenious parking plan


Page 19


Plymouth City Market, where a £3.5m refurbishment is taking place (Photo: Murray Stanley)


when the market announced the contract had been awarded to Ryearch. “We notified that this would be a 12 month project and there would be some disruption,” the spokesperson continued. “We have made every


effort to keep disturbance to a minimum at all times, regularly liaising with Ryearch and agreed to avoid building works through December – the market’s busiest time – and carry out the majority of the work out of hours. “The market management


has made huge efforts to keep traders up to date, with monthly newsletters about


the project’s progress.” The spokesperson also pointed out that extra efforts had been made to ensure shoppers were aware that the market was still open while the work was taking place: “To try to keep visitors coming through the doors we have had numerous articles in the local media, not just about the works but new trader profiles. This has been reiterated on social media. “The scaffolding has


been dressed with banners and signs, internally and externally, to promote the fact the market is open as usual.” “The market management


meet with the chairman of the traders association on a regular basis and is not aware of any concerns that have not been addressed by either PCC or Ryearch.” The current renovation


work has been funded by Plymouth City Council in an attempt to make the most of a locally iconic example of Plymouth’s post war architecture. The council has already


invested £80,000 in upgrading dated toilet facilities at the market. City planning chiefs gave


the ambitious market project the go ahead in April last year after a consultation process with market users. The huge revamp will


cost £3.5million altogether and will see the art deco building entirely redecorated, a special waterproof coating applied to the roof and flat parts of the roof structure fitted with solar panelling.


New era for


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THE MARKET HALL, SCOTCH STREET, CARLISLE (01228) 513991


GREAT PLACE TO TRADE


Enjoy a wonderful shopping experience in its beautiful Victorian Covered Market, Arcade Shops and T.K. Maxx & Wilko Stores.


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