Opinion CHAMBER
The official publication of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
LINK Cannock Chase
Chamber of Commerce
Editor’s View
By John Lamb
Festive period is make or break for retailers
Sutton Coldfield
Chamber of Commerce
Greater Birmingham
Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce
I Greater Birmingham
Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce
Front cover: Birmingham Wholesale Market tenants Keith Smith, Julie Stanley and Ken Williams See page 6
Editor John Lamb 0121 274 3239, 0797 1144064
j.lamb@
birmingham-chamber.com
Deputy Editor Dan Harrison 0121 274 3238, 0797 1144052
d.harrison@birmingham-chamber.com
Reporter Jessica Brookes 0750 8317356
j.brookes@
birmingham-chamber.com
You can now read the latest issue of CHAMBERLINK and view back issues online at:
www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com
t might be the most wonderful time of the year but for the retail trade it is the most critical time of any year.
Retailers are already planning for Christmas
NEXT YEAR so what are their expectations for 2019? In this issue of Chamberlink (see pages 6- 8) we talk to traders about their hopes for Christmas, a period which can make or break an annual performance. The food market is obviously critical especially
in the face of on-line competition and fierce advertising campaigns by the giant supermarkets. The importance of Birmingham Wholesale
Markets cannot be over-estimated. Birmingham City Council, in partnership with the tenants of Birmingham Wholesale Market, relocated in May, 2018, to new purpose-built premises at the Hub in Witton, Birmingham. It is one of the largest integrated wholesale
markets in Europe and its importance is underlined by about 15,000 jobs in Birmingham and beyond being dependent on it continuing to flourish. It will be supplying around 5,000 independent traders, restaurants and hospitality businesses with fresh produce as we near Christmas. As Eddie Price, director of the markets
Published by
Kemps Publishing Ltd 11 The Swan Courtyard, Charles Edward Road, Birmingham B26 1BU 0121 765 4144
www.kempspublishing.co.uk
Managing Editor Laura Blake Designer Lloyd Hollingworth
Advertising 0121 765 4144
jon.jones@
kempspublishing.co.uk
Printers Stephens & George Print Group
PRIVACY NOTICE: Kemps Publishing Ltd process personal information for certain legitimate interest purposes, which includes the following: • To provide postal copies of this publication to Chamber members and Kemps' customers; and
• To offer marketing and promotional opportunities within this publication to Chamber members and prospects.
Whenever we process data for these purposes, we always ensure we treat your Personal Data rights in high regard. If you wish to, you can visit
www.kempspublishing.co.uk to view our full Privacy Notice and to learn more about our legitimate interests and your rights in this regard.
CHAMBERLINK is produced on behalf of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chambers and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chambers nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Chambers. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.
4 CHAMBERLINK December 2019/January 2020
explains, the markets must respond to changing lifestyles and trends. One of their strengths comes from nurturing relationships with suppliers, like the flower market, that goes back generations. But they must complete on price with on-line auctions from the Dutch flower market that can deliver to Birmingham the next day. Welcome to the new world.
The market has allowed tenants to respond in
a positive way to these trends and those decisions take on critical importance as we approach the festive season. We cannot underestimate the competition the markets face. Mr Price talks about the “significant disruptive
forces” that are impacting on the global fresh produce supply chain. But at least Birmingham is up with the game after establishing this 18-acre facility. And, of course, all of the region’s major stores
are getting done up in their best finery to live up to the promises made in their increasingly important and competitive television advertising campaigns. And there are signs that they are making a comeback after the setbacks of recent years when they have struggled in the face of the on-line competition. A survey shows that the West Midlands retail sector is rallying and there will be a no more important time as they go into selling overdrive in the coming weeks. Over 12 months of planning and hard work will
be put to the test as the drive to incentivise people to shop in store rather than buy on-line intensifies. And then they can prepare for the January sales…
Chamberlink will taking a month off in
January. But we will be back with a bumper edition in February, when who knows what the political, economic and business landscape will be. Let’s hope we will be looking forward to stability and certainty. In the meantime, the Chamber wishes our
readers a merry Christmas and a happy and profitable New Year.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
