Community Friendly Hairdresser at Cambridge Market

Local resident and hairdresser Jo Harding started trading at Cambridge Market back in May this year, and with it, brought a new and unique idea with her. The business, ‘Echo Cuts’, sees Jo save all the trimmings of hair she cuts, which is then bagged up and given to people to use, free of charge, as compost. Although the idea is new to the market scene, the actual concept has been around a long time, Jo’s grandparents using it for years when planting his slow growing plants. The uniqueness of an outside hairdressers has not only been a hit with the locals who use the market, but has also caught the attention of a lot of the tourists who visit the city. Having a stall at the market enables Jo to keep her prices down and offer visitors to the market a more convenient and affordable hair cut. Jo told MTN, “A lot of people can find high street salons intimidating, not to mention expensive. When I first got into hairdressing getting your haircut was always seen as a necessity, however nowadays it’s seen more as a luxury. With being able to offer lower prices I hope I can turn this back around to how it use to be so that people can afford it more often, and if your hair is good you feel good. Also my customers see that their cut offs are being put to good use by helping the environment. Having worked at salons previously I’ve seen just how much wastage there can be, but it doesn’t have to be like that.” A lot of people use the compost on their allotments and gardens, then call Jo when they want some more and then pick it up or she can deliver it by bicycle. She if often seen biking to and from appointments and the market, which is another of many ways that Jo helps the environment and is currently having a new bike trailer made with advertising space on it available for small businesses. She is also in the process of looking for a spinner, which means she can knit it together and give people the choice of having it either knitted or as it comes. Alongside keeping her business green and helping the environment Jo also does a fantastic job in supporting and raising the profile of local charities. Every haircut that Jo makes sees £1.00 go to a local charity and she dedicates roughly three months worth of money to an individual charity. Between May to August she helped the charity Childrens A + E at Addenbrookes (started by Junior Sister Byrne) and her donation helped buy new books for the patients. She is currently supporting the Arthur Rank Adult Hospice (September to December) and is looking at which local charity she will be supporting in January. All volunteers who work at the charities also get Community Friendly Hairdresser at Cambridge Market offered a free haircut. In summing up Jo told MTN, “The reason I do it is to try and raise the profile of our local charities, as well as donating to them. It is important that we give back to our local communities. People are quick to moan about the economy, yet they still order the majority of things online. They would genuinely be surprised if they came down and supported the local market at just how great it is, thus giving something back locally. The atmosphere at the market is fantastic, especially between us traders. Considering we are all independent businesses the teamwork is second to none, always helping each other out. Its almost like we are one big family, I love it there.” What does the future hold for Jo and Echo Cuts, Well, “One day I really hope I can expand the business and idea so it can be used at markets across the UK. Too help benefit local charities up and down the UK and of course the environment nationwide would be fantastic.”

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Market Matters – Cold Feet.

How are the January sales for you? Lots of Shoppers seem to be voting with their feet and deserting the High Street in favour of online sales. ‘Why suffer cold and wet feet traipsing in search of bargains when you can stay at home and do it online?’ was the thinking behind another Government-supported attempt to revive our emptying High Streets. First there was the DCLGsponsored ‘Portas review’, then the ‘Town Team’ competition and the private ‘Grimsey Review’ and now it’s the turn of the ‘Distressed Town Centre Property Taskforce’ sponsored by the HM Treasury. You can download it from http:// policy.bcsc.org.uk/beyondretail/ index.asp It covers the usual big issues – lack of funding, online sales, fragmented land ownership and parking policy etc and outlines interesting initiatives such as the ‘retail business incubators’ in Cold Feet Wolverhampton and Tamworth. Also how Rotherham provides revenue and capital support for fledgling businesses. Some Councils like Birkenhead and Rochdale are promoting their High Street Markets as ‘retail differentiators’ and there’s a good argument to be had about why this hasn’t happened before. But like the reviews before it this one offers little else but local policy support for SME’s (‘Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’). There’s a nice picture of Stockport Market Hall and some welcome discussion of ‘provision of mentoring and…social media for independent retailers and small businesses’, but I can’t help thinking the review is still missing the blindingly obvious. SME’s are less deterred by the cost of rent and rates than the administrative burden of paperwork they encounter as they expand. If HM Treasury is serious about encouraging SME’s as ‘the engine room of the economy’ then it needs to take a long-term approach to relaxing Vat rules, tax thresholds, NI and employment legislation which apply to small businesses. Those costs are outside the control of any independent retailer and a very real disincentive to growth. You can always negotiate your rent downwards with a landlord, but just you wait and see what happens when you miss your Vat return. Didn’t David Osborne promise a ‘bonfire of paperwork’ in one of his budget speeches? That’s the way to cure SME’s cold feet. Someone else has definitely got cold feet, MP’s. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority created to set MP’s pay and expenses in the aftermath of the expenses scandal proposes to increase MP’s salaries by 11% to £74,000 p.a.in 2015, despite objections by all parliamentary leaders. The best bit is that MP’s have no way of stopping the increase unless they change the law they introduced a couple of years ago. Labour has said ‘any rise in MPs’ pay must be considered in the light of…the cost-of-living crisis facing people across the country’ and the Prime Minister has threatened to abolish IPSA if it force-feeds MP’s with another eight thousand per annum. He didn’t mention anything about HS2 though. Great stuff. I wonder how many will vote in the abolition debate. And finally, some not-so-cold cold feet: German Scientists have discovered how Penguins manage to keep their feet (and the baby Penguins which sit upon them) nice and cosy during a blizzard. A similar problem is shared by many Traders on Open Markets. Apparently the Penguins bunch together and shuffle around in a sort of Mexican wave whilst squawking about the weather and how few fish there are to eat, or whatever. This keeps the ones in the middle toasty warm whilst they struggle not to get shuffled out to the edge. With cold Teutonic logic the scientists conclude the ‘regulars’ who are skilled at turning up first always secure the best pitches in the middle whilst the ‘casuals’ who can’t be arsed are left with the worst pitches at the edge. This sounds very familiar so I can’t work out why scientists needed to go to Antarctica to confirm it. So leave your moonboots at home and train a pair of Penguins to sit on your feet. Or if the Toby objects, then seize the business opportunity and start manufacturing Penguinlookalike boots. Keep shuffling. Spring is not that far away.

Spring Fair International will define retail in 2014

The organiser of Spring Fair International, i2i Events Group, is delighted to announce details of the UK’s premier retail trade exhibition, that will next take place at The NEC, Birmingham from February 2 – 6 2014 (Volume Halls open 1 day early on Saturday February 1). 3,000 exhibitors will launch more than 300,000 new products at the forthcoming event, which typically attracts up to 70,000 retailers from over 130 countries worldwide. Visitors will encompass all areas of the retail trade, from post offices, convenience stores and independent boutiques, to large value and multiple retailers, supermarkets, garden centres and high-end department stores. Along with Europe’s largest presentation of trend-driven gift and homeware Spring Fair offers fantastic cross-over buying opportunities, with 13 different product sectors for buyers to source new ranges from: Contemporary Gift & Home; Gifts; Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets; Christmas Gifts, Floral & Seasonal Decorations; Gift, Home & Volume; Greetings & Stationery; Body & Bath; Fashion Jewellery, Accessories & Luggage; Home Interiors & Furniture; Kitchen, Dining & Housewares; Art & Framing; The Summerhouse and The Party Show. Working in partnership to boost British retail i2i Events Group, has forged a strengthened partnership agreement with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) designed to inspire and support UK-based SMEs in their efforts to succeed in overseas markets. The partnership will boost international representation at Spring Fair and other i2i Events Group exhibitions in the year ahead, providing British suppliers with an entry point to international markets and offering a broad variety of pre-event and onsite benefits. These will include prominent ‘Best of British’ showcases and ‘Exporter’ trails throughout the exhibition. Five UKTI Villages will be located around The NEC with a total of 50 carefully selected exhibitors, all entrepreneurial British companies with a particular strength in export business that are new to the show. UKTI will subsidise the exhibition space for these companies, most of which will be launching to the trade for the first time at Spring Fair International 2014. An Export Theatre designed with invaluable networking opportunities in mind will be located within the International Buyers Lounge in Hall 4, also featuring a beautiful showcase of British made products to entice overseas retailers. UKTI will assist Spring Fair exhibitors with a unique hosted buyer programme that will see 50 of the world’s leading department store buyers brought directly to The NEC. Another high-profile partnership has been forged with The Prince’s Trust for the first time at Spring Fair. This will see a collection of young designers supported by The Prince’s Trust exhibiting unique collections of jewellery and accessories within the Fashion Jewellery, Accessories & Luggage sector of the show in Hall 20 and Greetings & Stationery in Hall 4. These important new business partnerships will be complemented by exciting new feature areas, returning popular features and a world-class content programme at Spring Fair International 2014.

UK Trade & Industry chooses show organiser i2i Events Group as their exhibitions platform to support British businesses. Five UKTI Villages to be located throughout Spring Fair with 50 new exhibitors as 50 of the world’s leading department stores buyers brought directly to The NEC.
• The Prince’s Trust partners with Spring Fair for the first time to bring 20 unique new designers to Fashion Accessories, Jewellery & Luggage and Greetings & Stationery.
• 12 entrepreneurial exhibitors from the UK and overseas to make their debut in new show feature Sprout within Kitchen, Dining & Housewares.
• Kirstie Allsopp returns to inspire buyers within the Trend Briefing & Seminar Theatre.
• Cook Live! redesigned for 2014 with new format, eye-catching design and product placement.

Christmas market was a cracker!

 

FOLLOWING the fantastic success of Ashton Christmas Market, plans are afoot to hold an even bigger and better event next year.

 

Thousands of people visited the spectacular two-week event, which was a first for Tameside. Shoppers enjoyed daily live entertainment on the stage and free children’s rides as well as a bar and 30 traditional cabin stalls offering a wide variety of gifts, food and festive fare. Now Tameside Council is seeking feedback from visitors and traders to help build on this success for next year.
Executive Deputy Leader Cllr John Taylor, who is responsible for markets, said: “We’ve received lots of wonderful feedback from visitors who have enjoyed the market and the lovely, festive atmosphere as well as from businesses who have seen an increase in trade. I would like to thank everyone for showing their support and shopping local.
“We would really like to hear from more people about what they think worked well and any suggestions to help us build on this success for the future.  We want this to be an annual event for Tameside and will be reviewing all the feedback before making plans for next time.”

Ashton Market Hall saw an increase in trade during the Christmas Market, with over 3,000 more visitors through the doors during the first week than the same period last year. Other town centre businesses have also responded positively to the event. Sharon Radcliffe of Maisies Daisies said: “I think the Christmas markets have been a wonderful idea – really well organised and enjoyed by all. We’ve had many new customers into the indoor market also.”

Janet Louth of Baileys said: “Business has been better this Christmas – the Metrolink has definitely helped but the Christmas Market has had a big part to play.”

Della Yates of B & M Bargains said: “We’ve had a great increase in footfall from 5pm compared to last year. A great event!.”
People can give their views on Ashton Christmas Market via this link
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ashtonxmasmarket
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Durham’s Christmas Festival defies the gales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Durham City’s Traditional Christmas Festival went ahead without a hitch, despite storm force gales hitting the city, and particularly the Palace Green marquee, immediately prior to its opening.
Despite traders being delayed in setting up on the day before the festival, whilst the marquee was checked, by 10am Friday morning more than 300 traders were ready to welcome visitors to four markets in Durham City Centre: The Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green, the Regional Producers’ Market in Durham Cathedral Cloisters, the outdoor market in Durham Market Place, and the Market Hall. Colin Wilkes, Managing Director of Durham Markets which organised the festival along with Event Durham (Durham University), said: “We were actually lucky with the weather in the end. The winds had eased completely before we opened.

“Durham has had a wonderful weekend, with markets, shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants, and inevitably car parks all busy. Many of the Festival traders I have spoken to not only had a great weekend’s trading, but also thoroughly enjoyed the city’s atmosphere. Several of the traders have been with us for all 20 Christmas Festivals in Durham, and vowed they will be back again next year.” Cllr Pauline Charlton,Mayor of Durham, visited the Christmas Festival on Sunday morning, touring the Craft and Gift Marquee and choosing the three best presented stalls. This followed the Mayor’s Coffee Morning in Durham Town Hall on Saturday, held in aid of the Mayor’s Charities. Cllr Charlton commented: “What amazed me was that we were chatting to people not only from the North East, but from across the North of England, from Scotland, and some who’d travelled considerably further. They had come to enjoy this beautiful city, and to do their Christmas shopping here. This is the perfect way to end such an exciting
and busy year for Durham.” Highlights of the 2013 Durham City Christmas Festival included The Children’s’ Lantern Procession from the Market Place to Durham Cathedral on Saturday afternoon, which culminated with the St Nicholas Service, attended by 300 children bearing lanterns. There were also a number of carol services through the weekend, and entertainment including brass bands, jazz bands, juggling, fire eating and birds of prey.

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nabma Supporting MARKET OPERATORS . . . by providing leadership, advice and good practise and engaging with governments and other stakeholders to provide value for money for our markets.

NABMA represents the interests of local authority markets throughout the country. We also represent the interests of a significant number of private market operators. In the current climate it is important that our members fully understand the contribution made by NABMA to promoting markets and also providing resources for market operators to improve the quality and standards of their market. Nabma’s contribution can be
divided into five sections:

1. National Profile In recent years we have seen unrivalled interest in the markets industry.
We have had an All Party Parliamentary Group for a number of years and this has enabled markets to have a stage at the centre of Government. This APPG is supported by the Markets Alliance which is led by NABMA and comprises of all the operator organisations. We have also established ourselves as a Special Interest Group within
the Local Government Association and in the last six months NABMA has agreed a protocol of working arrangements with the LGA that enables markets to make a meaningful contribution to the central local government agenda. In the same way we have established other protocol arrangements with the National Association of Local Councils to ensure that we have dialogue with the increasing number of local councils that are taking on a market responsibility. Following the Communities and Local Government Select Committee Report on Markets in 2009, a ‘Retail Markets Working Group’ was established within Communities and Local Government. Over the last three years this Working Group has provided an effective conduit between the markets industry and central Government. This has enabled us to influence government policy on a number of important issues including the recent Planning Policy Framework and Mary Portas Report where markets occupied prominent roles in the recommendations made by Government.

2. Research
Over the last ten years we have been responsible for the production of a number of important research documents. In particular we have been keen to see the trends in retail markets and following the “Rhodes” report, which started this process, we have subsequently embarked upon an annual survey of retail markets. The first survey was conducted in 2011 and this will be an annual event starting in April in each year.
We have collaborated with our colleagues in the Markets Alliance to produce a policy framework for markets setting out a number of important policy areas where markets can make a valuable contribution. This was followed by Markets 21 providing the most comprehensive review of retail and wholesale markets that has been produced for many years. In addition to providing statistical information, Markets 21 also provides a wide range of good practice advisory notes. NABMA has also supported research work in the Universities and we have recently seen the conclusion of a markets project by a PhD student at the University of Gloucester, highlighting the trends in food markets. All these research documents, and other material on the markets industry, can be obtained from the NABMA office by emailing: nabma@nabma.com or telephoning: 01691 680713

3. Service toMembers
The provision of a varied menu of services is a vital part of the NABMA offer. We have significantly expanded the range of our services over recent years. Set out below are details of our current offer.
• Networking opportunities through conferences and specialist seminars
• Free health checks for your markets
• Market legal advice
• Retail and Wholesale Forums with visits to markets to share good practice
• A free NABMA Toolkit to improve your market management and plan for the future
• Access to the NABMA Consultancy Services for specialist advice and project planning and management
• NABMA training events on wide ranging subjects leading to the Diploma of Market Administration.
• A range of membership services including template documents, web site, member information request service and job advertising
• Our promotion of Market of the Year
• Membership of the Institute of Place Management
• Interactive forum enabling exchange of views on market issues

4. Tackling the Big Issues
Over the last ten years there have been a number of major issues that have had a potential impact on the markets industry. NABMA is the only local authority organisation that has tackled these issues and set out
below we give examples of the work that NABMA has undertaken.

a. Market Rights Many local authorities still rely on their market rights for controlling car boot sales/private markets within their local authority area. On a number of occasions Government has sought to remove/ curtail the use of market rights and NABMA has argued successfully for their retention.

b. Policy Planning Framework NABMA has secured recognition of markets in the latest Government guidance with encouragement for local authorities to support their local markets.

c. Mary Portas Review Mary Portas was asked to produce recommendations for revitalising the High Street and at the heart of Mary’s proposals is the role of the market. Government has endorsed Mary’s view and we will see the launch of a National Market Day and “Love Your Local Market”. The intention is to offer new start-up opportunities for traders but also gain affection and support for markets among the local community. It is hoped to make National Market Day an annual event.

d. European Services Directive The Directive became part of UK law in late 2009 and potentially, it has significant indications for both markets and street trading. Currently we are waiting for further advice from Government about some of the detailed measures including balance of trade within markets, succession arrangements and market rights. NABMA will be advising on any changes that need to be implemented.

e. Rating of Market Halls Over the last four years there have been major issues in relation to a programme of revised rating assessments in respect of some two hundred market halls. NABMA has been at the forefront of representing the interests of its members securing important concessions.

5.  Adding Value to Markets A key element of the NABMA offer is providing resources to add value to markets.
Each year we promote a Market of the Year Competition and over the years this has provided a
tremendous amount of good practice. It has proved a valuable resource in raising the profile of many markets. One of the benefits of NABMA membership is being able to learn from what others are doing. NABMA holds a series of events throughout the year where members can learn what is being done by other market authorities and we provide examples of good practice through information on the NABMA website and through resources such as the NABMA Toolkit. Training is a vital part of the NABMA offer and we are the only organisation that provides bespoke training for Market Officers. We have recently launched the Diploma in Market Administration via the Institute of Place Management and Manchester Metropolitan University. This Diploma would give Market Officers an excellent grounding in all aspects of market matters. NABMA organises various conferences and events throughout the year. We have special events for both local councils and private market operators in addition to a One-Day Conference and our Annual Conference The availability of specialist suppliers is important for all market operators and NABMA has a range of sponsors and trade exhibitors who are available to help members with their particular needs.
NABMA has represented the interests of local authority markets for almost ninety years. We believe that in the current climate the need for NABMA services has never been greater. It is vital that the markets
industry retains a strong voice and this can only be achieved by continuing to support NABMA in the future.

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BBC Food and Farming Awards 2014

“The BBC Food & Farming Awards belong to everyone because it’s a celebration of the most delicious and important things in our lives. It’s a real chance for the public to share the food stories that really matter to them”. Valentine Warner, food writer, cook and judge.

Two restaurant chefs, a prison cook and a celebrated food blogger are leading a BBC  mission to find the very best in British food and farming. Raymond Blanc and Richard Corrigan are being joined by Al Crisci, the founder of the Clink restaurant in Highdown prison and blogger Jack Monroe, on the 2014 judging team of the BBC Food & Farming Awards. Along with cook and writer Valentine Warner, and critic and broadcaster Charles Campion they’re calling on nominations to find winners in 10 different categories; Best Food Producer, Best Drinks “The BBC Food & Farming Awards belong to everyone because it’s a celebration of the most delicious and important things in our lives. It’s a real chance for the public to share the food stories that really matter to them”. Valentine Warner, food writer, cook and judge. BBC Food and Farming Awards 2014 Producer, Best Food Market, Best Local Food Retailer, Best Takeaway/ Street food, Best Cook, Best Food Initiative, Outstanding Farmer of the Year, the Lifetime Achievement Award and Food Personality of the Year. Each year the BBC calls on its audiences to nominate  someone in their part of the UK for an award. Chef Richard Corrigan said, “…. we’re always amazed by the stories that come in to us as judges, and we never know where in the UK the nominations will take us … from visits to cheese-makers and dinner ladies to farm shop owners and national retailers…. but we care about each and every one, the stories are inspiring”. Nominations open on January 5th and can be sent in via www.bbc.co.uk/ foodawards. People can send nominations in all 10 categories; individuals and businesses can also nominate their own work. Close of nominations is Monday 27th January. Over the years the awards have recognised people like school dinner lady Jeanette Orrey, who went on to help thousands of school cooks across the UK, 2012’s Farmer of the year Guy Watson, for his success with Riverford’s veg box scheme and national retailers like Sainsbury’s for its work supporting small scale producers. Winning an award can make a huge difference to an individual or a business. Last year’s winner in the Best Food Market category was pHd student Emily Boothroyd who set up a farmers’ market inside Sutton Bonington University campus, she explained that “winning an award was life changing! It gave me the confidence to change my career path entirely, markets are now my life”.

This year’s categories: BEST FOOD MARKET Where is Britain’s best food market? It could be a traditional street market, farmers’ market or a covered market, but what we’re looking for is a regular market that
brings together a wide range of great producers and serves a local community by providing fresh, quality, affordable food. Tell us about the market that’s changed your town, city or village, and is
making a real difference to your weekly shop.
Plus:
• BEST STREET FOOD OR TAKEAWAY
• BEST FOOD PRODUCER
• BEST DRINKS PRODUCER
• BEST INNOVATION IN BRITISH
FOOD: OUTSTANDING FARMER OF THE YEAR
• THE RADIO 4 “YOU & YOURS” BEST FOOD RETAILER
• BBC COOK OF THE YEAR
• THE DEREK COOPER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
• FOOD PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2014

Nominations open on January 5th, for three weeks only. Anyone can send in a nomination, cooks, retailers, market traders can nominate themselves.
All they need to do is go to www.bbc.co.uk/foodawards from January 5th. Plus, keep an eye out for the Food Programmes Twitter feed, @bbcfoodprog using the hashtag #bbcfoodawards for all the
latest updates. The best ideas that come through the judging process will be featured on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme and a special edition of the BBC Food & Farming Awards, also on Radio 4. Presenter of the Food Programme and one of the founders of the Awards in 2000, Sheila Dillon, encourages you to get online to nominate ‘‘They’re your awards set up to highlight the achievements of people, mostly working under the media radar, who add to the quality of all our lives.’’ Once the judges have selected a shortlist for each of the categories, they visit each finalist in person. The eventual winners will be announced at the annual BBC Food & Farming Awards ceremony, to be held at the St Georges concert Hall, Bristol on Thursday May 1st. Shortly after, BBC Radio 4 will broadcast a programme featuring the winners and judges. This year’s judging panel consists of: Raymond Blanc – chef, restaurateur and broadcaster. Valentine Warner – chef, food writer and broadcaster. Richard Corrigan – chef and broadcaster. Adam Henson – farmer and broadcaster. Tim Hayward – food writer, Financial Times. Jack Monroe – food writer and blogger. Adam Leyland – Editor, Grocer Magazine. Peter Gott – farmer and market trader. Kath Dalmeny – Policy Director, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming. Al Crisci – prison catering manager, founder of The Clink Professor Gabriel Scally – public health expert. Mike Gooding – farmer and agricultural policy expert Charles Campion – food writer Pete Brown – drinks writer Victoria Moore – drinks writer Sheila Dillon – food journalist and presenter of Radio 4’s The Food Programme D The Food Programme is on Radio 4 every Sunday at 12.30pm and repeated on Mondays at 3.30pm. D Beyond the Radio 4 Food & Farming Awards programme, finalists will also feature in BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme, BBC Radio 4’s You & Yours programme, On Your Farm and Farming Today, BBC 1’s Countryfile programme and across BBC Local Radio. D Farming Today is on Radio 4 every weekday morning at 5.45am and on Saturdays at 6.35am. You can listen again online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4

 

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Adam Corbally talks Markets – December 2013

I hope everyone is as excited as me for the busiest and most festive time of the year! Hopefully you are ready to get some serious sales under your belts, which this month made me think about how we need not only to sell lots of our usual lines, but also sell lots of others too…

On my recent trip to Las Vegas I decided to live out every boys dream and go to the shooting range and let off some serious steam and some very heavy rounds. I had a look through the brochure and found an amazing selection of shooting ranges that we could visit, but the one that really stood out from the others was the one with 10% off, a free T-shirt and a Limousine ride to and from the venue, completely free of charge, wow! As Brits we are far from use to these amazing offers to get you into a venue and certainly not use to Limousine transportation to and from to go with it! On arrival we were that excited we had had just rocked up in a Limo that we hardly noticed the fact the ‘up-sell’ started as soon as we walked through the door. We were greeted with, “Good morning Sir” by the beautiful assistant
in her full destiny’s child survivor camouflage outfit and there it began. We cashed in our vouchers and then were asked to wait in the waiting room (sales emporium) and we started to spend, and spend we did! The customer service was amazing, as was the amount of products that was on offer.

Plenty of great refreshments, souvenirs, photo opportunities with any iconic movie gun you wanted from pretty much any movie you loved growing up as a kid. Of course by this stage we were like kids in a sweet shop and the “up-sell” had started, although we were having that much of a fun customer experience we didn’t even realise. When we were called to the range for our time slot it reminded us of why we were actually there and off we went to do the 4 weapons package we had pre ordered. The ‘up-sell’ started again as we walked into the shooting gallery, there was a Tommy Gun hung in pride of place along with various other weapons that were available as ‘add ons’. We were so excited and were having such a good time that we ended up doubling our package and shooting not 4 but 8 weapons. On leaving we spent even more in the gift shop, still buzzing from the day and promised to call back the next time we were in town and really did mean it! My story isn’t all about me going to a shooting range, its about how and why I spent so much more money than I had anticipated, what can we as Market Traders learn from this? Is it that I am a gun nut? NO! certainly not, but as an end user I can only say that even when I got my debit card bill on returning to the UK it didn’t hurt like it   does, in fact I smiled, took a minute to reminisce on a great day and valued the money I had spent on the T-shirts
and pictures to prove it. As a customer I was attracted by a great deal, I don’t know their margins, but some could say that it was a good old ‘loss leader’ used, purely to set themselves ahead of the massive competition they had on the same road to make sure it was them I visited. They then more than made up for it with the ‘up-sell’. Nothing new here I hear you cry, but lets take a moment to ask ourselves have we ever put this into practice? I promote a ‘loss leader’ every Christmas just as I will this Christmas with my mistletoe, not only being one of the only places to sell it in the town, I also sell it for cost price purely to bring people onto the stall and when they do the ‘up-sell’ starts. Christmas Trees, Garland, Wreaths and of course plenty of fruit and veg, but don’t just take my word for it, lets take a look at someone who for me based their whole business model on two basic sales techniques, the ‘loss leader’ and the ‘up-sell’. The king of these techniques in Europe has to be Vista Print. These guys target SMES with the ‘loss leader’ of free business cards and then as soon as you go on their website bang, you are like a kid in a sweet shop and the ‘up-sell’ starts. Some people would call this old school, but sales is all about looking at new techniques as well as the old and using the ones that work best, for you! My advice this Christmas, look after your regulars, but make sure you get a great new line in to entice new customers. Make it your USP and make sure people know you have it via the usual channels and of course the ever popular social media and then when you have that captive audience, start the ‘up-sell’. Why not even replace the Limousine with a coach and try to run a promotional coach to your market for a real Christmas shopping experience? I would like to sincerely wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a
prosperous New Year! Twitter @Theadamcorbally

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Nabma News December 2013

The last month has again seen some important events with the highlight probably the appearance by Brandon Lewis, DCLG Minister for Markets, at Borough Market on the 30th October to confirm the government’s support for Love Your Local Market over the next two years. The government has committed a substantial funding package of almost £50,000 to ensure that Nabma can deliver Love Your Local Market and we are delighted to be working with the government on this great markets campaign. When we completed the Love Your Local Market fortnight at the end of May it was important that we kept the campaign alive and urged markets to use the Love Your Local Market ethos as part of the promotion of markets throughout the year. In the next few weeks there are a couple of excellent opportunities to use Love Your Local Market to enhance events that are taking place in markets. On Saturday 7th December we will be celebrating Small Business Saturday and with approximately 47,000 small businesses using markets around the country, this is an excellent opportunity to show the importance of market trading and how it can establish a successful business. It is also an opportunity to promote ways in which new traders can be recruited to markets. Feedback from Nabma members suggest that many markets are supporting Small Business Saturday. Make sure you are not left out. Christmas is a wonderful time for markets and we have some of the best Christmas Markets in Europe. During the last few years I have had the pleasure of visiting Birmingham, Lincoln and Manchester and I defy anyone to tell me there are better Christmas Markets anywhere in Europe. Despite the economic climate and the cuts facing many market operators everyone pulls out all the stops to deliver great Christmas Markets. Talking of great markets you will have seen highlighted in Market Trade News the launch of the KPR Midlink Market of the Year Competition. This is your chance to nominate a market for a prestigious Market of the Year Award. There are an increased number of categories with awards for Indoor and Outdoor Markets, Local Council and Private Markets, Community and Speciality Markets and the best Love Your Local Market event. There is also a chance to vote online, from the 2nd December, for Britain’s Favourite Market. If you are proud of your market then get an entry form completed now. Just tell us why the market is special. Awards will be presented at the joint Nabma/ATCM One Day Conference on the 30th January at the Council House, Birmingham. Nabma is proud of its partnership with ATCM and this joint Nabma/ATCM One Day Conference is an opportunity for the two organisations to come together with a shared agenda. This year the theme of the Conference is Better Markets, Revitalised High Streets and we will be sharing lots of good practice about what in happening in markets and wider town centres. Application forms are available from Nabma. Another big event is the Nabma survey, which has been an opportunity for our members to comment on the range of services that Nabma currently provides. I am delighted that over ninety percent of our members regard our services as good/very good, with almost one hundred percent indicating that they believe Nabma is enjoying a much higher profile than five years ago. It has been interesting to note comments on individual aspects of our service delivery and these comments will help us deliver better services in the future. One of the big issues that Nabma has to face is whether we continue to focus almost exclusively on local authorities or we broaden our operation to embrace all types of market operators. In recent years we have taken into our membership private operators and a few community operators, but our membership remains over ninety five percent local authorities. However there are many other market operators working in the markets industry and they need to have a voice. During the next few months we will be considering whether to retain the status quo or change the organisation to represent market operators of any description. One of the projects that Nabma is keen to promote in the next twelve months is the UK Markets Index, which is an attempt to get an indication of footfall at markets across the country. At the moment we only have a dozen or so markets included in the Index, but I am sure that there are many more around the country that use footfall counting data. If you do and you are not currently included in the Index please contact the Nabma office. I am anxious that we see the number of markets participating in the Index doubled by the middle of next year. In many ways this has been a good year for markets and I wish everyone involved in the markets industry a happy and prosperous Christmas.

 

Graham Wilson OBE Chief Executive
Nabma

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Spring Fair International 2014 is approaching fast

Spring Fair International 2014, an i2i Events Group exhibition, will present the UK’s largest showcase of Gift, Home & Volume product across Halls 10, 11 and 12 of The NEC. These halls will open one day earlier than the rest of the show, welcoming visitors on Saturday February 1.
Exhibitors and retailers alike think big in this part of the show, where the huge variety of products on offer encompasses gifts, home interiors, kitchen ranges, toys, art, festive decorations, fashion accessories, tools, garden and pet products, stationery, electrical items, hardware and DIY and toiletries and cosmetics.

The number of companies exhibiting toiletries and cosmetics within Gift, Home & Volume has increased over the last few years, while the trend for companies exhibiting electronic cigarettes continues to expand.

Some 200 companies are already lined up to participate in this sector of Spring Fair including a plethora of new exhibitors: Inspira Trading, Winning Lines, Powersolve Electronics, Regal Wholesale, Duif’s Florist Articles and Squirrels UK. Whitefurze Ltd, Paroh Ltd and JVL Products will move to Gift, Home & Volume from other sectors of Spring Fair.

They join a solid presence of industry bellwethers such as: Anand International, Boyz Toys, Elf International, Emelia Accessories, Keel Toys, Klyne & Klyne, PMS International, Rashmian, Sifcon International, Ultimate Products and Van Caem Europe.

Present in Hall 10 for the second year, Outdoor Living & Leisure will serve thousands of Spring Fair visitors who expressed a primary or secondary interest in this product category, representing one of the best product sourcing opportunities for garden centre retailers and furniture suppliers.

Event Director Tony Patman comments: “Like many sectors serving the retail industry Volume has had its challenges, but this part of the show continues to be a must-see destination for thousands of Spring Fair visitors and many of our exhibitors report getting an excellent return on their investment”.

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