www.findamarket.net – *** NEWS ***

By Georgina Morris
THE new look Dewsbury Market has fully reopened after a major refurbishment.
Over the past year, traders and customers have seen the semi-covered and open markets spruced up as part of a £2.7m overhaul.

The scheme, which included new elec trics, a seating area and extended fish block, had been budgeted at £2.5m but ran £200,000 over because of structural problems, the harsh winter and individual needs of the many stalls.

Dewsbury Market Traders’ Association chairwoman Trish Makepeace said: “It’s been a long haul, but at last the market refurbishment has been completed.The market looks absolutely wonderful. It’s so much more vibrant and colourful.”

She said traders were grateful to customers for their loyalty during the work and to Kirklees Council for the investment.

Dewsbury Regeneration Board chairman Coun Paul Kane said: “The market is a focal point in Dewsbury bringing together people and communities and attracting visitors from far and wide.

“It is back to its award-winning standard and I’m sure that we’ll see a surge in new shoppers.”

source: Dewsbury Reporter

A CONTROVERSIAL review of a historic market has been branded a ‘waste of time and money’ by a struggling trader, who issued a stark warning to shoppers.

A report into Bury St Edmunds’ market, published last month, said stalls were still thriving and providing a good range of products.

But trader Peter Martin, 44, blasted the £6,000 report ordered by St Edmundsbury Borough Council, saying trade had ‘plummeted’ over the past two years.

“The review was a load of old rubbish,” he said. “Nobody came and asked us what we thought the problem was.

“It was an absolute waste of money.”

Mr Martin has run his stall on the market for the past 28 years but claims trade dropped after Asda opened in the town 18 months ago.

He now plans to give up his stall at Christmas if not before.

“I just can’t earn enough money,” he said. “If the general public aren’t going to shop with us, what can you do?

“Bury market is nice and quaint but, unfortunately, you don’t see people spending a lot of money.”

The review into the future of Bury and Haverhill markets was ordered by the borough council after the number of traders fell by almost 6% over the past five years.

The report, created by external consultants, said the market was still delivering a significant trading profit.

But Mr Martin said a change in shopping habits continued to blight trade for many of the independent stall holders.

“It’s not the council’s fault,” he said. “Trade has plummeted over the past two years.

“If people don’t use us, they are going to lose us.”

But John Webber, chairman of the Bury Market Traders’ Association, said consultants had spoken to traders while making up their report.

“It is just an individual trader, it is not reflective of the market as a whole,” he said. “In general, we are seeing a better flow of people.”

A spokesperson for the borough council said the market review did include discussions with market traders, all of whom were invited to take part in the review.

“The purpose of the review was to ensure a thriving future for our popular markets, especially given the challenging economic conditions and the changes in shopping habits.,” she said.

“The findings have been positively received by the market traders’ associations and other stakeholders, and we are looking forward to working closely with them in future”.

From the 9th to the 23rd December, for the first time Swindon will have a German-style Christmas Market.

The Location is in the very heart of the town, in Wharf Green next to House of Fraser, the Brunel Shopping Centre, the Big Screen and the Town Christmas Tree.

In the last couple of years Swindon has undergone a very tasteful renovation and Regeneration making it a very delightful city to visit and shop. Swindon has the unique position of being the main city within a 20 miles radius thus an excellent location for a Christmas Market. A 12 page Christmas Brochure with information about the Christmas Markets and calendar of events will be produced in September.

The Christmas Market will be made up of 40 to 50 wooden chalets beautifully decorated with the town Christmas tree as a background. It is anticipated that Swindon Christmas Market will attract even more footfall in the town then the 325,000/Week recorded as an average during December 2009.

The exhibitors attending the Christmas Market will be from Germany, France, Italy and the UK. Traders will be selected for the very high quality of their products, and the stylish way in which they present their chalets.
The Christmas Market is being organised by inSwindon BID Company Ltd and Brunomart French & Continental Markets both of whom are eager to ensure that Swindon Christmas Market and the visitor experience is of the very highest standard.

During the Christmas Market there will be a daily programme of festive music and carols to add to the traditional feel of the Christmas Market.

DATES
Thursday 9th – Thursday 23rd December 2010

OPENING TIMES
10am – 6pm Sunday – Wednesday
10am – 9pm Thursday
10am – 8pm Friday & Saturday

MARKETING

Christmas Brochure: A 12 page brochure with information about the Christmas Markets, calendar of events, late night shopping, and full details on events, activities and children’s competition will be produced in September. Brochure distribution will be a mixture of Street Team and DHL

Towns receiving the Brochure: Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Cirencester, Corsham, Devizes, Fairford, Faringdon, Hungerord, Newbury, Malmesbury, Marlborough, SWINDON, Trowbridge, Wantage, Wroughton, Wootton Bassett

Newspaper Advertising:
Swindon advertiser; October/November/December
Swindon News; November
Swindon Link; November
Scene magazine; October & November
Ocelot; November

Radio Advertising with:
Hart 97.2 & 102.2 reaches a potential 220,000 listener in Swindon and local area with 58 % female and 38 % of ABC1 group.

Web Advertising:
www.swindontowncentre.co.uk
www.thebrunel.co.uk
www.theparade.co.uk
www.swindonweb.com
www.swindonlink.com

Town Centre Marketing:
A1 poster to go at the Bus Station
Newsletter
What’s on Guide October, November and December
Christmas character distributing the Christmas Brochure
Big Screen “Wharf Green”: Christmas animation through November & December.

External Town Centre Marketing
Use of Borough banner sites: Great Western Way, Drakes way and Old Town
Bus Wraps: Thamesdown Buses
Free Bus Travel on Thursday with promotion of all activities on both Stagecoach and Thamesdown
Fly postering around the Borough in conjunction with the Cristmas Funfair
The Brunel Shopping Centre has arranged with National Express Bus for a drop off point in the town centre to increase footfall from out of town

Information for Exhibitors

CHALETS
They are “Barn Door Style” chalets – those where the two doors open out wide – and each chalet will measure 3m x 2m. If any exhibitor specifically would prefer a counter top chalet, this may be possible on application.
Each chalet will be equipped with 2 x 13A electrical sockets and lighting.
The Chalets will face each others with plenty of room at the front for people to move around. There will be room behind the chalets for some stock, but it should not be considered to be a storage area.

CATERING CHALETS
We have 5 large ‘counter top’ catering chalets available for hire. They measure 4.5m x 2m and have 3 hatches at the front and a door at the side. They are only available to hire for the entire duration of 15 days.

SECURITY
Wharf Green is covered by CCTV camera at all times. During the Christmas Market from closing time to opening time the next day, a professional security guard will be on duty. Each chalet will have a padlock, and each stallholder will have 1 key. Also during this time of the year the local police up their vigilance in this area.

PARKING FOR EXHIBITORS
The Council intends to provide free parking for all exhibitors very near the town centre, we will have precise details and confirmation soon.

ACCOMODATION
We can look into a group discount at the local Travelodge or Menzies hotel If enough traders wanted to stay.

SETTING UP
Exhibitors will set up on Wednesday 8th December and take down after the event on Thursday 23rd December.
Those only doing the first 7 days will need to take down at 8pm on Wednesday 15th December and those doing the following 8 days will need to set up early on Thursday morning 16th December to be ready by 10am.

STOCKING UP
You will have access to your chalets in the mornings and evenings for replenishing stock. The times will be strictly defined because the area is a no vehicle access at all other times.

OTHER FACILITIES
Toilets are available nearby; it will be pointed out to you on arrival.
Rubbish will be collected everyday by The Town Council. Exhibitors must ensure they keep the fronts of their chalets clear from rubbish at all times and keep their chalet looking presentable.
Heaters. Only PAT tested electric heaters will be permitted

COST OF CHALET
Standard chalet £120 per day if you book for 7 or 8 days.
Standard chalet £110 per day if you book the full 15 days.
Catering chalet £175 per day and has to be booked for the full 15 days.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A CHALET
- Chalet will be awarded on a first come basis
- Priority will be given to exhibitors booking the all 15 days
- Please fill in the application clearly and with detailed information about your product
- Include any images or photos that will help support your application, being directed to a website will not be accepted in lieu of samples or hard copies of images
- Include a copy of your Public Liability Insurance
- Post your application to arrive no later than Saturday 25th September 2010

WHAT SORT OF EXHIBITOR / PRODUCT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We want the Christmas Market to be inspiring, tasteful and beautifully presented. We are looking for exhibitors who have quality products which can’t be found easily find on the average high street.
We want exhibitors that will present their chalets in a stylish and tastefully festive manner, and who will merchandise their stock in an elegant and polite way.

PAYMENT
You are required to send in 3 cheques with your application, 2 of which will be post-dated. The first is a non-refundable deposit which will be cashed only if your application is successful.
Depending on the number of days you are applying for the cheques will be as follows:
Standard Chalets
15 DAYS 7 DAYS 8 DAYS
Cheque 1: £600 £400 £400
Cheque 2: £600 £240 £360
Post-dated 15th October 2010
Cheque 3: £450 £200 £200
Post-dated 15th November 2010
Total Paid £1650 £840 £960
Catering chalets
15 DAYS:
Cheque 1: £1000 use as deposit Cheque 2: £1000 post-dated to 15th October and
Cheque 3: £625 post-dated to 15th November 2010. Total Paid £2625

Cheques made payable to “Bruno’s French & Continental Markets” If your application is unsuccessful, your 3 cheques will be disposed of safely or returned to you. (Please enclose a SAE)
CANCELLATIONS
If you are accepted for a place at the Christmas Market and have to drop out for any reason the following will apply:
Cancellation prior to 1st October: 50% refund of money paid (minus deposit)
Cancellation after 15th October: 25% refund of money paid (minus deposit)
Cancellation after 1st November: Full payment will be retained. No refund possible.

Address to post cheque
Bruno’s French & Continental Markets
7 Buckland Road
Lower Kingswood
Tadworth
Surrey
KT20 7DN

Bruno Girardeau
07789 937446
Email: Bruno@brunomart.com

Brigg’s traditional market and its Farmers’ Market both have reasons to celebrate this week.

Brigg’s traditional market will be given a fresh new look on Thursday 22 July 2010 with the introduction of neat new stall canopies.

The green and white striped canopies will bring a vibrant look to the traditional market held every Thursday and Saturday in the pedestrian area of the town.

With stalls selling everything from delicious home baked cakes, fresh fish, fruit, vegetables and flowers, traditional sweets, pet accessories, hardware, clothing and shoes this open air market brings the town alive and is vital to the local economy.

North Lincolnshire Council is committed to developing the area’s markets and the new canopies are the first part of these improvements.

Brigg general market is held every Thursday with a smaller market on Saturdays, which is joined on the fourth Saturday of the month by the hugely popular Farmers’ Market.

This award-winning Brigg Farmers’ Market celebrates its tenth anniversary on Saturday 24 July 2010.

The whole town will be joining in the celebrations, with retailers and market traders coming together to welcome local shoppers and visitors. Among the festivities will be cookery demonstrations by renowned local chef Nigel Brown who recently opened a cookery school at the Ropewalk in Barton. Nigel will be cooking simple dishes inspired by the fresh local ingredients found on the market.

There will also be chocolate making demonstrations by Fiona Sciolti, a choclatier from Brigg who sells her handmade chocolate on the general market. With a clown, accordionist, balloons, birthday cake, free prize draw as well as all the usual stalls selling everything from smoked salmon and ostrich to artisan breads, organic vegetables and the freshest seasonal fruits it’s going to be a fun-packed day.

There will also be a Treasure Hunt throughout the shopping area for children aged around nine to 12-years-old with a Falcon Storm bicycle as the prize.

Cllr Tony Ellerby, lead member for Markets and Partnership Development and chair of the Market Traders’ Federation, said:

“Brigg’s traditional market is a good, sound, solid market and I take my hat off to the traders who work hard to keep it that way. The new canopies are well overdue and well deserved.

“The markets we have in North Lincolnshire work very well together and in Brigg there is the added bonus of the Farmers’ Market, now celebrating it’s tenth birthday.

“A big thank you must go to the council’s tourism team, they’ve given it 110 per cent.

“It’s vital to the local economy and I wish it every success for the next ten years.

“Market traders are good for the area and represent good value for money.

“I have great respect for those stall holders who stand there in all weathers keeping the tradition alive.”

Cllr Mark Kirk, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:

“North Lincolnshire Council is committed to improving our markets and the new canopies will greatly improve the appearance of Brigg’s traditional market.

“This is just one of many steps we are taking to give our markets a much-needed boost and bring them into the 21st Century.

“Brigg Farmers’ Market has gone from strength to strength and I’m thrilled to see it reach its tenth birthday.

“Both markets are huge attractions for the town and by supporting them you are supporting the local community and keeping alive a tradition that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years.”

An historic market is asking the public to rate its market traders’ patter. Old Spitalfields in east London hopes a competition will see the revival of the art of ‘banter’, chat to potential buyers and ‘flash,’ the visual display of merchandise.

Customers will be asked to nominate stall-holders, with a top prize of £1,000 for the winner.

Shoppers who make 10 purchases with a competitor can obtain a shopping voucher and the chance to win £250 in a prize draw.

In an age of multinational retailing giants, the Wellington Market Company, responsible for the market, aims to showcase the individual attention lavished by traders on their customers, and their character.

“Gone are the days when market traders can just stand there motionless and merely react to their customers,” said its chief executive, Malcolm Ball.

“There’s so much competition on the high street, let alone inside the market hall, that market traders now need to up their game and take a much more proactive approach in attracting new customers.

“Although it’s widely known in our industry that markets can offer shoppers saving on their shopping bills, we do need to convey this message out to consumers. The challenge is all about presentation and attitude and that’s where flash and banter comes in.

“I’ve visited markets throughout the UK, such as the world-famous Bury Market and, from further afield, Quincy Market in Boston and Pike Place in Seattle. There, they take the concept of flash and banter to a whole new level and this has actually made the market a tourist destination in its own right. I’d like to see what could only be described as ‘retail theatre’ become much more prominent throughout Britain.”

Council answers market deputation

Source; Nottingham Post

THERE could be no German market in Nottingham this Christmas, the Post can reveal.

The city council believes it can bring something “bigger and better” to Old Market Square.

Plans may include the return of the outdoor ice rink, though this could be moved nearer the fountains.

The English craft market, which stood alongside its German counterpart, could remain.

Council leader Jon Collins said the move was part of an attempt to freshen up the festive period in the city, adding the market could become “boring”.

Coun Collins had previously praised the market, which has been in the city for six Christmases, for creating “the right kind of family atmosphere”.

Alternatives being looked into by the council include fairground rides and a craft market.

Coun Collins said: “If you do the same thing time and again, it gets a bit boring so what we’re trying to do is something bigger, better and different.”

Coun David Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and customers, said the German market was not as large last year as it had been previously.

He said: “We’ll try to make something as popular as the beach [in Old Market Square last summer]. We’re trying to look at something bigger than the German markets.”

Residents of Nottingham have expressed disappointment at the news. One said: “It’s got a feel-good factor.”

Market traders in Leeds have been backed by the GMB union in their fight for the council to lower rents and stop stalls from closing.

Workers at Kirkgate Market are to meet with Leeds City Council to discuss the future of the market on Wednesday.

The GMB said the way traders had been treated by the council was “a disgrace”.

The council said 64 of the market’s 434 stalls were unused, with talks being held to let out five more.

‘Extortionate rents’

Issues worrying traders include high rents, an increasing number of empty stalls and a lack of investment causing the area to become run down.

Trader Liz Laughton said: “Many people need the products that only the market stalls are able to provide at prices that they can afford.

“In order to maintain this service we need fair rents and a say in how the market is run.”

Rachel Dix of the GMB accused the council of charging “extortionate rents and service charges” while giving “very little” back in investment.

In a report to go before the meeting, Leeds City Council said: “This council believes that the historic Kirkgate Market is a local, regional and national attraction for Leeds, a destination in its own right, and a valuable business incubator for small business; and that both the asset and its traders should receive better support and promotion in recognition of these valuable roles.”

Traders are due to meet with the council to debate the market’s future at 1330 BST on Wednesday.