Latest Retail News – 31/3/2013

Latest Retail News – 31/3/2013 
1. Coles has purchased one of Woolworths key supermarket stores at Neutral Bay in Sydney. 
2. Victorian Government considering a Retail Lease Register to assist retailers in lease negotiations. 
3. David Jones ambassador, Miranda Kerr, to leave department store. 
4. Asos continues to dominate online fashion with 34% sales increase in first half. 
5. Kathmandu reports 72% first half profit rise on back of 9 more stores and 50% higher online sales. 
6. Adelaide’s new Rundle Place development opens this week. 
7. Westfield sells stake in 6 Florida shopping malls. 
8. US Senate votes to introduce controversial new sales tax laws for online retailers. 
9. Toy distributor, Funtastic, reports 68% jump in first half profit. 
10. US apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch confirms plans to open its Hollister branded stores in Australia. 
11. Mirvac’s Broadway Shopping Centre in central Sydney tops $ return per square metre for Australian shopping centres. 
12. Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and West Elm will open first Australian stores on May 2, 2013 at Sydney's Bondi Junction. 
13. Iconic clothing and footwear retailer, R.M.Williams up for sale. 
14. Woolworths to launch first full service beauty bar at its Sydney Town Hall supermarket.

Reviewing The General Merchandise Tag

Thank you to those traders who contributed to our suggestion that we review the General Merchandise name and perhaps look for something more descriptive for today’s consumers.

We would like to keep the ball rolling on this issue and it may help to put some of the terms into normal sentences and see how it sounds. Here is a common phrase found on internet sites like Trip Advisor -

“We visited the General Merchandise section.”

What if we changed that to -

“We visited the Merchandise Bazaar.”

“We visited the Top End Traders.”

“We visited the Living Essentials section.”

"We visited the............................................?"

Please keep your ideas coming in. And to the trader who said leave "General Merchandise" alone - we heard you, but let's see what comes out of this process before we consider a vote. 

Have Your Say - click here

Restricting Car Use A Danger To Shopping Strips

Restricting the use of cars so as to reduce congestion, and keep down green house gases has the potential to harm strip shopping centres according to the Transportation Research Journal.

Shopping strips are already at the mercy of bigger centres with their one stop shopping, extended trading hours, multiple carpark spaces, and location convenience. The strips on the other hand are located on major public roads and have parking areas controlled by money hungry local councils. Bigger centres have, on average, 3 times the number of parking spaces at strips although it is easier to park closer to your destination store at  a strip.

Commentators say that attempts to shifts shoppers to public transport doesn't allow for the purchase of bulk goods or shopping with multiple parcels. Melbourne City Council's apparent opposition to cars in city precincts is a significant issue for the Queen Victoria Market as we compete with major shopping centres. 

Have Your Say - click here

How To Negotiate A Lease

The ARA is conducting a workshop on how to successfully negotiate a retail lease. Attendees will learn more about the Retail Leases Act 2003 and their rights and responsibilities as well as the fundamentals on how to research and evaluate retail lease terms. 

The Victorian Small Business Commissioner, Geoff Browne will be in attendance at each workshop and will explain in further detail how his office can assist Victorian retailers.

The workshop costs $50 and will be held at Melbourne Town Hall on Tuesday 9th April 8:30am to 12:30pm. For details call the ARA on 1300 368 041 or email events@retail.org.au

Walmart Shows Off Customer Technology

Walmart's huge store network requires very sophisticated back room technology and it has helped make them the largest and arguably most successful retailer in the world.

But the latest innovation from Walmart is directed at in-store convenience for their customers and it involves the ubiquitous iPhone. Their new iPhone self checkout option is being tested in 14 markets and allows customers to scan products on their phone as they place them in their cart, and then totals up for the checkout. The customer pays and goes.

Walmart has strong online competition from the likes of Amazon, but when the world’s biggest retailer takes on technology innovation, everybody needs to watch out. Combining the best of technology with a satisfying in-store experience is one way Walmart stays on top.

Disquiet At Dandenong Market

Dandenong Market Traders are fed up with lack of business and are demanding rent reductions from the market operators.

Dandenong has undergone a re-development in recent years with trader's rents going up as a result. At a recent meeting 85 of the 110 general merchandise traders signed a petition asking for a 50% rent reduction backdated to July. Traders claim that Dandenong Market rents are the highest in Melbourne and are unsustainable.

The market board say they are investigating reasons for the downturn and how their rents compare with other Melbourne markets.

Store Charges $5 To Browse

A specialty Brisbane grocery store has put up a poster warning customers that they will be charged $5 for browsing without buying.

Before traders go rushing off to their printers we should point out that this store is a specialty gluten free food supplier for celiac sufferers and is more likely to get inundated with questions from customers seeking specialty advice. The owner of the store said she was sick of giving advice to customers who left empty handed. It would seem that she is a victim of the trend for customers to research their purchase online and in-store before heading for the cheapest source, in this case, probably a supermarket.

Charging for browsing is wrong on so many levels but it does illustrate the frustration that many retailers experience. We give final word to the ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman, who says to be competitive, smaller stores should emphasise what they offer that other stores don't and focus on providing great customer service. By putting up a confronting sign "You are missing the opportunity for the browsing customer to actually buy from you."

Should We Change The General Merchandise Name?

Does the name General Merchandise inspire you? Or is it a rather vague description that is unworthy of our long and illustrious service to Melbourne (and the world’s) shoppers?

“General Merchandise” doesn’t really describe what we do in the top end of QVM and yet we use it regularly on this site. It is used in general communication around the market and, we even use it when trying to promote to our customers in newspaper advertisements, the Marketlife magazine and other forms of marketing.

Here is a great opportunity to get creative and come up with a name that is more descriptive. Please click on the link below and have your say. And no, we won’t accept “Other Stuff”. Let’s treat this as a serious issue. Who knows? Your name idea may be the start of a whole new marketing direction for traders in the top end.

Have Your Say – click here.

COMMENTS:

 21/3/2013: 2150 - Name Change - "What about Living Essentials?" Ed
24/3/2013: 1645 - Name Change - "A Bazaar is a shop or market selling miscellaneous goods. Can that be woven in?"

25/03/2013 00:57:52 "I like living essentials, but maybe change essentials for a different word as customers may subconsciously then think of things that are only essential to them and not just buying something because they want it." Leah
25/03/2013 11:24:32 General Traders "Suggested Name   Top End Traders" JR E Shed

Latest Retail News – 24/3/2013

Latest Retail News – 24/3/2013 
1. Payless Shoes purchased by its US namesake, Payless Shoesource. 
2. Online luxury retailer, Net-A-Porter, launches Hong Kong website and distribution centre to service Asia-Pacific region. 
3. Visa now requires retailers to limit credit card surcharges to as little as 1c. 
4. The world’s largest duty-free shopping mall to open in Hainan, China. 
5. David Jones report 14% fall in first half profit due lower sales and higher spending. 
6. Brisbane’s Queen St. mall to get $70m retail redevelopment. 
7. Woolworths joins USA’s Walmart and UK’s Tesco as the most valuable domestic retail brand. 
8. Webjet takes over Asian focussed travel website Zuji. 
9. Swedish fashion giant H&M announces it will open its first Australian store in 2014. 
10. Premier Investments (Just Jeans, Portmans etc.) announce 21% profit lift for first half. 
11. US based outdoor clothing retailer, Timberland, opens first Australian store in Chapel St.

Lord Mayor’s Small Business Commendations 2013

Applications for the Melbourne Lord Mayor’s Commendations are now open. Applications may be made by small businesses (less than 20 fulltime employees) that have operated continuously for at least 10 years in the city of Melbourne.

Many QVM Traders have received commendations in recent years including John Magno, Kevin & Annette Stanisich (Platinum Award for Generational contribution) and Wayne Chitty. The awards involve a presentation evening at Melbourne Town Hall, an opportunity to meet with other recipients from across Melbourne’s retail community, and are a worthwhile memento of the contribution made by small business.

Full details and application forms are available at this web address - https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/enterprisemelbourne/BusinessSupport/lmcommendations/Pages/Applications.aspx

New Rules On Credit Card Surcharges By Retailers.

Following a review by the Reserve Bank of Australia, Visa has introduced new restrictions on any surcharge that retailers make for the customer use of credit cards.

Basically, retailers must restrict any surcharge to “a reasonable cost of card acceptance”. The justifiable surcharge can be made up by the Merchant service Fee (MSF), terminal line cost, credit card terminal rental, annual acceptance fee and employee training to operate the terminal.

At the time of writing, other credit facility providers had not followed Visa’s lead.

Traders Meet With QVM Board

In what is believed to be an historical first, a Trader Representative made a presentation to  a meeting of Directors of The QVM Board this week.

Trader Representative Greg Smith (General Merchandise PE) made a brief presentation at  Thursdays Board meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall to discuss progress on the operation of the Trader's Advisory Committee and the process of renewal in the top end of the market.

Presentation to the Board was a key item on the Traders wish list at last years series of meetings between Traders, Melbourne City Council, and Paul Guerra, the Chairman of the QVM Board. At those meetings the Board made a commitment to stay connected with Traders and this week's presentation is consistent with that undertaking.

It is hoped that Traders will be able to make further presentations direct to the Board as the TAC process moves forward.

COMMENTS:

22/03/2013 13:47:31 " Good to read  About the meeting and Greg having a word on our behalf. Keep up the good work Greg. " Andy

Do Customers Really Care About Traders?

The News Media industry is going through its toughest time in decades (maybe in its history) as declining readership, declining advertising revenue, and cost- cutting takes its toll. Do readers really care?

Readers know the difficulties the industry is experiencing, but they constantly complain about lower standards of journalism, avoid attempts by publishers to set up income generating alternatives, and switch allegiances at the drop of a hat. Free digital news feeds are booming.

The same applies to retailing. Our customers don't want to know that we are battling with declining sales, finding it hard to compete with online sellers, paying more rent, and having to work longer hours. There are other problems for traders. We can no longer predict what is going to sell well with any surety and that makes stock ordering very difficult. We are being asked to become digitally aware and embrace a whole new technology and, for many of us, technology is not our strong point. Do customers really care?

The answer of course is that customers don't really care, and that is not a criticism of them, it is just a reality of change. Customers are now more empowered than ever. They demand and expect price transparency, convenience and choice. They want to access goods and services online and in shops, and they expect retailers to work harder for their business.

Many of these customer demands require significant change from retailers. It is particularly difficult for traders who have grown up in a different trading environment. We often talk about QVM being a special and unique place to shop. QVM is special and unique but, we will need to meet the new retail service standards demanded by customers if we are to prosper.

"If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less” -Eric Shinseki

Have You Say - click here

New Products 2 – Women’s Exercise Wear

Following our post on the “toys from drawings” idea we have identified another possible growing market in the fashion category.
Traders Representatives attended a study tour at Doncaster Shopping Town a couple of weeks ago and your editor couldn’t help but notice the number of mall customers dressed in exercise wear. Doncaster does have its own gymnasium but a few enquiries indicated that exercise wear is as much a fashion statement as anything else. Casual clothing has a whole new acceptance when it is related to the wholesome pursuit of health. 

Of course we are not talking just trakkie pants here but colourful tights, loose fitting multiple T and singlet tops, and the new brightly coloured sports shoes. Retailers like Lorna Jane are making big business out of the genre and the number of sports gear retailers at Doncaster is further evidence of a growing market. Some of our sports shoe stalls seem to be up with the trend but not sure about the other fashion items.

A Great New Product Idea

This new product idea caught our attention. Childs Own Studio will create a toy from a childs drawing.

Latest Retail News – 16/3/2013

Latest Retail News – 16/3/2013 

1. The Byron Bay Cookie Company has been placed in liquidation. 
2. RBA to give credit card providers power to limit retailers card surcharges. 3. Optus goes solo with its own retail store rollout. 
4. Inspiration Paints chain rebrands with “What’s your next project?” tag. 
5. Inside Retail believes that retailers will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel by the close of 2013. 
6. New York City’s new law to limit soft drink sizes challenged by retailers in courts. 
7. NAB reports business conditions and confidence edge down in February. 
8. Homewares retailer, Masters, launches iphone app with “chat now” facility. 
9. Baskin-Robbins plan more than 200 Australian ice-cream stores. 
10. Google Maps now ventures inside shopping centres. 
11. Second stage of new Highpoint Shopping Centre opens this week. 
12. US retail sales see biggest rise in 5 months. 
13. NAB to shrink branches and introduce more self service in cost-cutting measure. 
14. Retailers attack Prime Minister Gillard’s attempts to enshrine penalty rates. 
15. Australian Industry Group reports best manufacturing performance since August 2012.

ARA Retail Workshops

The Australian Retailers Association has advised us of a number of workshops that are relevant to retail. We anticipate that some traders may be interested in attending and we ask attendees to give us a review of their experience.

Embracing digital retailing as a driver of growth.
This workshop will examine new digital growth strategies and innovation for the global retail industry. Participants will discover how digital retailing pillars like mobile, local and social support top-line growth through superior customer engagement.
WHEN: Tuesday 2 April 2013, 9.00am - 12.00pm
WHERE: Small Business Victoria - Information Centre
Ground floor, 113 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
COST: $25 per person
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & FOR MORE INFORMATION, email training@retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041

Creating competitive visual merchandising for the retail environment.   
This workshop will discuss the increased competition and diversity of offer coupled with innovative and affluent fit-outs puts more pressure on store owners and managers to ensure they are maximising their opportunity to gain customer attraction through the use of their visual merchandising and product placement.                    
WHEN: Tuesday 16 April 2013, 9.00am - 12.00pm
WHERE: Small Business Victoria - Information Centre
Ground floor, 113 Exhibition Street, Melbourne   
COST: $25 per person
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & FOR MORE INFORMATION, email training@retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041

Services - revaluing the total customer experience.      
The customer experience is the difference between what a customer expects and what is delivered. All retailers have internal customers (staff) and external customers (consumers). Meeting and exceeding expectations of these two groups is what leads to repeat shoppers, and an increase in staff morale and retention - all of which ultimately boost service levels and sales.                    
WHEN: Wednesday 1 May 2013, 9.00am - 12.00pm
WHERE: Small Business Victoria - Information Centre
Ground floor, 113 Exhibition Street, Melbourne   
COST: $25 per person
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & FOR MORE INFORMATION, email training@retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041

Planning and product control.   
This workshop aims to build confidence to take a planned approach to defining a product range to build a point of difference and a winning edge. The keys to success with product planning is to adequately forecast trends; allocate the product spend to the categories that will grow profit and sales capacity.                     
WHEN: Wednesday 15 May 2013, 9.00am - 12.00pm
WHERE: Small Business Victoria - Information Centre
Ground floor, 113 Exhibition Street, Melbourne  
COST: $25 per person
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & FOR MORE INFORMATION, email training@retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041

Myer Reports $88M First Half Profit

Myer has reported an increase in sales and an increase in profit after focussing on higher performing categories. In the last 6 months reporting period it cut down on discounts, sold more in-house brands and moved away from electronics and white goods categories.

Since 2010 Myer has moved away from white goods, electronic gaming consoles, CD’s and DVD’s, and re-allocated space to higher margin fashion categories including some new independent brands like Trent Nathan, Sass & Bide Intimates, and Material World by Madonna.

Myer said its focus on price harmonisation (requiring suppliers to provide level price playing fields instore and online) is gaining results and their own online activities are growing steadily. They also report that more of their customers are researching online and buying in-store rather than the opposite.

Trader's Angry Response To Trader's Bulletin.

Somebody has gone to a lot of trouble to dissect the management responses recorded in last weeks Trader's Bulletin. We publish their contribution in its entirety.

"Action on Trader Issues:

Issue: More Car Parking / Free car parking.
Action: Free parking till 8 am Sat and 10am Sundays. 
Comment: Are they having a laugh?

Issue: Direct customer flow from Queen St to Peel St.
Action: Create / extend walkway F Shed to Victoria St (130 meters (east) away from Queen St)
Comment: You’ve got me here. Usually, on paper at least, the “solution” appears to have some connect to the problem it is purported to resolve and hence some merit and possibility. Draw this “solution” up on paper and...??? Of course the lack of an apparent “connect” may be because we are not privy to an overall plan or strategy of which this “walkway” may only be a part of.

Issue: Queen St Loading Bays
Action: Reduced the affected area and designing new zone. In consultation with traders.
Comment: New Design and Trader consultation. Sounds good.

Issue: Building Maintenance and painting.
Action: The exterior is already 50% painted. Then they will commence painting the interior.
Comment: Won’t get into the complexities of how many maintenance and general issues were raised at the meetings, suffice to say painting over the problems sounds about right.

Issue: Lighting / access to power.
Action: There's a new substation coming.
Comment: There's a new substation coming, there's a new substation coming, there’s...

Issue: Toilet facilities.
Action: 3 additional toilet booths near the Market.
Comment: Ok I’ll hold off being facetious till I hear where “NEAR” is. No I won’t. You having a laugh?

Issue: More and better communication between traders and management.
Action: 1) Increased the frequency of the Traders Bulletin; 2) Modified the structure of the TAC to allow more involvement in decision making; 3) Engaged a web designer for a new Traders hub.
Comment:
        1) You having a laugh again? Wikipedia gives this meaning to communication:
Communication (from Latin "communis", meaning to share) is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing, or behavior.
Then you have -  Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed towards influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position by presenting only one side of an argument. 
Or - Spin is a form of propaganda, achieved through providing an interpretation of an event or campaign to persuade public opinion.
All I will say, the two latter forms of “communication” are an insult to the collective intelligence of traders and we would highly recommend ceasing to employ them if you are looking to improve true communication and mutual respect.
        2)The jury is still out on this until we see some results (and the nature and scope of TAC and said results).
and finally 
3) A new website and new hub for traders, but with no apparent input from any traders, hmmm..."

Have Your Say - click here

Consumer Sentiment Rises Again

It is ironic that the article following this one is headed “Victoria In Recession” but such is the volatility of these times that conflicting information is common. This months consumer sentiment figures are certainly encouraging.

Westpac released figures this week that show the fifth consecutive positive reading with the March index recording 110.5 after 108.3 in February. Westpac’s Chief Economist, Bill Evans said - “Consumers would have been buoyed by the positive run on markets. The sharemarket continued its strong start to the year, rising a further 3% between the February and March surveys to be up 10 per cent for the year and 20 per cent from its September low. Gains have been impressive offshore as well with the Dow Jones up 10% so far in 2013, reaching a new record high,”

Victoria In Recession

Melbourne newspapers are claiming Victoria slipped into recession last quarter although apparently it depends on which measure you use.

Victoria, SA, ACT, and Tasmania all recorded lower State Final Demand figures for two consecutive quarters.  State Final Demand is the spending on fully finished products by households, firms and governments.

The Victorian State Government is predictably arguing that State Final Demand is only one of the ways of measuring state performance and they are confident of on-going growth once you include state exports like tourism and agriculture.

Whichever way you look at it, a downward trend in a key indicator is not good. Let's hope our richer interstate customers come and visit the QVM more regularly to help out another key indicator - the thickness of trader's wallets.

UK's Leicester Market Plans $10M Revamp

Leicester Market is reportedly the UK's largest outdoor market and it is planning a major revamp involving the replacement of its 1970's indoor structure. Here is an animated video -

New Trader - Reid Cycles

Reid Cycles are a national bicycle retailer with a store in North Melbourne. They specialise in vintage ladies cycles and introduce a refreshing new concept for the market. Welcome to Samson who looked after their stall on Sunday.

Editorial - Consultation Needs To Be Real

This weekend’s Trader’s Bulletin includes reference to the newly formed TAC sub-committees and their role as a consultative process with traders.

We applaud the efforts to listen to traders and get their input, and in fact, we consider trader’s input to be an essential ingredient if the process is to be successful. We don’t really want to go through all the pain again of letters to the Lord Mayor and a string of meetings to make that point.

It is therefore disappointing that a Trader’s Portal is to be shortly launched on the revamped QVM website without any consultation with traders. You could get the impression from Jenny Hibb’s latest Traders Bulletin that the Trader’s Portal is part of the Marketing Sub-committee’s involvement in developing marketing and communication strategies but I can assure you that trader’s representatives have not been involved in the makeup of the portal although we have been advised of its existence.

The whole design of the website has serious implications for traders. How easy will it be for us to interact with the website? Will our customers receive significant benefits in using it? Will the website provide ways for traders to enhance their digital exposure? Will the website include cutting edge access to trader’s products, a bit like Westfield do for their tenants? Will it include a sophisticated directory to help customers find us?

There are many aspects to be considered and these days a website is a critical element of any retail undertaking. If the renewal process is to be successful traders must have real input. The whole process of renewal consultation has started in a positive manner and lack of consultation on this issue is disappointing.

Have Your Say - click here.

News Under The Sheds - Things Traders Have Heard

News Under The Sheds - Things Traders Have Heard 

1. QVM management are deliberately keeping C shed stall allocations on hold while they plan a new look. 

2. Dandenong Market has approximately 114 traders and 96 of those traders recently attended a special meeting to discuss rent reductions. Solidarity indeed.

3. A long term apparel trader has returned to the market as he battles with falling sales and can no longer afford a manager.

4. Two trader representatives will be making an historical presentation to the QVM Board this month.

Trader's Comments

8/3/2013 1830 From GMT Facebook Page - 

"Looking at current issue of the traders bulletin, I noticed management, has increased the free parking on sat, 6- 8am, and sun 8-10 am... may I point out at those hours they are no use to general traders." Andy

09/03/2013 19:53:58 "Very intrigued as to Premier Napthine making his first official weekend 'outing' with us at QVM!! We should be very proud that he made the effort in such uncomfortable conditions. Yeh QVM traders!! Did anyone of 'us' get to converse with him? Good start to 2013!! More of the same  please,"

Latest Retail News – 9/3/2013

Latest Retail News – 9/3/2013 
1. SA Government considers allowing Coles & Woolworths to sell wine. 
2. Westfield expect 1.5-2.0% sales increase in its Australian shopping centres during 2013. 3. Wotif earnings fall as hotel bookings decline around the world. 
4. Harvey Norman sales and profit tumble for half year to December. 
5. US burger chain Carl’s Jr. plans 300 Australian stores over next 10-15 years. 
6. Zara Fashion Chain boss tops global rich list. 
7. ABS reports 3.4% year on year turnover increase in retail sales for month of January. 
8. Rip Curl shelves $400 million sale. 
9. Australia Post to launch new digital mailboxes in coming months. 
10. Roy Morgan Research says more than 70% of Australian consumers prefer printed catalogues to online. 
11. Adidas to keep Reebok brand despite profit slump.

Tourist Watch – 8/3/2013

Tourist Watch – 8/3/2013 
1. Moomba Weekend in Melbourne with lots of events over the whole weekend. 
2. NAB Cup – Brisbane Lions come to town to play against Collingwood on Saturday. 
3. NRL – Melbourne Storm play host to St George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday. 
4. Sport & Fitness Expo at Melbourne Exhibition Centre Southbank.

New Classified Advertising Page For Traders

Check out the menu bar at the top of this page. We now have a page dedicated to advertisements for traders. Ads for Help Wanted, Fittings Wanted, Fittings For Sale, can all be included.

You may want to ask where the best place is to buy carry bags, or where you can get cheap EFTPOS rolls. Whatever your needs - the Classified Advertising page is the place for them.

Simply send us an email with your request or use the Have Your Say option (also on the top menu bar). We will advertise each request once on the main page and also on the Classified Advertising page. The ad will be removed after 3 weeks or sooner if you like.

You can start using this facility straight away and please give us your feedback.
Thanks to Peter and Andy for the idea.

Traders Comments On C Shed

Terry has written to us about some issues in C shed.

"Hi,

Just thought you would like to see two aspects of the QVM that the Management tend to gloss over or ignore.

The attached photos are of C Shed (both north and south from C35) at 1pm on a Friday.

Secondly I have just completed a Trader online induction and I recall one of the questions referring to keeping the lanes clear.  Just have a look at the third attached photo – the lane between C and D sheds was blocked all day.

Regards

Terry Lawn

Airllywood"

COMMENTS:

Ed: 8/3/2013 2030 "Hello Terry - The issue in your first two photos is presumably the lack of customers although empty stalls are also a concern. The empty stalls are partly because management are preparing some changes for C shed. No details as yet but watch this space.

The lack of customers is a major concern as unseasonably hot weather takes its toll. Moomba is on this weekend so lets hope for an improvement in customer numbers. Many thanks for your input."

Have Your Say - click here.

Trader Seeking Helpers for Set-up and Pack-up

08/03/2013 16:06:04 Market Helpers "Hi Greg & Team,
For the first time ever we are having difficulty in finding Helpers for Set-up & Pack-up.
If anyone can assist us in locating a couple of Helpers we would appreciate it.
Maybe you could have a ""Section"" on the Site where potential helpers could Identify themselves with Contact details.

Peter & Kay Auden (Woodcrafts Australia) Cnr Queen St & J Shed" Peter Auden  

COMMENTS:
08/03/2013 19:21:20 what a great idea. " Just read about help wanted, to set ,and pack up. What a good idea to have a section about this, and maybe a for sale section, racks, stock, fittings etc. it would be a great help. Worth considering." andypandy
                     

South Melbourne Market’s SO:ME Concept

South Melbourne Market opened its own String Bean Alley with the opening of a new retail concept within the market called SO:ME – “SO:ME Space is a new retail concept, bringing together the best of emerging and established designers in an innovative environment for the purpose of brand growth, experimentation and development.”

Here is the link to their website - http://www.somespace.com.au/about.php

COMMENTS:
03/03/2013 20:56:21 So:me Looks as if the designer pop up stalls at South Melbourne are not so new, if anything we were about 8 months behind on this "initative". It appears that it was launched on the 30/11/2011. So they've had a bit of a head start on our SBA. Wonder how they''re doing? And whether theres any lessons there for us.

Vale Andrew Caruana

Farewell Andy - your friends at the market will miss you.

Our love and sympathy to Andy's family.