Why Hasn’t This Been Thought of Before?

I am a Specialty Merchandise Trader and know little about food retailing but I do know that squeeze testing of Avocados is considered a problem in the industry.

By the time the 50^th customer has squeezed the fruit it is likely to have sustained some damage. Our picture shows an attempt to make it easier for customers by categorising Avocados according to their stage of development – ready to eat or good to store for a few days.

To a non-food retailer that makes a lot of sense, but we would love an expert opinion.

Read the ABC article here - http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-07-18/trial-stopping-avo-squeeze-successful-boosts-sales/10006632

Have Your Say – click here.

Heard Under The Sheds – 15/7/2018

Night Market – we have reports of another great trading night with one trader claiming his best day ever at QVM. The crowd was huge, the queues were long and the atmosphere vibrant. In fact we had a couple of reports about the “crowd crush” and families with younger children wondering whether they would venture back. It’s a nice problem to have, and questions are being asked about how the night market might be expanded with opportunities for more traders. Thanks to Mino for the photo.

Farewell and thank you to traders, Krista and Gerry from Fairydance, for their professionalism and the important variety they offered to our market. We wish them every success in their future endeavours.

We saw a great photo of trader, Betty Jennings, blowing out her birthday cake last week. Unfortunately the normal shy and retiring Betty didn’t give us approval to publish the photo but we want to wish you happy birthday anyway Betty.

A Trader has reported that she had three customers on Thursday who had seen colourful photos of her products online. Photographs had been posted on the QVM web page and also on QVM’s Instagram page.

Night Market – a Trader offered the following comparison on the Night Market over the Day Market. The Day Market gets tight fisted husbands shopping while their free-spending wives let loose at the Night Market. That might be a bit sexist and stereo-typed but we get the sentiment.

Confusing Hours – we know our trading hours are confusing with their variety of closing times but one trader has pointed out that the official advice is wrong. This card shows GM closing at 4:00 on a Friday when in fact 3:00 ‘o’clock closing was introduced during Jan Cochrane-Harry’s reign.

One Trader is daring to dream. He is suggesting that improved crowds over recent weeks may be due to better promotion from our Marketing team. He even suggested that we should limit bad news stories on Victraders, saying it is time to accept what we have got and move on. We like that sentiment.

A trader says the world needs a new Scheduling Manager. Timing Wimbledon, Le Tour de France, World Cup Soccer and Betty Jennings birthday all in one week is just crazy.

We nearly fell off our chair when we got an email from confessed email denier, Michael Mallon, this week. OK, somebody else sent it on Michael’s behalf, and when pressed, Michael admitted it was more reliable than carrier pigeon.

A Great Sign - The parking employee said he had put this sign out two days running which was most unusual. Thanks to Mino for the photo.

Traders Award Night - one trader questioned the distribution of award categories with a small number of traders in the single category Poultry & Game, while in the  Upper Market there could be some 20 or so product groupings which would have more  traders but they are all lumped under the General Merchandise category.

Pink Is In Town - we can't hang our hats on anything in retail these days but a number of traders are hoping that 9 Pink concerts in Melbourne commencing Monday 16th July might impact on business at QVM.

Have Your Say - click here.

Retail News One-liners - 15/7/2018

Latest Retail News – 15/7/2018
1. A free supermarket opens in Melbourne’s inner North to combat waste.
2. Aldi beats Coles and Woolworths for most trusted brand.
3. Report says price is the main factor driving customer loyalty.
4. Oroton struggles with its future – says equity nil.
5. Starbucks to phase out plastic straws.
6. Calls for regulation following listeria outbreak in Europe sourced frozen veges.
7. Noni B posts strong fiscal year.##
8. Eyewear retailer, George & Matilda, reaches 50 stores milestone.
9. Darrel Lea purchases Lifesaver brand from Nestle.

## Noni B credits its strong performance on remaining focused with its middle-aged women clientele who may not embrace Instagram but continue to enjoy in-store shopping.

QVM In The News - 15/7/2018

Owner of Franklin St. triangle show room changes plans.

https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/shesh-ghale-shifts-horizons-to-office-for-market-site-20180712-p4zr1i.html?ref=rss

	NEWS
	Magnificent Seven global food market alliance creates voice for innovative thinking Produce Business UK ... Markthalle Neun (Berlin), Central Market Hall (Budapest), Sydney Fish Market, (Sydney), Queen Victoria Market (Melbourne) and Pike Place Market ... Flag as irrelevant
	Magical Melbourne Closer Than Ever With New Air Canada Flight TravelPulse Canada (press release) (blog) Queen Victoria Market. “The Vic” is billed as the largest city market in the southern hemisphere, a roughly seven-acre display of some of Australia's ...

An Immersive, Terrifying Experience (in a Shipping Container) is Returning to Melbourne Broadsheet This month the 40-foot shipping container returns to the city, this time at Queen Victoria Market. Participants will step inside the cramped, ...

More Compelling Articles

The Current Big Thing In Retail - This article from Forbes.com suggests that personalising customer space is the new retailing.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherwalton/2018/07/14/amazon-alibaba-and-nike-all-point-to-the-next-innovation-in-retail-personalized-physical-spaces/#65868c632e8c

Marketing Strategy - A positive take on dire news from UK's high streets.
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/retail-dire-straits-marketing-will-decide-will-sink-swim/1487573

Also
https://www.insideretail.com.au/news/there-is-hope-for-the-high-street-201807

Academy Awards or Logies For Traders?

The much anticipated Trader’s Award Night is coming in November but with a twist in the concept which may raise some questions and an analogy with two different award concepts.

The 2016 inaugural Trader’s Award Night was a great success. The night itself was well done but it was the focus on traders that caught trader’s attention. Not only was the night all about traders but the judging was conducted by management and showed that they could really appreciate the contribution that individual traders were making to our market. 

The reality of this business world is that we don’t always stop to recognise talent. Of course there was some disagreement about who received which award but you expect that in any similar operation – just look at the Academy Awards in the movie industry where experienced members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences vote on worthy recipients and often have their voting questioned.

The Trader Awards this year will be done differently than in the inaugural year. Instead of management assessment awards will be based around customer voting. Traders will be able to nominate their business and customers will be asked to vote for the most worthy in each category. 

There is where the analogy with Academy Awards and the TV Logies comes in. The Academy Awards are made by experts in the field. The Australian TV Logie awards are voted on by viewers. You could say that the Logies are based on popularity rather than merit. The Logies are subject to unashamed promotion and lobbying by TV stations which adds to all the fun and allows the stations to point out the benefits of their offer. 

Traders with a strong social following will have an advantage and maybe that is a good thing. Modern retailing is becoming more about how you relate to your customers across multi channels. Additionally, the involvement of customers will add promotional opportunities. But will it be about trader merit, and the contribution that traders make to the market community? 

Whatever happens this is going to be a great night but while the management team are fine tuning the details, you might like to express your views. Just click on Have Your Say below and let us know what you think.

Have Your Say – click here.

COMMENTS:
This comment was received before the publishing of the article but is included for subject relevance.

14/07/2018 20:29:43      QVM Trader Awards         "The QVM Trader Awards are a good idea in recognition of hard working traders operating a quality business.

One of the main eligibility criteria states that the business hold a current lease/licence agreement with QVM.

However being an S/L trader that is currently out of contract and have been trying to seek a renewal for some 9 months to date I am wondering how many others are in the same predicament and be ineligible to nominate or to receive any recognition for their continued hard work. Good time to be a PE trader."

Good point. Thanks. We will seek a response - Ed

16/07/2018 11:17:44      Trader Awards        "I only trade 3 days a week so compared to some traders working 5 or even adding the night market into the mix the smart money would be on last years winners to go back to back."
Yes. You would think that more exposure would lead to a better chance of winning - Ed. 

16/07/2018 11:21:38      Order Awards  Night         "Not sure where i'm going to fit a lap top for easier customer voting in my 3x3 stall . May have to spread? "

  
- Ed    

Heard Under The Sheds – 8/7/2018

Queen St. Toilets to close – the toilet block on Queen St. will be closed for 4 weeks commencing Wednesday 18^th July. Temporary toilets will be placed nearby in the car park behind String Bean Alley.

Night Market – we received comments this week about the resilience of customers who are prepared to stand in long queues waiting for their food. Apparently last Wednesday’s big crowd really highlighted the trend. One trader commented that day market customers seem to wait 5 milliseconds for service.

Sporting Celebrity – a trader swears that Manchester City Football Manager, Pep Guardiola was in our market during the week. A quick google check revealed that the former Barcelona coach has indeed been in Melbourne while on holiday and visiting sister club, Melbourne City.

Bleary-eyed. One trader is complaining that the twin sporting must-sees, World Cup Soccer and Wimbledon Tennis, make it very hard to keep up the required sleep hours. Just another reason why customers seem to come later and later.

Traders Behaving Badly - we don't want to keep on mentioning this but another trader has complained that his neighbour was still clearing stock out of his storage boxes at 11:30 am. The boxes were not in the aisle but in a clearway. Either way it just creates the wrong impression for customers.

Have Your Say - click here.

Getting The Night Market Into Perspective

From all reports, Wednesday night’s Night Market was a boomer. The was a huge crowd and even some complaints about difficulty moving around the market.

We talked to a number of Specialty Merchandise Traders who participated and here are some comments -

“I want 7 days like this”

“I’ve got my weeks budget already”

“Somebody opened the floodgates Wednesday night. It was hectic”.

“It was just like the good old days. The market felt alive again.”

A couple of first time traders were surprised at how small stalls (in one case, a last minute set-up with one table) managed to generate sales.

But before we get all starry-eyed about the prospect of night trading we need to look at the statistics. Yes, takings were good but with only 40 or so Specialty Traders and a crowd of possibly 40,000, that would be expected. In fact, given those figures, the sales per head were almost  certainly below what is achieved by Specialty Traders in the Day Market.

The Night Market is a great concept. It is perfect for the time, and a rare success story in today’s retail revolution. Throwing 400 or so day traders into a night market isn’t an option, at least not yet. The question probably becomes how do we expand the Night market operation so that more traders can take advantage of it?

The future QVM will probably work quite differently and a night market will almost certainly be a key component in trader incomes. The potential is tantalising for many.

By Greg Smith

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:
09/07/2018 06:31:25      Night market crowds        "You are right Greg 40 specialty traders in the night market are bound to succeed, 400 a different story. In respect of the crowds of people on both sat and sun they do not  always translate into dollars. Ask the craft market how they fared... only half of them there from the previous week. Your comments please."
Yes, trading is very much hit or miss, and crowds don't guarantee income. Craft Markets are not immune. The attempt to activate the empty areas in the Upper market is positive, but risky, just like many other retail activities around the globe. QVM will probably need to keep experimenting. Thanks for your input. - Ed.

Giving Credit Where It Is Due

“Giving credit where it is due” is an old saying that is usually used in circumstances where you have some reservations. The relationship between management and traders at QVM often fits that description.

But there are times when credit is due and the crowds that filled the aisles in the Upper Market on Saturday caused a couple of traders to say “You can’t complain about this crowd”.

There are many factors that lead to good crowds and traders identified a couple yesterday. One talked about referrals from the huge Night Market crowd on Wednesday night who decided to come to the Day Market. The two markets are quite different in content but if 40 or so Specialty Traders at the Night Market can encourage customers to visit the 400 or so in the Day Market, that is a good thing.

Another talked about the relentless social media output from QVM including the little gem in the photo below from Facebook which will strike a cord with any chocoholic. If you are on Facebook it might be a good idea to include Queen Victoria Market in your likes and view the feeds that our customers are seeing.

There is of course another old saying - “ You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” Converting good crowds into sales remains an uncertain and perplexing challenge for all traders.

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:

08/07/2018 14:38:11      CREDIT IS DUE         "what credit?????

they r doing their job...no more no less."

Credit can be given independent of whether you are doing your job or not. It is a great form of feedback particularly when we are in troubled times like the retail industry right now. On the matter of helping create crowds at QVM in a depressed retail market some credit is appropriate.  We traders complain about enough. Let’s not complain about the positive things. Thanks for your input. I give you credit for taking the time to express a view. - Ed

Retail News One-liners and More

Retailing In The News – 8/7/2018
1. Noni B completes its $31m acquisition of struggling Specialty Fashion brands, Katies, Millers and Rivers.
2. SA Government meets promise to de-regulate Adelaide shopping hours.
3. Tesco trials “Shop and Go” technology.
4. Australia’s iconic winemaker, Penfolds, to make wine in US’s Napa Valley.
5. Woolies sets up 15 year petrol deal with Caltex.
6. May retail growth “weak”.
7. NZ PM slams “meatless” burgers on NZ airline.
8. In Australia, the use of reuseable containers is not prevented by law.

Roger Federer Changes Camps – Roger Federer caused quite a stir when he rocked up to Wimbledon, not in his usual Nike attire, but sporting Uniqlo’s “Climate-controlling clothes.” Apparently the tennis champ has signed a new $300m deal over 10 years.

Amazon Are Not Just Digital - The now defunct Toys R Us were famous for their glossy mail out catalogs and Amazon in the US have decided to fill the void with, you guessed it, their own traditional toys catalog mail-out.

Some Compelling Articles We Came Across This Week

Fear Of Caves and Avoiding The “Butt Brush”

We love these articles from The Conversation. They are usually written by academic specialists who bring an interesting perspective to retailing. This one about customer movement contains some great observations.

https://www.insideretail.com.au/news/shoppers-movements-might-come-down-to-fears-of-caves-and-the-butt-brush-201806#daily

Keeping The Best Of The Old

This article about the iconic Doc Martens footwear brand caught our attention with the line – “a long-established retail business merging tradition and heritage; classical footprints with digital transformation; increased customer centricity; and good old fashioned community building”

https://www.insideretail.com.au/news/do-you-own-the-retail-space-2-201806#daily

Live Longer, Drink Coffee

We have plenty of really good coffee outlets at QVM and this article is right up their alley.

https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/want-to-live-longer-science-says-drink-more-coffee-even-this-insane-amount.html

The Latest Retail Sales Report

Business Insider has been good enough to summarise the content of the latest report from the RBA concerning May retail sales.

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-retail-sales-international-trade-preview-may-2018-7

One Successful Retailer Who Insists You Come In-store To Purchase.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gracelwilliams/2018/06/29/heres-how-tjx-companies-can-dominate-retails-war-on-amazon/#37bcc66e73a8

What The Law says About Using Re-useable Containers.

An interesting article about a subject in the news this past week. Because it involves the law, we suggest you do your own checking.

https://gippslandunwrapped.com/2016/08/18/the-law-using-reusable-containers/amp/

Have Your Say - click here.

QVM In The News - 8/7/2018

	NEWS
	From Barcelona to Seattle, historic markets ally to survive The Ledger From Barcelona to Seattle, historic markets ally to survive .... Market in Sydney, Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, and Pike Place Market in Seattle.

	NEWS
	Spinach Scores Media, Digital & Data Duties For Queen Victoria Market B&T Meg Dalla Lana, marketing manager for the Queen Victoria Market, said: “Spinach's ability to combine ideas, strategy, insights and data to maximise ... Spinach wins $2m Queen Victoria Market account - AdNews Full Coverage

Queen Victoria Market moves media account to Spinach MuMbrella Spinach will take on Queen Victoria Market's media planning, strategy and trading including all digital, social and search as part of the appointment.

	NEWS
	Cheese wheel pasta is the star at Melbourne's Winter Night Market SBS Cheese wheel pasta is the star at Melbourne's Winter Night Market ... The Queen Victoria Market's seasonal event is back with over 30 food stalls to ... Flag as irrelevant
	Terrifying séance experience comes to Australia 9Honey When: Wednesday 11,18 and 25 July (as part of Winter Night Market) and ... Where: Queen Victoria Market car park, off Peel Street, Melbourne. Flag as irrelevant
	Terrifying séance experience comes to Australia and it's the stuff of nightmares 9Travel Supernatural theatre performance, 'Séance' will pop up at the Queen Victoria Market from 11 July until 28 July. As seen in the clip above, people are ...

Heard Under The Sheds – 1/7/2018

Our Trader Community shows its best when personalities are at risk and the news under the sheds this week was dominated by concern for Security Guard Charlie, and Guru Pete our intrepid Market Cleaner. A separate article (see here) covers both.

One trader has decided to show the world that he is not a slave to business and he will not succumb to ongoing disinterest from customers. Poor business can be very debilitating. He has decided to do something different on the key trading day of the week, cast his cares to the wind, and do something completely against his normal strict work ethic. He is taking Sunday off to go to the footy. He figures that this little rebellion will give him a breather, allow him to enjoy one of the passions a market trader is often denied, and boost his sense of being in control. Of course his wallet will be a little lighter but maybe this is a good circuit breaker for any trader.

We have mentioned elsewhere that Guru Pete had a short stint in hospital this week. While he was there a few traders called in to check up on him. Pete claims it was because he owed them money, but we know the real reason.

Traders hate waiting around for things to happen and there have been a few calls this week for some positive action. One trader has suggested that we need to bite the bullet and start trading 10am to 6pm every trading day. Another suggested that we need to stop the gerrymander with storage boxes. Boxes in aisles are a turnoff for business and every trader should store their boxes within their stall boundaries. Interestingly both were advocating strict no-compromise adherence.

On a quiet day there is always at least one good news story in the Upper market and on Friday it was the trader who only had a few sales but one of them involved multiple items that was equivalent to a normal days takings.

A trader commented that he had never heard so many traders saying they were seriously considering their future as a market trader.

Artistic Customers – one of our traders was excited to find that a group of three young ladies visiting his stall were from Russia’s St Petersburg ballet currently performing in Melbourne. They enjoyed their buying experience and gladly posed for a social media photo.

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:
01/07/2018 22:12:03      Market Trader Ball  "While the Traders Ball may seem like a short term feel good story can we really justify the expense that could be better directed for the markets long term use such as advertising & promotions, marketing give aways, or maintenance etc ??"
The Trader Ball was a great night because it focused on traders. Traders are rarely complimented unless it is for marketing purposes, and the hard work that goes into running a market stall is worthy of recognition. The benefits from that first night were not really short term (we are still talking about it) and perhaps the price of a few newspaper advertisements is worth celebrating the contribution Traders make to QVM and the City. Recognition doesn't pay the bills but it makes it a lot easier to keep a focus on what does. - Ed.

A Retail Revolution Is A Call For Action

This week another high profile entrepreneur left the market. This trader has been very active in trader matters over many years and is known for his no-nonsense approach to fixing market problems. He regularly attended market meetings, always making a contribution, and his advice has been instrumental in a number of innovations including some under the renewal banner.

These are people we cannot afford to lose but unfortunately there are two things that are working against us. Firstly, the retail revolution itself and the impact on business incomes (although good entrepreneurs will often see this as simply another challenge to overcome). Secondly, the pace of change and the perception that too many voices are stagnating real action at QVM.

In the outside retail world, change is happening at a blistering pace. The Amazon’s, Macy’s, Ikeas of this world are wheeling out new ideas every week. Many of their ideas are short lived but that doesn’t matter because in a retail revolution you try just about anything. It is a race to find the key ingredients that will finally make up a new order of retailing. This is entrepreneurship and it fuels the fire of businesses who will not accept decline and who will look for progress.

Compare that with QVM. We have some traders who actively resist change. We have do-gooders who want to leave things as they are. We have a State Government that is listening to too many voices and has an election coming up and would prefer not to offend anyone. The decision making is just too long, too compromised, and too inactive. Is it any wonder that good entrepreneurs are questioning their role at this market.

A retail revolution is a call for action. Sadly, many traders believe there is not enough action at QVM, and many good entrepreneurs may find it difficult to wait around.

By Greg Smith

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:

01/07/2018 21:57:20      Retail Revolution    "The Retail Revolution  as you refer to it may be one aspect of the markets decline but years of not reinvesting in the markets future maybe now too late to catch up.

Good entrepreneurs may find the grass is greener else where or at lease worth a try.

The Renewal was never going to help traders in the short term rather than a long term vision but we are here and now and some traders are going to be collateral damage for the future.

That price is too much to pay for many traders."
Yes, I guess the point is that many traders were prepared to suffer the short term pain for a grand(er) vision for QVM. But it is the delay in getting things done that really causes a re-think. Thanks for your input - Ed.

Retail News One-liners – 1/7/2018

Retail News One-liners – 1/7/2018
1. Jamaica Blue franchisees battle owners.
2. Bunnings offer toilet installation service.
3. UK’s Poundworld goes into receivership with 5000 jobs at stake.
4. Convenience stores weigh on Caltex results.
5. Franchisees revolt over future of 50 store Oliver Brown Belgian chocolate business.
6. H&M to open new store in Gold Coast Robina Centre.
7. Aussie retailer iKOU named Retail Store of the Year by Retail Design Institute.
8. Nine West and Bandolino brands sold to Authentic Brands Group.
9. French sports giant, Decathlon, opens first Victorian store at Box Hill South.
10. Supermarkets are getting smaller.
11. One in five shoppers against plastic bag ban.
12. John Lewis offers to buy back clothing.
13. Private label products taking over supermarket shelves.
14. Toys’R’Us Australia to shut down.
15. Woolworths fuel deal with BP abandoned.
16. Michael Hill’s Emma & Roe brand to shut down.
17. Uniqlo to open its 16th Australian store.
18. Woolworths Group owns half alcohol market.
19. Chinese tourists could be key to extended trading hours.
20. City of Melbourne opens Small Business Grant Scheme for 2018.
21. Plastic coffee cups to be banned by 2023.
22. Swimwear brand, Seafolly, takes on Chinese market.
23. Tommy Hilfiger opens 11th Australian store in Sydney.
24. K-Mart exits, CD, DVD market.
25. Woolworths offers free plastic bags for another 10 days.