Trader Connect Initiative

Trader Connect, is the operating name for the Continuing Business Framework set up by the City of Melbourne to help address renewal issues at QVM. You may identify it better as a trader assistance package.

The package has two essential elements - firstly a financial component that will enable traders to seek financial assistance “where impacts of renewal works cannot be adequately mitigated and have resulted in a demonstrable negative impact on the trader's profit during the period of the works”. So, if you believe you have been significantly disadvantaged by renewal and you are willing to present comprehensive financial evidence to show that, you may be able to make a claim.

The second element involves business support initiatives including access to Business partners who will be experienced business people able to give advice to traders. It is expected that the nature of advice will be wide ranging and will focus on what you want to achieve at QVM. There will be plenty of other initiatives to assist with communication, coaching and connection with traders, including an online Trader Portal for time poor traders.

This program has been compiled after extensive consultation with a trader focus group and the depth of subjects includes ways to address specific renewal events, and how to engage and excite our customers along the way.

Next Friday (23^rd March) is the launch of the Trader Connect initiative with a drop-in between 7am and 9am at the top of A Shed, but that will be just the start of the information process. Over coming weeks traders will be able to familiarise themselves with all the assistance offers and how they might best take advantage of them.

Have Your Say – click here.

COMMENTS:
18/03/2018 21:46:38      trader assistance package           "Who were the traders tacking part on this focus group?"
We understand the project team spoke with 40 traders across Specialty Merchandise, Dairy Hall, Meat Hall, Fruit & Vegetable, Victoria/Elizabeth/Therry St. - Ed.

The Perfect Retail Model

Selfridge's Boxing Ring

Ex Myer CEO, Bernie Brookes, made a comment this week that could be a good guide for all retail entities.

“Why not take the best of the John Lewis online model, together with the best of the Nordstrom service model, together with the retail entertainment model at Selfridges and the private label focus at Kohl’s.”

Brookes was talking about Myer but before you say “What is the relevance for our market?” I think the relevance covers the whole retail spectrum – online accessibility, customer service, entertainment, and exclusive offer, are all elements that any retailer needs to look closely at, including QVM Traders.

Online:

John Lewis, the UK department store, has long excelled in its online offer. In 2016 it reported that 33% of its sales were conducted online. While in-store sales have declined like most other department stores around the globe, their online growth has been continuous and a useful counter to the impact of changing consumer habits. QVM Traders who are experiencing a similar sales decline in-stall may usefully look at online business to fill the gap, just like John Lewis. As we have pointed out elsewhere, Australia Post are recording record parcel numbers as consumers embrace online buying.

Customer Service:

Nordstrom, The US department store, has become synonymous with best customer service and it stems from their personal approach with customer service people having names, and being encouraged to act individually in meeting customer needs. Finding ways to make your customer service personal (and that includes electronic communication) is a valuable tool and, as Nordstrom have found, takes the pressure off price.

Entertainment:

Selfridges is another UK department store, and they go the extra yard to entertain their customers with things like their creative pop-up stores and even potato peeling classes. Don’t laugh, there are many in the new age generations who have never peeled a potato. Selfridges recently introduced a boxing ring and boxing classes in one of their stores and have a long history of innovative entertainment including showcasing one of the first TVs back in 1925. At QVM, entertainment will probably fall largely in the realm of management responsibility although individual traders can certainly consider exciting their customers, and differentiating from their competitors, with innovative in-stall activities.

Exclusive Offer:

The US department store, Kohl’s, has steadily grown its private label or exclusive designs as a core way to differentiate from its competitors. In 2016 nearly 50% of their offer was in private labels and that has certainly been a focus for local stores like Myer and David Jones. Myer’s private label content however is less than 20%. Bernie Brookes, while recently heading South African department store Edcon, got their private label content up to around 70%. Aldi is a classic local example of maximising private brands. Exclusivity can be generated in many ways, including simple branding, and QVM Traders may also benefit from promoting exclusive content.

Large retailers spending millions (probably billions) on how to best promote to modern consumers. They are our consumers as well, and it would be wise to closely examine what the big boys are doing.

Have Your Say – click here.

Footy Tipping Competition

The hype around the start of the AFL season is building and you wouldn’t want to get a few rounds in before you wished you had joined the QVM Footy Tipping competition. Victraders have received the following communication -

"With the AFL season less than 2 weeks away I am writing to advise that once again we will be running a Footy Tipping competition for Staff, Traders and their family/friends.   The cost will be $30 and there will be weekly prizes for those who tip 9 and also end of season prizes for the top 3 tippers.   To enter you need to go to www.footytips.com.au and join our competition QVM AFL 2018.   You need to be entered by Wednesday 21st March so you can get your tips in for the 1st game of the season on Thursday 22nd March.   We will come and collect fees in due course but for now getting signed on before the season starts is the most important thing." – Peter Shepheard, Trader Administration Manager.

Go to it!

Heard Under The Sheds – 11/3/2018

Sheeran Mania – Ed Sheeran’s Melbourne concerts over 4 nights will bring in around 200,000 visitors and the impact has been felt under the sheds. Major Melbourne events and major QVM crowds just go together.

Adjusting To The Crowd - a few traders have reported a definite “younger buyer” trend with the Sheeran concert goers. One trader said that one of his more trendy items accounted for 30% of his sales on Friday.

A Trader who saw the photo of the hydraulic underground storage facility in last week’s HUTS wants to know if we get a red sports car with every market facility. With our luck it would be a white Toyota van.

A Trader Reports – that the Opera In The Market night was brilliantly done and the acoustics were outstanding.

Great to see many of our traders returning from leave and filling empty spots. One said he was happy to be back – “You can only take so much family”.

Stan Liacos was seen around stalls again on Tuesday and the number of traders who have held conversations is growing. The CEO asked one trader if he had any issues and he replied “Not just now, but I would like your email address.” – It was handed over.

One of our traders who operates a large complex display says he feels a bit like a painter on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. By the time he finishes getting all his stock out it is time to think about packing up again.

A customer was overhead explaining to her visitor Mother – “And they pack all this up at night before coming back the next day and doing it all over again.  Its amazing!”

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:
11/03/2018 18:11:40 ED "Why does it take outside influences to bring in tourists into the market. Is there a chance that QVM management could put a bit of effort into promoting or even advertising the market to the outside world."
Let me get this straight. You think that QVM can generate Ed Sheeran type crowds without Ed Sheeran but just by really promoting and advertising. So the spinoff that we got from the 200,000 visitors that have been lured to Melbourne by a multi million dollar concert (I'm told that Sheeran himself earns $1m from EACH concert so goodness knows what the total concert spend is) can be duplicated by a bit of promotion and advertising. I'm not sure you are right but certainly if the State of Victoria can generate more business activity like this then many Melbourne retailers including QVM Traders will be very grateful. - Ed.

12/03/2018 11:01:54 Ed sheran "To be honest there is only one Ed Sheeran my comment being that there might have been extra foot traffic but where they buying? And if so what? Also you did not mention the cruise ships they do have an impact on market traffic and purchases. Please comment."
Yes, of course, cruise ships were evident this week and they are an important ingredient just like major concerts. Without serious sales data it is difficult to assess the impact but I am guessing both produced nothing more than an up-tick in sales. At least it was up and hopefully that was everybody's experience - Ed.

14/03/2018 17:52:58 Renewal "Maybe you can get an answer for the wider trading community.
Why is management not providing licences renewals to general traders?

We have been told they are not holding back licences but I know of many traders that have been trying to get their licences renewed and are still waiting for answers.  Me think they something smells "
OK, you have asked the question, let's see if we can get an answer. - Ed.
BTW: Your comment may be considered internet trolling which in this case is creating an expectation that something is wrong without any evidence. Perhaps next time keep the "something smells" at least until you get the answer. - Ed.

Editors Note: Victraders has been receiving some comments recently that appear to be more of a rant than making a point. 

The aim on this site is to publish a variety of articles that at times are just for information or to entertain but predominantly to further discussion on the huge range of important issues facing our market. 

Clear concise argument, backed up with evidence is certainly the preference here. The aim is to find solutions that will make us a better market and enable us to prosper in a rapidly changing retail environment. That is not always achieved but it is certainly the aim.

Finding fault is easy and doesn’t require much work or grey matter. Finding solutions is hard. If you have a point to make and you can back it up with clear concise argument we would love to hear from you. If you just want a rant there are other places where that is more accepted. Thanks - Greg Smith.

Retail News - McDonalds Flips, Shop Investment Rises, Toys'R'Us End? ........

Investment in Shops

An article in the Age thus week suggested there was a strong element to investing in retail property in strip shopping centres. They used Hawksburn as an example of a location where shops are snapped up for $millions despite in some cases returning less than two percent. Apparently local shopping strips with regular local visitation are seen as more immune from the likes of Amazon and a preferable investment to say the stock market.

The World Doesn’t End At Victoria St

The rapid growth around QVM of course isn’t about our market. It is part of an inevitable spread North into Arden (the new North Melbourne) with new high rise investment grade buildings already before planning authorities. We may just end up as that that unique low height oasis in a forest of tall buildings.

One Retailer Goes Against The Trend

Footwear group, Munros (Williams, Cinori, Mountfords, Mathers) just took over 22 Betts and Airflex branded stores, significantly increasing its store footprint and giving it access to previously un-serviced areas across Australia. Betts, on the other hand, have decided to focus on their flagship stores and online. While retailers across the globe look to consolidate, Munro’s has found a way to conveniently expand its footprint (excuse the pun).

Flipping For Women

A McDonalds store in the US has flipped its iconic yellow arches in support of Women’s Day. There has been plenty of publicity about the move including some criticism that the industry with the lowest paid female workers may need to do more, but we reckon this is a clever response to the high profile cause of improving women’s status.

So how does QVM rate on this issue? We seem to have quite a high number of women operating stalls. Do we give women a fair go?

Online Shopping On The Rise

Australia Post research shows that 2017 online shopping grew at nearly twice the rate of 2016. This was despite some rather anaemic sales across the whole retail sector. The rate of e-commerce spending on physical goods grew by 11.5% in 2016 and a whopping 19.2% in 2017.

Concern About Competition In US

You might remember over recent years examples of the big boys like Google Apple and Facebook being taken to task by various European governments over the way these huge organisations were wielding their power over smaller, more fragile, competitors.  At the time there was some criticism of these governments being too parochial but now there are voices in the US with the same concerns. 

The old adage - "They are bigger because they are better" holds sway and the desire of these organisations to invest and innovate is most welcome but stopping competitors from engaging and thriving would not be good for the future. Various government bodies including Australia's own ACCC will no doubt be keeping watch.

Toys'R'Us Could Be On Verge Of Liquidation

Toy'R'Us entered into bankruptcy mode last year in the US. This is a common strategy for companies having difficulties, and looking for a breather possibly including some buyout offers. But apparently a buyer has not come forward and there is speculation that Toys'R'Us may need to liquidate their store base and slip quietly out of retail. 

Aussie Farmers Direct Fails
Aussie Farmers Direct is in administration and will close immediately. Its demise follows a decision to enter non-fresh food ranges in competition with the major supermarket players. 100 franchisees, 260 employees and over 100,000 customers have been impacted.

Retail News – One-liners – 11/3/2018

Retail News – One-liners – 11/3/2018
1. Nike becomes first brand to sell on Snapchat.
2. Honey Birdette lingerie to seek US expansion.
3. Starbucks launch new concept featuring open Princi kitchen.
4. RFG suspended by ASX for failure to lodge reports.
5. Lush Cosmetics wins customer experience of the year award.
6. UK chains Toys’R’Us, Maplins and Mothercare in administration or talking with banks.
7. Aussie Farmers Direct ceases operations.
8. Zara to enter Australian online market.
9. Industry disappointed by January retail sales.
10. Doughnut Time’s new owner to halve store footprint.
11. Caltex to step away from franchise model.
12. Coca-Cola to introduce its first alcoholic drink.
13. Supermarkets move away from cheap, cheap, cheap philosophy.
14. Myers lose spot on ASX200 list.
15. Global menswear store, Suitsupply, launches first Australian store in Sydney.
16. Support in SA for longer shopping hours.

QVM In The News - 11/3/2018

	WEB
	Nuts, herbs, muesli, Queen Victoria Market. SEEK Business Find More Business within Specialty retail in Melbourne VIC, 3000 for $85000 on SEEK Business.

NEWS
	Street art goes small: how to find the hidden gems of Melbourne's laneways Infosurhoy One of these spaces is Loveland Lane, near Queen Victoria Market — a lesser known spot but a favourite among local street artists. “The art in there is spectacular,” Sonntag says. “But that's about to be torn down in the next few months to make way for the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment.” Overall ...

NEWS
	Melbourne: a city in danger of being loved to death The Age Many of the apartment towers that now fill Melbourne's skyline are "trashing" the city's streets, warns the architect credited with kick-starting the city's resurgence three decades ago. “Having more people [in the city centre] is a good idea, but how do we have more people and not trash the area?” asked ...

NEWS
	The picks of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2018 Good Food Scott Pickett will lead you through the corners of the iconic Queen Victoria Market on the Scott Pickett Food Trail and, for something totally Melbourne, it's all aboard for the RN72 Tram Tour, ... Discover the diversity of St Albans on a guided market tour, full of samples, stories and secret cooking tips.

Where QVM Fails

Sheryl Sandburg, COO at Facebook, has said “My favourite poster at work reads ‘Nothing at Facebook is someone else’s problem.’ When you see something that’s broken, go fix it”.

Traders and management don’t do that at QVM. This is a generalisation, and I know that we are not in an employee/employer relationship, but there is a tendency to blame others for what is happening , and particularly to blame others for not doing enough. 

The trader group comprise around 640 independent business people who have rarely acted in unison and who are faced with a multitude of taxing daily tasks that leave  little spare time but we may need to do more. Others often hold the purse strings and the multiple levels of decision making at QVM and CoM are a bit of a mountain to climb but there are compelling reasons for extra effort.

There are some great retail minds amongst traders, those who have successfully focused on what it takes to meet the challenges of retail over many years. But we don’t seem to channel that knowledge and expertise. Is that just because there are too many differing opinions and too much self interest? Or do the ill-informed and inexperienced (and everybody has a right to an opinion) simply drown out reasonable debate.

And speaking of channels, we do have the TRC (Trader Representative Committee), but there are many who believe that is about as ineffective as it has ever been. Reports of representatives who refuse to inform themselves and simply follow “the party line”, or even worse, go to a union for advice. A flurry of representative activity recently was not about making our market better but about hammering management over misconduct allegations. 

There is a common feeling that too many (not all) of our representatives are anti-renewal and anti-management. There are many important issues facing us including trading hours, product mix, and customer engagement. How can we expect to achieve results in an “anti” environment.

On the management side, there are examples of failing to fix problems and lack of transparency. It may sound silly, but right at the moment, smelly drains are a good example of problem responsibility. 

String Bean Alley has been subjected to atrocious smells ever since Padres Coffee was set up with "temporary" drainage facilities some years ago. We regularly get reports of over powering smells impacting on traders and customers. Those who address these operational issues should be made to position their desk adjacent to the source of the smell for hours on end, just like traders. And of course it is not just the smell. It is the inaction, and the apparent lack of appreciation for the impact this type of event can have on relations with customers and business. This is a clear example of management placing much less importance on an issue than those directly affected. The official line is that it is not exactly clear where the smells are coming from. "Yes, we have a problem with Padre's but there may also be other sources." This is not someones else's problem. This simply has to be fixed.

Then there is the general question of transparency. Every trader has examples of issues that they have been consulted on, and given opinions or offered advice about, but then the final decision comes with no statement or at best some casual "in-confidence" explanation. 

Traders have shown great interest in a roof over String Bean Alley and the possibility of containers in that aisle but there appears to be little real engagement. Traders will not be surprised (disappointed but not surprised) if a decision is revealed that ignores their views. As one trader said -"Please take us on the journey." 

We need to do better in understanding how and why decisions are made. And that requires structure. Maybe not the TRC type, but a sequence of examination, input, consideration, feedback, re-evaluation, decision making, and clear explanation of the final result.

So what is at stake here? Well, on a wider scale there is survival during a retail revolution. At QVM there is a little thing called a $250m Renewal - an offer to invest in our market.  And what is the answer to us all getting more out of that renewal? Do we need a peak body of traders who can legitimately address the major issues of our market and negotiate respectfully and intelligently with management? How do we organise them in a way that respects limited time and resources? Do we in fact need to push aspects of renewal into the background and focus on business recovery? Who amongst that group of traders is prepared to say “Enough is enough, we need some progress here.” ? And what do management need to do to improve their end?

Can Sheryl Sandberg’s quote become a reality at QVM?

"Nothing at QVM is someone else's problem".

By Greg Smith

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:
12/03/2018 12:32:07 Where QVM Fails "You may have answered your own question Greg .
Perhaps the reason you believe that the TRC are anti management / Renewal is because for too long traders have felt listened too but ignored or to Renewal focussed at the neglect of the day to day issues .
Sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough.

Do you think we are any better off now than say 5 years age??"
Well, no, I guess we are not better off, but that is the point. We don't ignore the broken system, we fix it. And that means BOTH parties (excuse the shouting) work together for solutions. There is no room for orchestrated "anti" nor for lack of transparency. - Ed.

12/03/2018 12:49:04 where QVM Fails "Do we really need another committee? You have highlighted some current examples of trader concerns that were still around when the previous trader committee members were formed without results.
Management seem to busy on the Renewal to afford the time for day to day issues.
Talk to your trader rep as I do ,they seem more than willing to talk.
Otherwise put your hand up at the next election I don't think it is an easy job."
You are correct, it is not an easy job, but the bottom line is that we have to do more to move forward with solutions. And that means less hand balling to others, or stone walling, which have been tactics in the recent past. I am not sure what the solution is but enough traders are expressing concerns about the current situation to suggest a complete review of many aspects including trader/management relations and particularly the operation of the TRC. My personal view is that it requires a lot more involvement by a lot more traders, and we have some pretty good business brains out there. Unfortunately time is running out. The retail revolution is not waiting for anyone. - Ed

12/03/2018 18:38:57 Where QVM Fails "We have a greater trader representation now than ever some were elected un-opposed .So where were these great traders who think they can do better hiding ,easier to criticise from afar.
We are in this position now is because 2 traders & 1 son of a trader went to COM without any trader consultation  for help and now we are dealing with the fall out (for the betterment of the market).
Traders are under a lot more pressure right nowise opinion is more divided.

WE need traders working together not independent sub-committees running in all directions. "
Traders working together would be good. Thanks for your input. - Ed

19/03/2018 01:05:19 Where QVM Fails " ""We have a greater trader representation now than ever some were elected un-opposed .So where were these great traders who think they can do better hiding ,easier to criticise from afar.""

SOME PEOPLE REALISE THIS SHIP IS SINKING AND TRY TO FIXED HOLES TO STOP IT. I AM TOO BUSY WITH THIS HOLES, BUT IT'S TOO MANY OF THEM, and THERE IS NO ANY HELP ON HORIZON..." Mino Jlp
Thanks Mino - Ed.

Music And Productivity At Market Stalls

There are many areas in QVM, certainly in the Upper Market, where you can hear strains of music throughout the day. In some places there is a real competition going on between traders and we thought it might be interesting to examine some recent studies about music and its impact on the workplace. Some of this will be relevant to a selling place like QVM.

Our source is an article on Business Insider and it refers to a number of music influences including a study that showed that the sounds of nature can be very relaxing and help focus on the task at hand. That may be more suitable for channelling through your headphones while working through the mind numbing process of stall set ups rather than attracting customers to your stall although if you are selling relaxation therapies then who knows?

Another study done in Taiwan suggested that music you don’t really care about is probably best. Music you really like or intensely dislike may distract you. Just a word of warning here – if you are playing music out loud you never really know if your next potential customer really likes or intensely dislikes what you are playing.

One study suggested that songs with words were too distracting because you are trying to figure out what is being said and what it means. There are some genres of music that certainly do that.

Some Canadian researchers found that participants in an IQ test performed better with up-tempo music. Some years ago there was research that suggested that supermarkets benefited by playing slower music that encouraged shoppers to dwell in aisles (and presumably buy more).

Finally, an interesting study at a number of US and Canadian universities found that moderate noise levels are good for creative thinking while high noise levels decrease the brain’s ability to process information.

So, advice for traders might be that music through your headphones can be productive during various tasks although if playing music to the public remember loud music might distract the buying process. Obviously it is important that you can communicate with your customers easily and that your neighbouring traders are not unduly impacted. Happy playing.

Have Your Say - click here.

Heard Under The Sheds - 4/3/2018

Something Smells – Foul smells in String Bean Alley got up the noses of traders this week as the obviously inadequate drainage system failed to cope once again. Two questions are asked. When will adequate facilities be provided and until then, how do we monitor the situation better? The sight of customers walking around with handkerchiefs and tissues at their noses is surely enough for quick action.

Colourful Language – apparently a trader rang in to John Faine’s radio program on Thursday with some less than complimentary views about QVM. When challenged by John Faine about the success of the Night Market, the trader said  “If you and I put a piss-up on at Flagstaff Gardens we’d get 10,000 people.” John Faine took issue and suggested the caller should be generous enough to give credit for the success of the Night Market. The call was terminated shortly after.

These photos show a special display for an Asian food business set up in A Shed on Saturday. The display features picket fence boundaries and mesh walling to hide vehicles and rubbish in an adjoining aisle. One of our traders is asking why this sort of effort is not applied in other areas of the day market to transform vacant spaces - see our article - http://www.victraders.com/2018/02/filling-empty-stalls-at-qvm.html

CEO Meet& Greet - CEO Stan Liacos was walking the sheds on Friday with good reports on his communication and openness. He even managed to get a selfie with Betty Jennings which, with camera shy Betty, is a significant coup. Thank you to Stan for the photo.

Bringing Stalls Into The New Age – a trader has pointed out that the hydraulic refuse facilities shown in last week’s Heard Under The Sheds could also be used for a modern take on stall arrangements. Imagine a stall that would operate during the day and at the push of a button be moved underground. The resultant flat space could be used for alternative functions like a separate night market, opera in the market, or a whole range of entertainment options. Our photo shows a car parking facility where the car disappears underground to leave usable space on top. We have some creative minds at QVM.

Get Well – Two Traders, Tony and Graeme, (you know who you are) are both recovering from illness and we wish them a speedy recovery and an early return to trading.

ATO Seminar - A trader has asked about booking for the ATO seminar on Protecting Honest Business Information. You can register at the following link - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/protecting-honest-business-tickets-42853198069

Extending The Winter Night Market Footprint – given the success of the last Winter Night Market and the possibility of many traders looking for additional trading opportunities in the current trading climate, one of our traders has asked if the free trading space in Sheds A,B,C,D and E could not be utilised for this year’s market program.

String Bean Alley Containers - we understand that in lieu of a roof over the aisle, the additional containers in SBA may look like the Padre Coffee Shop facility at the top of the aisle i.e. containers with a covered verandah and clear sheet weather protection. Consensus amongst traders is that a roof is still by far the best option if this area is expected to be a real contributor to the market.

Reminder - Don't forget to book for your One On One Meeting - Traders in the A-E construction area will obviously need to be briefed on their new location and some traders currently in J-M Sheds may actually be impacted by the relocation as well. It is advisable to check your situation, and besides these meetings are a good opportunity to give QVM your wish list for future trading opportunities. Book here - https://calendly.com/relocations

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:

07/03/2018 08:48:09      Extending the Winter Night Market      "Extending the Winter Night Markets trader footprint may give Management a much needed financial boost but it may dilute the uniqueness of what has made the Winter Market successful in the past.

The Summer Night Market Traders which have increased by some 30+ in numbers this year have had very mixed financial results to date.

Perhaps less is more?

Keep trader numbers manageable , don't over extend the time length of the Market, don't overkill, ordinate the product, and leave the customers craving for more next year?."

Thanks for your contribution. I think the suggestion was aimed more at giving traders greater opportunity but you make some good points either way. - Ed.

QVM In The News - 3/3/2018

NEWS
	After Doyle, mayoral candidates cast doubt on $250m Victoria Market plans The Age Robert Doyle's departure as lord mayor has increased uncertainty around a project he championed - the massive redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market - with two candidates who may replace him promising to dump the $250 million plan. Melbourne City Council, which owns the market, was ... Flag as irrelevant
	Lord mayoral candidate Sally Capp says Melbourne City Council culture needs 'realignment' Herald Sun A priority if she wins the May mayoral election is getting the $250 million Queen Vic Market redevelopment back on track. The redevelopment was championed by Mr Doyle, but is facing delays amid a protest campaign by a group including potential lord mayoral candidate Phil Cleary. Ms Capp said the ...

NEWS
	Historical Society slams revised glasshouse plan for market pavilion Herald Sun An image of the revised traders pavilion proposal at Queen Victoria Market. Picture: Supplied. Market renewal managers submitted an amended application to Melbourne City Council for the temporary pavilion, proposed last June. The revised plans were for a much shorter and narrower building.

Retail News One-liners – 3/3/2018

Retail News One-liners – 3/3/2018
1. Shaver Shop boosts sales with female focus.
2. Adair’s profit jumps 60% with new product mix.
3. Caltex plans to buy out franchisees.
4. Red Rooster to deliver with E-bikes.
5. Harvey Norman half year profit falls.
6. Noni B half year profit up following Pretty Girl acquisition.
7. Macy’s reports positive fourth quarter earnings.
8. Australia Post revenue up following Christmas parcel deliveries.
9. Woolworths cops flak over its poker machine holdings.
10. Listeria outbreak hits sales of melons.
11. Starbucks launches premium store concept in US.

Traders Speak Out On Renewal

It is interesting how a newspaper article can be taken to mean different things to different people and that certainly happened with today’s Age piece on QVM Renewal. It referred to the Lord Mayoral race in Melbourne and the significance of the city’s QVM renewal project.

The article quoted two political wannabes (Phil Cleary and Gary Morgan) who cast doubt on the future of the QVM Renewal. This led one Trader to suggest the renewal would be abandoned. Another trader suggested that the article was a clear indication that the renewal should, and would, go ahead. He pointed out that Cleary had failed to gain support in previous anti-renewal campaigns, and that Gary Morgan was a serial, and unsuccessful, candidate over many years. The article also included comments from high profile candidates Sally Capp and Ken Ong, and two current Trader Representatives, all who gave the renewal their support.

Deli Trader, Peter Langtry, was quoted in the article “Oh yeah, the redevelopment will go ahead. Every trader here hopes that it does,” Mr Langtry said. “It would be a disaster if it didn’t.” Peter may have overstated how many traders support the renewal, although this writer certainly believes that a clear majority of traders are looking for significant change.

Trader Representative, Marshall Waters, was quoted in relation to Cleary’s possible candidacy “Let’s hope he doesn’t. I would be so disappointed if it all stopped.” He went on to say “We’re ignoring the fact that the retail world has changed. This renewal is a breath of fresh air, and at the end of it all they will all say, ‘Thank goodness this happened’.”

Renewal is hard for traders. It will be disruptive, but “disruptive” is the term used to describe many aspects of this revolution in retail. As one trader said today “Treating QVM Renewal like a political circus is an absolute insult to hard working traders. We need change. Let’s just get on with it!”

By Greg Smith

Have Your Say - click here.