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.