Letter To Traders

The following leaflet was hand delivered to traders in the top end of the market on Sunday 27th.

Dear Trader,                                  We hear your frustration.

Market trading can be a frustrating experience at present and your Trader Representatives are working hard to find a solution that will be of benefit to current and future trading generations.

Unfortunately there are few quick wins, but setting a structure, and communicating with the right people, is essential if we are to get any wins at all. We hear from you that issues like poor business levels, car parking, tourism promotion and the renewal process need addressing. It is fair to say that we are starting practically from scratch. Past structures for dealing with trader's concerns have been mostly "tick the box" exercises with no real accountability or result analysis. 

Since January this year your Trader Representatives have been involved in countless meetings within our own groups, with sub-committees, with the Traders Advisory Committee, QVM management, Board members, Council representatives and experts in diverse fields. We have communicated with trader groups in Spain, UK, and USA. We have discussed issues with academic experts on markets at a UK university, purchased reports and books on market studies, viewed footage of market renewals across Europe and dissected hundreds of internet and press reports over the last 20 or so years. All these efforts have been to better understand the issues you have raised with us and how to achieve the best possible result for all traders.

Lifting our status as traders, and getting our voices heard is a very real need and we believe we are making progress. Last week we had a discussion with QVM Chairman, Paul Guerra, in which we covered issues like the QVM management culture, the role of traders in the decision making process, the inclusion of traders business performance in the market's performance measures, and the renewal process. As a result of that meeting we are expecting to hold talks with MCC and the Victorian State Government over coming weeks. 

Setting up a structure to lift our status is not as sexy as marching on town hall or getting front page newspaper coverage but we believe it will give us the best platform for sustained involvement into the future. In the meantime we urge you to speak to us, visit us, or call us. The Victraders website is an important source of information and it belongs to you. From this weekend the website will have regular updates on the issues your representative’s are handling.
As individuals we are small and weak. As a combined group we are many and strong. Combining the efforts of all participants, including your own, gives us the best chance of real and sustainable success. Remember - speak to us, visit us, call us and visit your website.
Your representatives – Ivano, Stephen McLennan, Kha Nguyen, Jenny Pyke, Greg Smith, Joe Stolarek.

                                                                                                                           28/7/2013

Have Your Say - click here

Latest Retail News – 27/7/2013

Latest Retail News – 27/7/2013

1. Australian Industry Group says Industrial Relations, Taxation and Red Tape are main issues for small business in upcoming election.
2. CommSec report says retail spending up but Australians spending more on services rather than goods like food and clothes.
3. New owners of Dick Smith stores plan expansion.
4. Billabong sells Dakine luggage brand as part of rescue package.
5. Tag Heuer opens third Australian store at MacArthur Centre in Brisbane.
6. Apple earnings beat expectations for June quarter but profit down 22% from 12 months ago.
7. ARA seeks reduction in penalty rates.
8. Quicksilver opens new store in Bekasi Indonesia.
9. Specialty Fashion Group (Katies and Millers) joins Bangladesh safety accord.
10. Tupperware’s global sales rise 8% in second quarter.
11. Pacific Brands (Bonds and Dunlop) launch new vision for innovation and excellence.
12. Starbucks beats expectations with 25% profit increase in last quarter.
13. Coles and Woolworths show interest in Hong Kong’s ParknShop supermarket chain.

ARA 2013 Retail Awards Announced

Winners and finalists of the 2013 ARA Australian Retail Awards: 

Visa Australian Retailer of the Year 
Winner: Specsavers 
Runner-up: Myer 
Highly commended: Priceline Pharmacy 
Finalists: Salvo Stores, Jeanswest, Repco 

REST Industry Super Australian Individual Retailer of the Year 
Winners: 
Female – Jo-Anne Oakeshott, Sunglass Hut 
Male – Cameron Richardson, Repco Corporation Limited 

BDO Australian Retail Employer of the Year 
Winner: Specsavers 
Finalists: Jeanswest, Pandora 

Eftpos Australian Independent Retailer of the Year 
Winner: Native Botanical 
Runner-up: Saltwater Wine & Stormriders 
Finalists: Casa Mia, Caesars Furniture, Sydney Street The Realise Group 

Australian Retail Innovator of the Year 
Winner: Brava Sport 
Finalists: BankWest, instant retail, Webstore Pty Ltd trading as Wedding Wish 

Expr3ss! Australian Retail Graduate of the Year – Diploma and Certificate IV 
Winners: 
Diploma – Michelle Hayes, Beacon Lighting 
Certificate IV – Piyush Bhanot, ALDI Stores 

Australian Multi-channel Retailer of the Year 
Winner: Specialty Fashion Group 
Runner-up: The Co-op Australian 

Online Retailer of the Year 
Winner: Shoes of Prey 
Runner-up: Blamey Saunders hears 
Finalists: Beginning Boutique, Sneaking Duck, 

Ausmode Australian Retail HR Practitioner of the Year 
Winner: Jeanswest 
Finalists: Scaffidi Group 

Victorian Retailer of the Year 
Winner: Claws ‘n’ Paws Pet Supplies 
Runner-up: Reader’s Feast Bookstore 

Traders Put Decision Making On The Agenda

Traders have asked for a number of issues to be put on the TAC agenda at next Thursday’s meeting. One of the key issues involves giving traders a greater say in the decision making process.

In the past, traders have actually asked for a position on the QVM Board. We have been told that the QVM constitution currently prohibits a trader on the Board, although contemporary practices for key stakeholders to be included on boards, including in market structures, would suggest that QVM could re-look its provision.

Following is a list of the issues we have asked to be included at Thursday’s meeting.

(a) Items following from last meeting.
                    (i)Market Week promotion.
                    (ii)Trader's Bulletin - including comments or articles from traders.
                    (iii)Lighting Update.
                    (vi)Renewal process. What is the process? How far have we got?

(b) Car-parking – George’s request for analysis of car park users.

(c)  QVM’s customer base – analysis of our real customers particularly in light of solid performance over school holidays when increased business was attributed to a cross section of family groups from wider Melbourne and tourist sources but not necessarily near city locals.

(d) Automatic dissemination of market related surveys (Sweeney’s etc.) to TAC Representatives.

(e)Decision making process - role of traders.

(f)KPI's to measure the performance of trader's businesses.

The TAC (Traders Advisory Committee) is a body made up of 10 elected Trader Representatives. The committee is chaired by the QVM CEO. The TAC meets at regular intervals to consider market issues and minutes are provided to the QVM Board. 

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Surviving A Bad Sales Day

You know the sort of trading day that gives us nightmares. Your first customer brings an item back for a refund. Your second customer spends 20 minutes of your time discussing the ins and outs of your product range and then tells you he’s about to go overseas for 3 years but he’ll look you up when he gets back. The list of bad stories is almost endless.
How do we handle those days? Well, believe it or not somebody has written a procedure.
     1. Keep relaxed – anger, stress and frustration do nothing to help your day. In fact, bad events feed off them. Keep calm, ask your customers plenty of questions and listen to what they have to say. Patience does pay off.
     2. Think positive – taking direct action is more likely to give you a positive result than sitting back and feeling sorry for yourself. 
     3. Trust your skills – being confident about yourself is important. You’ve been here before. You know how to get out of tough spots.
     4. Learn from all situations – negative sales situations happen to all traders. If something goes wrong, find out why. The next time you will be much wiser.
     5. Accept responsibility – no matter what caused your negative sales situation, you are in control. Take responsibility and move forward.

That is all good advice. If I can just remember it the next time a customer asks me if I will be in the same place in 3 years time....patience.....patience......patience.

Increased Vacancy Rates Create New Opportunities for Pop-Up Stores

According to global real estate group Jones Lang LaSalle more opportunities are available for start-ups as the number of retail spaces rises.

Apparently retail vacancies have risen to 4% in the 6 months to June 30^th and CBD spaces have been particularly hit with the average vacant rate rising from 5.4% at the end of 2012 to 6.7%.

Sydney has some of the highest retail rents in the world and yet its City Council recently announced a grants scheme to entice small businesses to set up in lower customer flow areas.

TAC – Marketing Sub-committee Upcoming Meeting

The TAC (Traders Advisory Committee) currently has two sub-committees – a Retail Sub-committee and a Marketing Sub-committee.

The Marketing Sub-committee is meeting next Tuesday 30^th July and the agenda includes –

1.    Customer Survey – A survey was recently conducted by traders over one week in selected areas across the market. The survey analysed customers in regard to home location, age, mode of transport to market, the main reason for attending the market, and how often they shopped at the market. Survey results are expected at this meeting.

2.    Trading Hours Survey – a survey is being prepared for all traders to fill out as part of a review of the market’s trading hours. For discussion.

3.    PA System – the sub-committee is evaluating how the PA system may be better used for marketing the market.

4.    Other Business –

Results from the meeting will be reported on this website.

The TAC (Traders Advisory Committee) is a body made up of 10 elected Trader Representatives. The committee is chaired by the QVM CEO. The TAC meets at regular intervals to consider market issues and minutes are provided to the QVM Board.

TAC Issues - Car Parking

Trader Representatives from each of the market trading groups (general merchandise, shops, fish & meat, deli, and fruit & vegetable) have been working diligently behind the scenes on a number of issues -

Car parking - parking to meet customer needs is a critical issue for our market. There are 3 proposals being considered by Council - an underground car park, a multi-level car park and the current arrangement. As recently as last week, Chairman Paul Guerra assured Trader Representatives that there will be no reduction to the current number of car spaces. Trader Representatives have asked management for a breakdown on car park usage by staff, traders and customers so that we can evaluate leakage from the total number of spaces available to customers.

A recent customer survey conducted by traders included questions on car park usage. Results are expected next week.

The TAC (Traders Advisory Committee) is a body made up of 10 elected Trader Representatives. The committee is chaired by the QVM CEO. The TAC meets at regular intervals to consider market issues and minutes are provided to the QVM Board.

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How to Predict Best Trading Days

Dare we attempt to analyse why our customers turn out in force on certain days?

You know the stories - "Business was good today because the weather was fine and families came out for the day." or the equally believable "Business was good today because it rained and customers needed to find undercover destinations like our market".

Attempting to analyse why business fluctuates as it does can lead the best retail analyst (and that includes all of us) up the proverbial garden path. And yet logic dictates that there are reasons why customers behave the way they do. It is just that those reasons can be incredibly complex and they demand sophisticated analysis.

I don't have an easy answer to doing that analysis but I can throw another theory into the mix. Sport is a very important ingredient in attracting tourists to Melbourne. We are a world leader in sport appreciation. The rugby league State of Origin match a few weeks back drew excellent crowds to Melbourne and the market benefitted. The Liverpool / Victory match was an MCG sellout on Wednesday night and I am told that business at the market on Thursday was very encouraging. The Liverpool /Victory match had an international flavour although press reports indicated that the bulk if the crowd was local and interstate. The State of Origin match certainly drew a heavy interstate contingent.

In between those two events was the English & Irish Lions rugby match which also drew record crowds but was dominated by over 30,000 international visitors. Market business over that week was very poor and drew memories of Grand Prix week when international visitors dominate and business suffers. Can we determine that sporting events can be great for QVM business but only if there is a strong interstate element?

Then again, a trader told me the other day that if he stands on one foot, closes one eye, and sticks out his tongue he almost always gets a customer. Perhaps that is the answer.

Have Your Say - click here

COMMENTS:
27/07/2013 16:28:16 Market Trading Sporting events are quite good  but   also quite a good result from the recent Pink Concert JR E Shed

Trader's Response - "Tell 'em they're dreamin'."

Our article suggesting that traders need to keep an open mind about new proposals has drawn an excellent counter from one of our traders - 

I have always thought it the course of wisdom to answer a question only after you have heard and understood the question and carefully evaluated the possible answers.

"NO" to everything certainly does not reflect that philosophy. 

However, if you are not being asked a question but having an answer forced upon you then trying to be reasonable would be totally inappropriate, naive and gullible.

So if you want a "YES" from traders the onus is on the proponents of change to ensure that they are asking genuine questions, not rhetorical ones, but open ended questions which will attentively consider traders opinions and concerns before coming to conclusions.

This does not appear to be the case at the moment (and please don't even try to claim the series of meetings held last year were genuinely interested in doing that). We believe 3 redevelopment proposals have been put before State Government with no decision yet on the preferred option. We do not know the specifics of these 3 options. Obviously the impact assessment traders need to do cannot be done without detailed information on the specifics of the different options under appraisal.

Keep this quasi-engagement style going and our answer may be to quote Darryl Kerrigans famous statement from 'The Castle' and that is to say "Tell em they're dreamin".

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COMMENTS:
22/7/2013 - 21:07 - Our Rights - "This is the problem that we have, as I have said before and I will continue to say, we all need to stick together and say what we want to see happen, but we don't. A lot of traders are too scared to stand up and fight as they don't want to lose their stalls or others don't care as they'll just sell their stall and move on or they are only in the market at the moment to make a quick few dollars. We need to engage the media if we don't start getting more of a say and being informed of what the future plans are." Leah

Latest Retail News – 21/7/2013

Latest Retail News – 21/7/2013
1. BUPA renames its 26 Blink Optical stores to BUPA Optical.
2. The Byron Cookie Company sold to pasta maker Rinoldi.
3. ACCC challenges Coles on par-baked bread sold as freshly baked in-store.
4. Australian franchisors Sumo Salad plan expansion into North and South America.
5. NZ Apple retailer, Youbee, closes 4 of its 9 stores to restore profitability.
6. Chocolatier, San Churro, reports average $30,000 weekly revenue across 33 Australian stores.
7. Swedish entertainment group launches kids entertainment headsets used while parents do supermarket shopping.
8. CEO leaves Billabong as part of takeover deal.
9. Online clothing giant, ASOS, launches premium 2 day delivery service.
10. McDonalds opens first franchise in Vietnam.
11. Shoes of Prey and Myer named as finalists in 7th Annual World Retail Awards.
12. KFC to test slightly more upmarket restaurant in US without the colonel’s logo.
13. Woolworths hardware business, Masters, incurs greater losses than expected.
14. PayPal pushes mobile payment options into cafes and restaurants.

Why Traders Sometimes Need A Different Mindset.

We reported on these pages back on the 7th of June that consideration was being given to transforming J,K, and L sheds into some form of multi-purpose activity centre. http://www.victraders.com/2013/06/four-key-sheds-feature-in-qvm-re.html?m=0. That proposal is a long way down the track, and may not ever go ahead but it was an interesting insight into management thinking. How some traders have respond to it is the subject of this post.

A group of traders is proposing an immediate condemnation of the proposal. They are suggesting that traders join together to oppose any change. Traders Representatives were incensed at the proposal as well but not because of the nature of the change proposed. Traders Representatives were incensed that we had not been consulted. The point is that renewal is going to bring with it many changes. Multi-purpose activity centres are becoming common in market renewals around the world. They are quite possibly a good idea for making markets more flexible and more adaptive to consumer needs. Creating an open space that can be used to attract thousands of special event participants (read customers) for instance has real possibilities. Whether that could happen on Queen St. or within JKL is open to debate. Traders will probably need to consider many proposals like this but finding out about them through the back door (in this case an agenda buried on the MCC website) is not the way to go.

Getting back to our trader group that wanted to oppose the multi- purpose activity centre -  rather than apply a blanket ban on new proposals lets insist on more transparency on what they might involve. Retailing is changing forever. New proposals deserve diligent evaluation. Management, Board, and Council need to consider the legitimate fears of traders whilst  taking them into their confidence as they consider all the alternatives. Traders, in turn, need to be open minded about new ideas. Both parties need to lift their act. There are very exciting times ahead.

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:
22/7/2013 - 1030 - Stakeholders - "I have always thought it the course of wisdom to answer a question only after you have heard and understood the question and carefully evaluated the possible answers. 
"NO" to everything certainly does not reflect that philosophy. 
However, if you are not being asked a question but having an answer forced upon you then trying to be reasonable would be totally inappropriate, naive and gullible. 
So if you want a "YES" from traders the onus is on the proponents of change to ensure that they are asking genuine questions, not rhetorical ones, but open ended questions which will attentively consider traders opinions and concerns before coming to conclusions. 
This does not appear to be the case at the moment (and please don't even try to claim the series of meetings held last year were genuinely interested in doing that). We believe 3 redevelopment proposals have been put before State Government with no decision yet on the preferred option. We do not know the specifics of these 3 options. Obviously the impact assessment traders need to do cannot be done without detailed information on the specifics of the different options under appraisal. 
Keep this quasi-engagement style going and our answer may be to quote Darryl Kerrigans famous statement from 'The Castle' and that is to say "Tell em they're dreamin". - Ivano

22/7/2013 - 21:07 - Our Rights - "This is the problem that we have, as I have said before and I will continue to say, we all need to stick together and say what we want to see happen, but we don't. A lot of traders are too scared to stand up and fight as they don't want to lose their stalls or others don't care as they'll just sell their stall and move on or they are only in the market at the moment to make a quick few dollars. We need to engage the media if we don't start getting more of a say and being informed of what the future plans are." Leah

Stakeholder Consultation – Are We Far Enough Up The Ladder?

Consulting with your stakeholders is an imperative in many business situations and it won’t surprise you to know that there is a ladder of engagement levels depending on the relationship between management and the stakeholders .  For QVM Traders the question is quite simple. Are we far enough up the consultancy ladder?

In businesses with employee/employer relationships the employees are generally a fair way down the ladder. You are paid to do what needs to be done – management decides what those tasks are. At QVM it is a little more complex. Instead of something like 800 employees, there are 800 small businesses and traders make critical decisions concerning their businesses every day. QVM provide the environment in which we operate and it is fair to say that traders have a right to determine aspects of that environment. As we enter a renewal phase at QVM the detail of stakeholder engagement becomes more critical.

Presumably QVM (and the Board and the Council) believe they are consulting adequately with us. But if that is so, why weren’t we involved in the discussion on turning JKL sheds into a multi-purpose centre, why don’t we know the options that were put to the State Government in support of financing a renewal, why did we have to get access to the Essential Economics report on QVM (Considerations For A Long term Strategy) through Freedom of Information and why do we feel that there are many issues being discussed at various levels of management and council that have little or no input from us?  

Stakeholder engagement is often described using terms like “top-down” and “bottom-up”. Top-down engagement involves management deciding what is to happen and passing that on to stakeholders. “Bottom-up” engagement is the stakeholders deciding what needs to be done and largely setting the agenda. There are advantages and disadvantages in both approaches and it is fair to say that modern stakeholder engagement includes elements of both. Following is an example of a stakeholder consultancy ladder showing the different levels of engagement.

Where do you think we sit? Where should we sit? How do we ensure that trader expertise is included in issues where it is really needed?

Have Your Say - click here.

COMMENTS:
22/7/2013 - 0845 - Stakeholder Consultation - "At the end of the day the QVM is a business, and in all businesses there are always two sides to each decision making coin. A) We voted the Melbourne councillors in office, so let them do their job, or B) You (QVM) can't have too much information when making a decision. To mix metephors, you can't have 800 pilots flying the plane but you can ask the people at the coalface what they think. It is a real pity that the "them and us" attitude exists when it would be so easy to engage. However, in the end, the Council will do what it wants to do and the stall holders will have to suck it up or move on.
We have no real power to insist on being involved in decision making while we move in 800 different directions." Terry Lawn

22/7/2013 - 21:07 - Our Rights - "This is the problem that we have, as I have said before and I will continue to say, we all need to stick together and say what we want to see happen, but we don't. A lot of traders are too scared to stand up and fight as they don't want to lose their stalls or others don't care as they'll just sell their stall and move on or they are only in the market at the moment to make a quick few dollars. We need to engage the media if we don't start getting more of a say and being informed of what the future plans are." Leah

QVM Management Does Have A Heart

No names, no pack drill, but one of our SL Licence Traders has been granted 12 months leave of absence from his stall on one of his trading days.

Apparently a family member requires specialised medical treatment on that day each week and the trader's presence is required. Before you go rushing off for pen and paper we should point out that comprehensive medical reports and advice supported our trader's request.

Our CEO often suggests that traders should write to the office if they have special needs or are in financial difficulty. It is nice to know that for some traders this is good advice. 

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Are You On Our Mailing List?

There are various ways of accessing this website and reading all the latest trader news. You may simply visit the website at regular intervals, you may receive Facebook feeds on the latest posts or you may receive our “Latest Trader News” email each week.

The email is sent out at the end of each week and is a handy reminder of the issues you need to read about. We often include last minute news in the email and we give you a quote of the week. We think it’s a good way of updating you each week without bombarding your mailbox every time an article is posted.

To subscribe to our weekly email simply email us generalmerchandisetraders@iinet.net.au with the subject “Subscribe”. We’ll do the rest.

Odd Spots

Are exports really so important to Australia?

Exports represent around 21% of Australia’s GDP which is significant but not as significant as most other countries in the OECD. For instance, New Zealand exports more than Australia, relative to GDP. The only two countries to export less than Australia (relative to GDP) are the USA and Japan.

Restaurants & Cafes Get Less Red Tape.

Australian Consumer Laws required cafes and restaurants to show different fully priced menus on surcharge days. Owners complained that this required an unreasonable inconvenience for small business when compared with the old system of identifying percentage surcharges on standard menus. A bill has now passed parliament giving cafes & restaurants exemption from providing separate menus.

Latest Retail News – 14/7/2013

Latest Retail News – 14/7/2013
1. Target founder, Douglas Dayton, passes away at age 88.
2. ACCC accuses Scoopon of misleading conduct in relation to businesses and consumers.
3. ACCC fines Hewlett Packard $3 million for misleading consumers on guarantee rights.
4. Asia Pacific consumers are the world’s most brand conscious buyers.
5. BIS Shrapnel predicts shopping centre income will not keep pace with CPI over next 5 years.
6. ARA asks Coalition to remove small business red-tape if elected.
7. Louis Vuitton parent company buys Italian cashmere company Loro Piana for A$2.85 billion.
8. NAB says Australian business conditions worst in 4 years.
9. Major Perth shopping centre strikes deal for $2 coffees throughout centre on Sundays.
10. Walmart says it will abandon plans for three new stores if local US state authorities lift minimum shop assistants wage to US$12.50 per hour.
11. Samsung is considered Asia’s most valued brand.
12. MYOB reports that start-up businesses are much more confident of future revenue, and are working less hours than established businesses.
13. Muffin Break launches new made-to-order menu including wraps and pancakes.
14. Catalogues still the most influential marketing medium with consumers according to Roy Morgan research.
15. K-Mart becomes first Australian retailer to release location of garment factories.
16. KFC parent reports reduced profit in last quarter but expects Chinese sales to improve as bird-flu scare diminishes.
17. Online fashion retailer, The Iconic, receives additional $28m funding from backers.
18. First Choice Liquor tops customer satisfaction rates ahead of Dan Murphy.
19. Country Road launches first airport store in Sydney’s Domestic Terminal.
20. Lisa Ho purchases brand name rights from liquidator.

Trapped In Small Business - How to Break Out

Burn-out in small business is a common ailment. The pressures are huge - long hours, multi-tasking, unpredictability of business, frustration - the list goes on. Yet making a decision to move out of small business into the normal job world can be even harder.

I once had a business partner and good friend who decided to leave our retail business and become an Australia Post employee. Our business had just gone through the recession of the early 1990's and the comparative calm of a structured day job where he had a few mates already working, proved very attractive. My friend lasted just one day, totally smothered by the restrictions and controls of the job, and realised that his entrepreneurial spirit just couldn't handle the transition.

One of the characteristics of small business operators is that they constantly challenge the way things are done because that's what you do when your money is tied up in your business. It is a natural reaction but not always a good fit for larger corporations or a business where somebody else holds the purse strings.

As small business operators we like to think we have a good cross-section of general management skills, and that is usually true, but outside jobs often require specialist skills or expertise in focused areas that can add to the overall business. A common complaint is that small business entrepreneurs are over qualified for base jobs but lack focussed expertise for high level jobs. That doesn't mean that there aren't jobs where a broad range of skills is desirable and where entrepreneurship is an important element. It is a matter of carefully selecting what roles you apply for.

An important part of making the transition to outside jobs is education. Many small business owners have become very adapt at running their business but some form the view that "nobody else can tell me how to run my business" How often have you heard that said at QVM? Keeping up with change is an essential element, not only in keeping your business relevant, but ensuring you have the skills for moving into the outside business world. You only have to look at the dramatic changes brought on by this digital age to realise that adapting to change and learning from others is critical. If you have kept up with business education programs you could have a very desirable mix of experience and education for prospective employers. 

Is this article an argument for moving out of your market business? Not really. Moving on will be an option for some but questioning our role as retailers and reinforcing the benefits can be equally productive. The day after leaving his Australia Post job my friend started building a toy shop business that became one of Melbourne's most successful independent educational toy retailers. Long live small business entrepreneurship!

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Car Parking Options In Market Renewals

Spain's famous produce markets, particularly around Barcelona, set a worldwide standard in many respects. Many of the key markets have completed renewals since 2010 which displays a high degree of anticipatory planning and an enviable ability to get things done through cooperation by all parties.

Listed below are links to a couple of videos on two key renewals which interestingly include car parking facilities on rooftop and underground, plus other underground facilities and the inclusion of a supermarket within the market complex. Worth a look.

http://youtu.be/qljwzXPKLkc

 http://youtu.be/Hx9zNRLrTBY


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