Specialty Traders (General Merchandise) might like to take a
close look at the proposed Christmas Trading Hours for later this year in today’s
Traders Bulletin handout from the office. The proposed hours could represent
significant lost trading opportunities.
Firstly, there is an intent not to trade on the Wednesday
before Christmas despite Wednesday being part of the lead-up in recent years.
It is proposed that the Wednesday night market will operate and of course there
may a be a clash in the changeover of markets. The night market did not operate
on the Wednesday before Christmas in 2015. It is not clear if a day market and
a night market can operate on the same day.
Perhaps more importantly, the Tuesday after Christmas is
designated as a closed day. It will be a Public Holiday with the way Christmas
falls this year but the Tuesday after Christmas is potentially a big trading
day, particularly for the top end. Would you want to be closed on that day?
The Trader’s Bulletin invites traders to circle a YES or a
NO to the proposed changes and return a form to the office. Please give this
your careful consideration and let management know your views before it is
locked in.