Each year QVMAC Trader Representatives are invited to
present issues to the QVM Board. This is part of a commitment made by Chairman
Paul Guerra a few years ago to allow direct Board access through two Board members attending QVMAC meetings and traders in turn presenting to the full Board each year.
Last week, Trader Representatives Catherine Underhill and
Ivano Guseli fronted the QVM Board and following is a brief synopsis of
what was presented –
Ivano Guseli – “If You Can’t Measure It You Can’t Manage
It” – Ivano presented a case for introducing a system of measuring sales
and other performance data for the purpose of jointly improving the likely
future success of the total market.
Ivano drew from the
UK experience where traders and market managers share data about market
performance as part of their overall strategy to improve markets. He also drew
on the Barcelona experience where comprehensive data supports the professional
management of markets in that city. And just to show it can be done here, Ivano
presented some sales performance data results from a trader run survey at QVM in
2012/13.
Catherine Underhill – “What Is A Small Business?” – Catherine asked “How does the board
plan to negotiate the conflicting ideals embodied in the desire for upmarket
presentation and “landmark tenants” and the traditional function of the market
as a small business incubator?” She pointed out that there are varying interpretations
of how small business might be defined and asked whether small chain operations
with multiple stores, some of which exist at QVM, meet those criteria.
Catherine went on
to ask about the role of “anchor tenants” and franchise tenants in the Boards
vision of a future QVM.