The
media is full of predictions at this time of year. You know the ones -
"The stock market will crash in 2017", or "Why the stock market
will continue to rise." Don't laugh - those two headlines have surfaced in
respectable publications this week.
I
don't want to claim the high ground but only one article appeared on Victraders
last week and it related to a sales boom at The Queen Vic Market which was
caused by an influx of tourists. In the madness of New Year analysis and
predictions it was the only predictable thing I felt I could write about.
As
a Trader Representative for the last 6 years I have lost count of the times I
have looked deeply in the eyes of management or city hall executives and said
"the busiest time of the year for Specialty Merchandise Traders is often
not the week before Christmas but the
week after, as tourists hit town." Invariably I get a surprised reaction
that borders on disbelief - that sort of disbelief that is politely accepting
but you can see the brain ticking away and saying "how can that be
right?".
Well,
once again it appears it happened this year. I say "appears" because,
of course, we don't have solid sales data, but certainly every Trader who
traded on Tuesday 27th December will tell you the post-Christmas tourist
created sales boom is alive and well.
Bright
spots in retailing are few and far between these days and the quandary now is
how that knowledge can be used to full advantage. But first, let's get things
into perspective. The takings of Specialty Merchandise Traders before Christmas
pales by comparison with fresh food. I think we all get that. The hype
surrounding our food offer, particularly at that time of year, is well deserved
and a joy to behold for every fan of retailing. But after Christmas, when fresh
food traders are looking for time off, the Specialty Merchandise Traders need
to take every opportunity and need the lions share of QVM resources to maximise their opportunities.
The
lesson is simple. While one sector of QVM shuts down on Christmas Eve, another
is just getting ready for peak business. This market rarely sleeps. And that is
a lesson for everybody associated with QVM including those traders who missed
an opportunity to trade on Tuesday 27th December.
By
Greg Smith.