"The
question of changing the Markets operating times has been talked about for a
fair while now however the main reason for doing so is to be more in tune with
customer needs.
So
why the suggestion of a 4pm finish? To benefit who?
Which
customer demographic are we aiming for?
If
we are pitching to the Tourism Market then they may benefit from just 2hrs extra or a
slightly later finish shopping time.
However,
if we are trying to break our tourist market tag and increase our local
customer base many of whom are still working until 5-pm, then 4-pm, will
still fall short of the prime objective.Shops
in the C BD are open until 7-pm so a 5 or 6-pm finish may be more suitable
for a wider customer base???
Changing
hours will no doubt involve inconvenience for some traders and perhaps
increased costs for traders and management, but reversing retail decline is
going to require some sacrifices.
"One in all in"
Major
components in making this transformation work are:
1.
We need to make the change meaningful.
There is little sense in playing around with minimal trading extensions or
short term trials.
2.
All
traders need to be supportive and embrace this change. We will need a firm
commitment to new hours and a resolve to make it work. Results may not be
immediately obvious.
3.
For
Management to enforce the changes and ensure traders stay open and not close
early as has happened so often on special market events in the past (one
in all in ).
4.
A major information program would be needed
to inform the public of the change in trading hours.
Friday
trading used to be until 4-pm but with so many traders
packing/leaving early Management decided some 3 years ago to reduce the hours
to a 3-pm closing so we can't afford to get
the trading hours wrong.
At
the risk of suggesting yet another sub-committee, a range of options could be drawn
up for traders opinion/feedback.
Any
possible changes to our operating hours will take a little getting used to for
traders and customers alike so any benefits may be hard to quantify short
term.However for some traders what we are offering at present just isn’t working.
The
fresh food areas of the Market may have a different view as to what works best
for them which is why I am suggesting a sub-committee /think tank on this
important issue to form a better outcome for all."