We started talking about the number of experts that exist at our market. There are a staggering number of people at QVM with opinions and we agreed that we are all as bad as each other. It seems to come with the territory. When you are a small business operator you need to have opinions and you need to make decisions, sometimes when you know you don’t have all the facts or the expertise. And sometimes there is just too much to consider. How do we simplify?
QVM Renewal is incredibly complex for many reasons but I walked away from this particular discussion with these key points –
1. There are “so-called experts” and “real experts”. The “real experts” are trained and paid to consider all aspects of an issue and come up with the best solution. The “so-called experts” can often add important ingredients to a discussion and most “real experts” welcome their contribution, but in the end we need to be “real”.
2. There is only one person that we all answer to – the customer. Lose sight of what will excite our customers and you may as well pack your bags right now.
3. Traders need assistance. QVM is not a charity but modern corporate responsibilities include social responsibilities. Many traders are on a precipice right now. Some have been here for many years and know no other way of earning a living. So for traders on the precipice –
a. Do we led them fall off ? – Obviously totally unacceptable.
b. Do we provide them with a mattress for a soft landing or a ladder to descend or climb to another level.
c. Perhaps a parachute or glider to soar to new heights.
These are just word pictures. Don’t ask me to define exactly what this assistance might be, but we need to start having the conversations that will identify things like business counselling, career alternatives, rent relief, new opportunities and so on.
There is a lot more to write about but we need to keep this simple – does that help?
Have Your Say – click here.
COMMENTS:
14/08/2017 09:17:30 Simplifying Market issues "Who are you referring to in regards to the real experts?
No one i can think of in Management is qualified or has experience in a huge Market renewal program.
Do they know who are customers are now or will be in the future?
Traders have been asking Management for more Retail experienced staff and our C.E.O. lasted 14 months.
Succesful traders know who their customers are and what they require & expect.(qualified by experience).
Yes we all have opinions all of which will effect the traders future."
You raise some great questions and if you don't mind I will give a view on each matter you raise-
"Who are you referring to in regards to the real experts? - I am particularly referring to the design process and the expertise of the CoM design team. We have an alternative car park proposal before us right now and I can see what is driving some aspects of that plan but with the greatest of respect to the proposers, an experienced design team overlooking the needs of all QVM participants has my vote.
"No one i can think of in Management is qualified or has experience in a huge Market renewal program." - Huge market renewals are certainly very rare and both traders and management are heading into un-chartered waters.We are hoping that a combination of traders and management, backed by specialist expertise in areas like marketing and retail design will provide the best way forward.
"Do they know who are customers are now or will be in the future?" - Actually, they probably do. There is an immense amount of data on shoppers and shopping habits. We are all privy to research about how consumers have changed their buying habits, restructured their discretionary spending in particular, and are looking for new convenient ways of shopping (after they have paid for rent, mortgages, power etc.). Let's not forget that management have nailed the night market customer mix. The day market is a lot harder.
"Traders have been asking Management for more Retail experienced staff and our C.E.O. lasted 14 months. " - Yes, I am on that bandwagon. We need high level retail expertise in our management team, particularly in creative marketing and customer engagement.
"Successful traders know who their customers are and what they require & expect.(qualified by experience)." - Successful traders probably do know what their customers need but at the moment very few traders can be described as successful. There is probably only a handful in the top end. Most traders are at a loss to decide on the right course of action. The incredible changes in consumer attitudes and responses means that experience counts for little. Willingness to change and adapt is probably now more important.
"Yes we all have opinions all of which will effect the traders future." - You are correct, there are plenty of opinions. Opinions are easy. It is sifting through those opinions to find what will be best for our market that is hard. Opinions based on self interest, or lacking real, un- biased examination don't count.. Traders have a huge amount to offer in all these issues but no one alone is going to succeed and there is a strong case for saying that Traders and Management working together, and assisted by specialists, is the best course in an uncertain future.
Thanks again for your contribution and apologies for such a long winded response - Ed.