A trader
asks why key Chapel St. retailers including Just Jeans are demanding a 70% rent
reduction while QVM traders have just received an actual rent increase.
Boom, boom -
A trader suggests that new attractions are most welcome at QVM but with
retail struggling we were still skating on thin ice.
A trader
asks which of the four food traders who have been appointed to the new Committee of Trustees could be considered suitable to represent Specialty
Traders (General Merchandise).
Vale John
Leone – John passed away on 26th November and will be remembered for
his very positive attitude to life despite crippling health issues. As one
trader said, John’s commitment to his business, and his customers was testament
to his love of the market.
Changing
customer preferences – one trader tells us of 2 of his customers who spent over
$1500 each for Jon Bon Jovi tickets but resisted purchasing $30 fan paraphernalia
at his stall. He concluded that we certainly live in a time of change in
consumer spending habits.
Conversation between a trader and a new
mentor this week –
Trader “Well, I would love to fully embrace aspects of
digital promotion at my stall but that is hard without electricity”.
New
Mentor – “What do you mean – without electricity?”
Trader – “We don’t have electricity at our stalls.”
New
Mentor – “You mean, in this day and
age, you are not able to plug in a screen, computer, or cash register?”
Trader – “That is correct. We don’t have electricity at our
stalls.”
We have para-phrased the conversation
but you get the idea.
The power of communication – a trader
commented how useful it was to get an SMS from QVM on Saturday morning explaining the
dilemma created by tramworks on Peel St. and particularly the impact on
customer parking. He found it invaluable when explaining to customers.
The word had got around – a bit of
excitement at one trader’s stall on Saturday as colleagues enthusiastically
joined in the conversation. Was it a big sale or the achievement of a sales
target, or perhaps a new supply deal? NO, the second leg of the quaddie came in
– damn these quiet trading days. (All done discretely in front of customers of
course.)
There were rumours that the ice rink shut down
prematurely on Saturday in our 31 degree (35) heat. The figure in brackets is
the usual premium under our tin roofs. One trader suggested that a bit of
insulation and some ceiling fans could have helped but that is another story.
Continuing on the ice rink theme –a
number of traders commented that the rink seems to be a very useful addition to our
market, even if just for a short time.
Summer Night Market – most traders
seemed to do better on the second Wednesday night of the new season with one
reporting three times his opening night’s sales. If that trend continues he is
anticipating retirement by March 2019.
The importance of a positive attitude –
this trader is well known for her positive attitude to trading and customers
and she presents a compelling argument for remaining upbeat at all times. She says
that, with a smile and conversation, the possible sales are more likely to
become actual sales. Entertaining our customers is the secret to making QVM the
preferred retail destination over run-of-the-mill retailers.
Great graphics – a couple of traders
have commented on the quality of the graphics in recent QVM handouts,
particularly the Christmas trading promotion.
The top issue this week in the upper
market was undoubtedly the decision to leave a General Merchandise Trader
out of the high level Committee of Trustees. Traders expressed concern that General Merchandise produces 60-70%
of the total number of market traders and yet they have been over-looked on the
Committee (see separate article).