Monday
23rd December was a special market day and the Upper Market experienced good
sales. The timing, just before
Christmas, was a key factor but there were other reasons for strong sales and
maybe we need to look at those.
This
was a unique market centred around D - E sheds. It was specially curated for
the occasion, and maybe curation is the most important ingredient here. Traders
were allocated stalls to give good balance and make the most of their displays.
Without the restrictions of historical stall allocation it was easier for
Precinct Managers to create a cohesive market without gaps - the mystical
“buzz” that all Traders look for was evident.
The special Monday market followed on from a similarly successful Monday market on Christmas Eve in 2018.
A
couple of our Traders were asked why they thought business was good. One said
it was a comparatively small market so more customers per Trader means better
sales. Another suggested it was a combination
of things - timing, marketing, and no stall gaps. This Trader added that Traders seemed to put in a
bit extra effort on presentation and merchandising, possibly because this was a fresh
opportunity, in a new location.
Freshness,
no gaps, and a little extra effort - so how do we create those conditions more
often in the Upper Market?