Tag Archives: market traders

At the risk of sounding London-centric, the changing face of London markets is providing an astonishing example of how good markets successfully adapt to their constraints and circumstances.

Recently, I have been hearing success stories emanating from the East End Chatsworth Road Market in Hackney, London E5 (It used to be Clapton in my day). A traditional street market, the linear High Street includes rows of lock up shops fronted by market stalls, catering for the newly mixed demographic of different ages and ethnicities.

I speak somewhat informatively as from the age of eight, I had to work on my father’s Chatsworth Road stalls every Saturday and during school holidays in what was at the time a largely poor neighbourhood where the most exotic products to be found were Fry’sTurkish Delight bars, more accurately described as FTD – misshapes.

Chatsworth Road was of fundamental importance to the local community, selling everything from live eels to white goods

The market and fronting shops were always exceptionally busy as locals performed their daily shop and I can’t remember there being any form of supermarket back in the late 60’s and early 70’s within walking or bus journey distance. Chatsworth Road was of fundamental importance to the local community, selling everything from live eels to white goods.

If I am honest, I feel more nostalgic now with fond memories of how life used to be and have forgotten the freezing cold winter days: flashing out at six in the morning and sweeping up at six at night, but life was straight-forward and honest and my parents earned a decent living from the market.

It appeared as though the retail core had been sucked clean out of Hackney

During the 80’s I worked as a civil engineer in London and would occasionally take a nostalgic drive to Chatsworth Road and was shocked by the desertification of the area. It appeared as though the retail core had been sucked clean out of Hackney by the supermarkets: shops were boarded up and to all intents and purposes, the market had disappeared. However, the sun now shines once more over Chatsworth Road as it has learned to provide the good folk of E5 with what they want and cannot find in the big five – multi-ethnic variety, professional service, tremendous food, cafe culture and above all, unadulterated honesty, a theme which transcends the generations.

Chatsworth Road is just one example of successful and organically developed market regeneration

Chatsworth Road is just one example of successful and organically developed market regeneration in London, of which there are many more. The notion of delivering what people want will filter through other British towns and cities, further underpinning the great British Market renaissance.

With thanks to I Love Markets for kind permission to use their images in this article.

I Love Markets celebrates London’s markets and all of the wonderful things that can be found within them. We believe that to discover the heart of London, you need to discover London’s Markets. No market is the same and we want to help you discover the unique experiences that each one has to offer. Find the latest news, markets and events at www.ilovemarkets.co.uk

Two years ago Quarterbridge was appointed by Colchester Borough Council to undertake a complete study of the town’s Charter Market, incorporating assessments of location and operational management, providing a complete overview and to make recommendations on how the Council could improve the market.

Key recommendations included reunification of a disjointed market and relocation to a prime footfall area

Our report delivered several recommendations, key amongst them was the reunification of the currently disjointed market and relocation to the prime footfall area of Colchester High Street. Whilst we undertake this type of report several times a year, this particular project was made that bit more interesting and was particularly close to our heart as our head office is based in Colchester.

The relocation is now proceeding with the launch of the New Charter Market in Spring

Colchester Borough Council understand the importance of the market to the town and since the presentation of our report we have worked closely with the council to assist in making our joint goals of a relocated, re-energised and much improved new Charter Market, come to fruition. Through budget allocated as part of the New Homes Bonus, the relocation is now proceeding with the launch of the New Charter Market in Spring this year. We have provided detailed on-going assistance on financial planning, the tender process for new stalls and ground anchors, trader liaison, operational documentation and guidance.

‘The new Colchester Market will create a strong focal point for the town, with a more modern feel’

Councillor Nick Barlow, Portfolio Holder for Street and Waste Services said: “Colchester has a strong market tradition and we know other towns such as Lincoln and Bury have experienced a positive impact on the reputation of their towns. The new Colchester Market will create a strong focal point for the town, with a more modern feel. The introduction of electricity will be a huge boost for existing stallholders and will allow the market to attract a wider range of stalls moving forward. These changes also unlock the potential for evening markets in the future.”

We look forward to continuing to work with the excellent team at Colchester Borough Council and enjoying the new market… right on our doorstep!

I was having a weekend away in North Yorkshire last week with my family when I found out that there was a ‘local produce market’ on nearby. Now I love to visit a market anytime and see what is on offer especially whilst on holiday, so off I went to see how other people do things and what was on offer.

Great British markets truly are the original supermarkets

The weather was great, the market was packed and some of the products on offer were nothing short of amazing - best of all the market was on a Saturday and had integrated with the regular traders so you could literally get anything you wanted, proving that Great British markets truly are the original supermarkets!

I looked around to see who was manning the stall and I could see a tall lady sat on a stool with a ’50 Shades of Grey’ covering her face.

One of the first stalls I came to was a real ale stall and I put a great order in with a very knowledgeable local brewer. Next up was an art gallery. Now a lot of people would disagree with me when it comes to art as I truly believe that we are all experts in our right. When it comes to art I think that we all have our own tastes, make our own interpretations and of course, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. So, as I started to browse I did so with a very open mind and unbiased opinion, not really looking for anything in particular, then I spotted a lovely oil painting of the countryside and lifted it out for a closer look. It really was beautiful and weirdly, seemed very familiar? I looked around to see who was manning the stall and I could see a tall lady sat on a stool with a ’50 Shades of Grey’ hardback book covering her face. I presumed she must be running the stall so I said, “excuse me, are these your paintings?” She lowered her book and replied, “yes” before raising it back up in front of her face! There were no prices in sight and the lady made me literally feel like I was interrupting. So, I walked away and had a look around the other stalls, chatted to traders, soaked up the atmosphere, loving the banter and filling my boots with everything from giant loom band sets for the kids to home-made sausages, spending a good couple of hours enjoying the full shopping experience you can only get on a market.

She still hadn’t mentioned the price which was nowhere to be seen

As I was leaving, I walked back the same way I had come and noticed the lady with the art who had been reading the book was packing away early, so I asked her the question, “quiet day today?” “yes”, she replied, “waste of time really, only sold one, not even took my rent!” I asked her about the landscape picture again and pretty much had to force her into a conversation if I am totally honest. It turned out that she had painted all of the pieces herself and that the one I had liked was of Holm Firth, the home of Last of the Summer Wine and 20 minutes from my home town, although she still hadn’t mentioned the price which was nowhere to be seen! So I asked her, she told me and this master piece now hangs proudly in my kitchen and is probably the best £25 I have ever spent, with a great story behind it.

On her return I was chatting away with customers and had already sold two paintings.

I then asked the trader what her background was and she said she had always worked in admin although was trying to get her dream of being a successful painter off the ground. I asked if she wanted to be a book critic or an artist? She looked confused so I asked her WHY she had bought the book she was reading earlier? She still looked confused although she went on to explain that she saw the book in a book shop, read the summary on the back of the book at which stage the lady in the shop said it was a great read. “THERE YOU GO” I said. Finally, the penny dropped with the lady and after chatting with her I persuaded her to stay a little longer and go and get the brews in whilst I looked after the stall. She was concerned about my knowledge of art as the café was quite far away although I reassured her I would be fine. On her return I was chatting away with customers and had already sold two paintings.

There are no secrets out there, it’s just a case of talking to your customers and letting them know you care!

The lady was so grateful it was unreal and asked “what is your secret?” The truth is, there are no secrets out there, it’s just a case of talking to your customers and letting them know you care!

Of course there are a lot more tips to being good at sales, but talking to people is crucial and a great start. As I said at the beginning of this column, our markets are the original supermarkets and please, please let’s not forget what makes us better than the supermarkets: having great product knowledge and the ability to communicate with our customers!

All good relationships are built on great communication. Happy trading.

Keep in touch,

Adam Corbally

Adam Corbally is a professional guest speaker, motivational coach, and serial entrepreneur, managing a series of successful businesses and brands in the UK.

Adam’s appearances on a number of T.V. shows has helped make him a well-known public figure.

Adam found his own way in life, learning as he went, quickly carving himself out a serious career as a businessman, he is now in the position to pass on that knowledge.

His fun-loving, approachable nature helped make his early venture an instant hit. Eager to build on his commercial knowledge and skills, Adam sought out business leaders and mentors who could help him develop his knowledge.

This training helped Adam realise that, armed with solid business fundamentals, he could apply his positive approach to other walks of life and enjoy similar success. The growth of his wholesale operation, veg-box delivery service, and property business are testament to this philosophy.

Adam’s unconventional route to commercial success is a popular topic at his professional speaking events, conferences, schools, colleges and universities. With Adam, what you see is what you get. He’s the same infectiously positive, open, and unashamedly outspoken.

www.adamcorbally.co.uk

@Theadamcorbally