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Southampton's East Street independent retailers want market closed (From This is Hampshire)
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Southampton's East Street independent retailers want market closed
9:37am Tuesday 9th February 2010
A “TACKY” market in Southampton city centre is hurting trade and should be abandoned, according to shopkeepers in East Street.
Retailers in the street of independent shops say footfall plunges on days when the market operates as customers get waylaid by the Below Bar stalls.
They also branded the market “downmarket” and claimed it let down the city centre.
Stalls at the Bargate Markets, which recently had a licence extension until 2011, range from fruit and veg to arts and crafts with a regular Friday event and a different selection on every Saturday of the month.
Rashmi Chande, of the East Street Traders’ Association said: “Human nature being what it is, people get snared by what they see in the market and don’t bother to come down East Street. It is certainly reducing the footfall. The days when they are operating are much quieter.
“The other thing is the duplication of trades, particularly in catering and food, but also coffee sellers and florists. Their stall charges are very low, they don’t pay rates and their site is superior, so they are not competing on a level playing field.”
“The traders are resigned that the council won’t take much notice of them. The market was thrust upon us without consultation and I think it’s misguided. The traders want it closed.
“I think it’s a bit tacky. It’s a downmarket market if you like and it’s not suitable for a vibrant city centre.”
Anthony Jones, owner of East Street bakery Plested Pies, said: “I’ve got a loyal customer base but the market has an impact on everybody and it’s been allowed to grow out of all proportion. It has an adverse effect on the street and draws trade away.
“I also think you need a level of quality with a market and I don’t think it has that. You have WestQuay as the city’s flagship and then you allow that sort of thing.”
Ian Welland, city centre manager, said: “I don’t share the view that the footfall is reduced because of the market. I’d need to see evidence of that. I think it does bring trade to East Street but I do think the street needs more promotion and we are working on that.”
A Southampton City Council spokesman said; “The Bargate Market provides a mix of interesting stalls that help to draw more shoppers down to the High Street and surrounding area. The council monitors stalls to ensure that the items that they sell do not overlap too much with the offering of retailers in the local area.
“The council welcomes any discussion with the traders and is happy to look at any opportunities with them to improve this important part of the city.”
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Your Say YourHampshire
Ted Rogers, Winchester says...
9:47am Tue 9 Feb 10
a marriage made in Chav heaven!
freemantlegirl2, Southampton says...
9:48am Tue 9 Feb 10
soton1980, Southampton/Fareham says...
10:37am Tue 9 Feb 10
Ted Rogers, Winchester says...
10:53am Tue 9 Feb 10
soton1980 wrote:I doubt if a farmers would work on that site, as most of the produce would be organic, non-mass produced to that end would carry a price premium - not really the ideal demograpghic based on that criteria.
I have to agree that the current market is tacky and most of the stalls appear to be selling utter tat! The market in Fareham on a monday is an example of how to get it right, but even that has a few rubbish stalls. I agree with freemantlegirl that a farmer's market would raise the standard and actually be worth walking through.
Jammy Donut, Brook says...
11:40am Tue 9 Feb 10
Big Mac, southampton says...
12:00pm Tue 9 Feb 10
As one poster commented, a lot of the 'goods' are dodgy to say the least and with all that cash changing hands, don't imagine the taxman sees much return either.
milky1, Southampton says...
12:40pm Tue 9 Feb 10
MrGMan, Shirley says...
1:15pm Tue 9 Feb 10
CapitalistPig, southampton says...
2:47pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Really i think the East Street Traders’ Association should get off their seats and start advertising the delights of the street rather then whinging that someone is stealing their trade.
Rob444, Southampton says...
3:02pm Tue 9 Feb 10
milky1, Southampton says...
4:12pm Tue 9 Feb 10
CapitalistPig wrote:Here, Here. Ian and his team from City Centre Management are doing their best with limited resources from the council. The future is in your own hands (Shops) so to speak. Be imaginative and transfer the energy to competing and not turning into a defeatest.
Next the east street retailers will be asking for the council to shut down their bricks and mortar competition. After-all if someone else sells cakes on the high street then that will impact on my sales too. Really i think the East Street Traders’ Association should get off their seats and start advertising the delights of the street rather then whinging that someone is stealing their trade.
Condor Man, Southampton says...
6:41pm Tue 9 Feb 10
milky1 wrote:I agree too, the market caters for the Primark shopper, East St needs to have more distinct shops than food chains like Subway and Greggs if it wants to attract custom
CapitalistPig wrote: Next the east street retailers will be asking for the council to shut down their bricks and mortar competition. After-all if someone else sells cakes on the high street then that will impact on my sales too. Really i think the East Street Traders’ Association should get off their seats and start advertising the delights of the street rather then whinging that someone is stealing their trade.Here, Here. Ian and his team from City Centre Management are doing their best with limited resources from the council. The future is in your own hands (Shops) so to speak. Be imaginative and transfer the energy to competing and not turning into a defeatest.
bigronthestaff, Southampton says...
6:51pm Tue 9 Feb 10
freemantlegirl2 wrote:This wins post of the day for me. Blinding bit of sense. Keep out the dross and the plastic rubbish and get in the fresh meat, veg, eggs and milk...oooh, fresh, creamy milk!! =) COME ON S.C.C. We dare you to improve things.
Come on SCC!! whilst there are some genuine stalls there, they're hard to find because of the utter TAT there is! I agree, it lowers the tone.... it should be a farmer's only market or something like that.... this market for the most part looks like a 99p shop on wheels!
garyplested, woolston says...
7:44pm Tue 9 Feb 10
solo1, southampton says...
8:29pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Long live competition!!!
The true face of retail
D.a.v.e, Bitterne says...
8:50pm Tue 9 Feb 10
(Typical tabloid reporting aimed to protect The Echo in case they mis-quote and risk getting themselves sued)
nikolai, southampton says...
10:13pm Tue 9 Feb 10
This 'story' only serves to remind people that East Street is an incredibly poorly performing shopping district - it is devoid of anything genuinely 'alternative' or unique to bring to a day's shopping in the city.
The whole area, from Bargate/East St down to Debenhams should be redeveloped, albeit not into flats with the proviso that it adds character to Southampton's otherwise lacklustre city centre.
Melvspice, Shirley says...
11:00am Wed 10 Feb 10
Ted Rogers wrote:Ted why don't you say something about the market in Winchester which has metal stalls - give your Town council advice and leave Southampton alone.Southampton market has a professional look atleast there are no metal stalls like WINCHESTER.I love shopping in Southampton and enjoy the market shopping experience.I cant wait for this friday for my dog bed and pet food.
'Tacky' and Southampton City Centre
a marriage made in Chav heaven!
Melvspice, Shirley says...
11:09am Wed 10 Feb 10
planetf1, Chandlers Ford says...
1:46pm Fri 12 Feb 10
* Its actually encouraging people to venture further away from westquay *towards* bargate/east street
* other events (german market, chinese new year) generate interest/change
caferetro, southampton says...
1:10am Mon 8 Mar 10
Are not all the old market towns still well known today ?
Yes Bargate is absolutely fabulous.
I come from south of France, we have the most amazing market in Arles and believe me all the retaillers are happy twice a week when the market is there, because tourist come by hundreds.
I was told the council want to make of Southampton a tourist attraction.
So do it.
There is so much in Southampton.
I had a stall for a few months, selling Extra virgin olive oil and locally sourced food. I was always surprised to see people walking north of Bargate and avoiding the south of the gate. I wonder what east street have to worry about? Without competition there is no trade.
I honesly as a chef would eat at any stalls and i have to say that i found every body nice and helpfull.
I can only remember that child telling how nice my freshly paella smell, the father on his wheel chair told him to eat burger like he was!!!
Just to say and this is figures. First tourist destination wordwise is France. First country to visit France is England. and first country to visit England is France. Sorry for those national news papers but this is fact.
an other thing I would like to say.
The 1st, there was a study about what food children like.
It appeared that they had a preference for natural and fresh ingredients.
The other is that we have locally so many fresh ingredients and they are so healthy, don't forget them because one day they won't grow any more and supermarket will make the rules. I will be happy to have your comment and suggestions on www.caferetro.info. thanks Olivier
Southampton's Below Bar market
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steekeemcglue, Hedge End says...
9:42am Tue 9 Feb 10