Nabma News

The Nabma Conference will soon be upon us, so I thought I would give you a taster of what you will be experiencing if you are able to join us in Torquay. There is still time to book and you will be made very welcome.

A crucial part of Nabma’s work in recent years has been connecting markets with local communities and ensuring that markets are linked to a range of mainstream policies. We have done this principally via the publication of our Policy Framework for Markets, which highlighted the importance of markets to new start opportunities, culture, tourism, regeneration, healthy eating and the food agenda and also through our highly successful Love Your Local Market Campaign. At Conference we will be reflecting on the importance of markets to the community and social agenda with Professor Sophie Watson of the Open University, who acted as special advisor to the Government Inquiry into Retail Markets, and also looking at Marlborough Market, which has become a real hub of the local community.

Localism is a key part of the current government’s agenda and providing a community rights challenge in respect of local services is one way in which a local authority markets service could be taken over by local people. In recent months one or two of our members have faced this challenge and we will be exploring at Conference, with the help of Justin Griggs of NALC, the issues relating to community rights challenges.

Of course Nabma Conference would not be complete without an in depth look at Love Your Local Market 2013 and also looking forward to Love Your Local Market 2014. There will be presentations from Warrington and Horsham about their LYLM activities. News about next year will also be given with the Teenage Market playing a central role. There is also a chance to reflect on the highly successful Youth Market at Manchester, supported by NMTF and Manchester Council.

It’s great to see investment in markets and this year we have seen some tremendous schemes to update and revitalise markets. In addition to the presentations at Conference from Sheffield and Bolton, I am delighted to be able to record the investment being made at Leeds, Swansea, Leicester, Chesterfield and other places. All these projects reflecting confidence in the future of markets.

In addition to sampling the market projects at Sheffield and Bolton, there is also an opportunity to hear about one of the world’s most stunning market projects with the new Market Hall at Rotterdam providing a new market, housing and a focal point for the whole of the city. It really is a project to take your breath away and those attending the Nabma Conference will be able to see it at first hand.  Next year Nabma will be hosting the World Union of Wholesale Markets Conference in London and we will be combining that Conference with a UK Markets Conference. This is the first time that Nabma and NMTF will have combined to promote a Conference. To whet our appetite and help in understanding the work undertaken by WUWM there will be a presentation from Jan Lloyd, Chief Executive of New Covent Garden and WUWM board member.

I hope I have already awakened your interest, but this is only the programme for the first day so there are lots more presentations still to come on the second day. We all know the term Business Improvement District, but how do they work and what impact do they have on markets? Well, Cambridge Market is part of a BID and they will be telling us what difference the BID has made to them.

We are now in the second year of Mary Portas and it has not all been plain sailing. Yes there have been successes, but there have also been disappointments and Professor Cathy Parker of the Institute of Place Management will be undertaking an assessment of the good and not so good aspects of the Mary Portas project.

Market Rights continue to be a subject close to the heart of many Nabma members and while there have not been as many recorded court cases in recent years, there are still legal challenges being pursued. Bradford have an interesting story concerning their use of planning powers to stop a rival market in their area.

Recently Nabma launched a UK Markets Index to supplement the existing Town Centre data and I am keen to see this Index prosper. We will be hearing at Conference of the progress we have already made and plans for the future.

In addition, there are other sessions on the quality of retailers in our markets and workshops on social media and getting the best out of markets.

I hope all this has made you realise that you need to be at The Imperial Hotel, Torquay from the 22nd-24th September. In addition to the Conference itself, there some great social events with informal dinner and caribbean steel band on the first night and a formal dinner and awards night on the second. All this plus great networking and a great market place exhibition.

There are still places on either a residential and day basis. The Nabma Conference is open to anyone and, as I said at the outset, you are assured of a warm welcome. Why not give it a try.

Graham Wilson OBE 
Chief Executive,
Nabma

Art put back into Eccles market

Community artists and a team of supporters are putting the ‘art’ back into Eccles market as part of £50,000 plans to revitalise the town centre.

Community arts worker Fay Flatt and photographer Tom Reed are working with traders and their customers to collect stories and photos of market life for use in a permanent display inside the building. Their work and ideas from traders will also be translated by Ordsall artist David Lowther into a giant mural inside the building on Southway.

The market facelift is the first project launched by the new Eccles Town Team, after Eccles was awarded £50,000 from Salford City Council and the government through the High Street Innovation Fund.

The team is made up of local traders, community representatives, councillors and city council staff and has been set up to promote Eccles and drive activities to boost the town. The Town Team will be launched during national Love Your Local Market Fortnight (15 – 29 May).

Councillor Lisa Stone, chair of the Town Team, said; “This is just the start of a series of exciting plans and projects to breathe new life into Eccles. We’re using local talent to revamp the market.

“Fifteen market stalls will be given bright, new, traditional-style green and white canopies and local seamstress Elizabeth Charnley, who runs Darn IT Alterations in Eccles, is making matching bunting to decorate the inside of the building. The interior will also be painted and have new signs designed by Eccles based company Scissor, Paper, Stone. It’s a great way of supporting local businesses.”

And to encourage more people to consider market trading, there will be a ‘market stall taster day’ on Eccles Day, Saturday 18 May with stalls available at a 50% discount on normal rates - just £7 for a full day - alongside the regular farmers market and craft market on that day.

City Mayor Ian Stewart said: “Eccles has a long and proud history as a market town. This is all about reminding people what a great shopping centre they have on their doorstep and encouraging people to shop local.”

Anyone interested in taking on a market stall should contact Eccles market team on 0161 793 3868 or e-mail: kevin.rutter@urbanvision.org.uk  by noon on Thursday 16 May. Restrictions on the type of goods to be sold will apply.

A call to market for young entrepreneurs

Durham Outdoor Market is inviting young entrepreneurs to bring their ideas and products to market at Durham City’s first ever Youth Market.
The Youth Market, which will take place on Sunday 19th May, is an opportunity for budding entrepreneurs aged between 16 and 23(ish) to book a stall either to market test their money spinning idea, or if they are further along the line, to sell their product.
Colin Wilkes, Managing Director of Durham Markets commented: “Like many well-known entrepreneurs, taking a market stall to develop and sell your product can be the first step on the road to success, it being a cost effective and practical way of getting any prospective entrepreneur in front of the public with their product.”
Young traders can book a traditional canopied market stall for just £10 per stall, a special price for this market only. Any young person interested in a stall should call Karen Wilkes at Durham Markets on 0191 384 6153 or email durhammarkets@yahoo.co.uk for an application form, or for further information.
Colin Wilkes added: “We’re really excited about our first Youth Market. This is the opportunity for young people to put their ideas and products, whatever they may be, in front of a buying public in the heart of Durham City. I’m sure there will be a lot of talented individuals out there and we hope we can give them some encouragement by providing the opportunity to take this important next step. We’re looking forward to discovering a whole host of new talent, the entrepreneurs of the future.
“The ‘stall for a tenner’ idea was part of the Mary Portas’ review of High Streets. It’s one of her ideas to encourage new independent businesses into retail and is especially aimed at young people. We’re sure there are many young independent traders in the region who will jump at the chance to promote their idea at Durham’s Youth Market.”
The Youth Market is part of Love Your Local Market (LYLM) fortnight, a national celebration of markets running from Wednesday 15th to Wednesday 29th May, 2013, which was launched in the House of Commons by Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in November 2012.
Graham Wilson OBE, Chief Executive of the National Association of British Market Authorities, commented: “It’s great to see young people getting involved in markets. They have so much to offer with their enthusiasm, freshness and new ideas and they are an important part of Love Your Local Market 2013.”
As well as the Youth Market, for LYLM Durham Markets will be holding a Nostalgia and General Market on the Bank Holiday Weekend, Sunday 26th and Monday 27th May 2013. The cost of a stall for this market will be £15 per stall per day and priority will be given to new traders, or traders who have not traded previously in Durham City. Interested traders are invited to phone 0191 384 6153 for an application form, or to email durhammarkets@yahoo.co.uk.

Penkridge Market joins the Love Your Local Market Campaign

Penkridge Market, near Stafford, announced today that it will be participating in the high profile, national 2013 Love Your Local Market campaign in May, led by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) & backed by Central Government & the wider market industry.

The campaign aims to attract new market traders and highlights the importance that markets play in the heart of their local community, not only for retail but as a valuable community asset, providing the focal point of many town centres. Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced in the House of Commons in November that LYLM 2013 will run from 15th May to 29th May. He welcomed the support of the markets industry, which has set a target of 500 markets getting involved in this year’s events, in addition to 3,000 new traders. To support this national campaign, Penkridge Market will be leasing stalls to local entrepreneurs during the fortnight (15th May to 29th May), at a reduced rate of £10 per stall, to allow them to ‘try out’ their business ideas and to attract more people to visit the town centre.

Matt Williams, Manager at Penkridge Market said:

“We know how tough it is to set up a business, especially during this difficult economic climate, so a market stall is a great way to try out ideas and get customers feedback, without it costing very much. The Market attracts up to 5,000 people from around the Region every Market day, so it’s a great place to start a new business.”

Matt has also kindly agreed to provide an Information Point on the day where prospective stall holders, can find out everything they need to know about setting up a business as a market trader. Information on everything from insurance and trading standards, to suppliers and carrier bags, will be available.

Graham Wilson OBE, Chief Executive of the National Association of British Market Authorities says:

"Love Your Local Market is the biggest market event in a generation. It gives people the chance of a new career and demonstrates how important the market is to the local community. With the financial backing of the Government and our headline sponsor HMY Radfords we intend to make Love Your Local Market 2013 the biggest & best market campaign the UK has ever seen"

Stan Carty, Commercial Director HMY Radfords says:

“HMY Radford are delighted to be the sponsors for the 'Love Your Local Market 2013’ campaign. We feel honoured to be associated with such a prestigious and national community focused drive. We look forward with great anticipation and endeavour to providing wholehearted support to NABMA, local markets and traders alike”.

Penkridge Market is situated in the centre of Penkridge, and is signposted off the A449. It is just three miles from Junction 12 of the M6 and is also easily accessible from the A5. It is 6 miles from Stafford; 7 miles from Cannock and 10 miles from Wolverhampton (postcode ST19 5AP).

For further information and to book a stall on the Market please call Matt Williams on 01785 714221. Please book early to avoid disappointment.”

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