Having agreed with the organisers that the Artisan Market will move to a Sunday for a two month trial, Wilmslow Town Council (WTC) are considering appointing independent consultants to undertake market research into the impact of the market on trading patterns.
At their meeting on Monday, 16th September, councillors discussed whether they felt it would be helpful to have independent consultants.
Cllr Keith Purdom, Chairman of WTC explained "The debate is do we need external research to help us make a decision about whether the market returns to a Saturday in the new year, stays on a Sunday or just ends after the year.
Cllr Jim Crockatt commented "I looked at the market research problem and thought if we go to an independent consultant he's going to give you multiple pages of information about what goes on, the details of trade in Grove Street and adjoining streets - they'll be loads of information and at the end of all that, it might be a big pack, it will give you a couple of options. Yes we recommend that there is no affect on traders so you should continue on Saturday or he'll say yes the Saturday market does affect traders you'd be better having it on a Sunday. So as as far as I can see there is two positive options there."
Cllr Crockatt added "I think it might be a waste of time in this case, I think if we take it on board, unless we've got some power devolved to us from Cheshire East about running the market, I think that whatever decision comes out and we use it we may take the blame for it."
Keith Purdom responded "One of the problems we have at the moment is we have been given two documents, one by the market organisers which says we asked a lot of retailers and they all want to stay on Saturday. Then the same retailers appear to have told the group in support of moving it , no move it to Sunday. I think it's very difficult to know objectively so I think there is an upside that we have an objective piece of information to look at, I think at the end of the day though we are still going to have to make to make a decision which is unlikely to be clear cut."
Cllr Ruth McNulty added "The essence of our problem is that we have two conflicting views which are in comparatively different and in some way we are going to be involved in helping because I suspect most of us have taken the view that the Artisan Market has been a good thing for Wilmslow because it has dramatically increased the footfall into the town, albeit it for only one day a month.
"Common sense would appear to suggest that that should not be so detrimental to Wilmslow retailers, who pay a lot of money in rates and rents, but apparently the damage to their trade they claim is substantial and we are sympathetic to that, of course we are, and we must take some steps with some positive backing."
Cllr Hilary Shepherd said "I see no downside in the meantime approaching some companies and seeing what they do, what results we expect to get and what it would cost. We don't have to go ahead with it but at least we know exactly what we're talking about."
It was resolved that enquiries be made of independent consultants to ascertain what results could be expected from a commissioned survey and of how they have tackled similar issues in the past.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
'Saturday trading or Sunday trading...Yes/No.' Old saying,'Make it simple stupid' At the same time the Traders are asked the same question with a couple of volunteer and a clip-board. This should only take a couple of hours. For the established businesses ,the questionnaire should be delivered to all retailers operating in the main shopping areas.Water Lane,Grove St, Church St,Hawthorn Lane, Alderley Rd.Insist on a two week deadline for the return of this document. Majority votes count. I would be happy to take part in this survey. I am sure the coffee shops,are very happy with either day as we have 15 now.
I enjoy the market on a saturday every month.
It is easy to say that all that is needed is a few clipboards and volunteers but each side in the debate claims to have canvassed the interested parties with different results. Not surprisingly they found support for their own position which is why independence is required.
Also how would the results of a general survey of shops, stalls and customers be interpreted? There would be far more customers than the other two groups combined so a simple majority would be likely to represent customers over the others. Given that many people come in to Wilmslow specifically for the market, the result could be influenced by people who come to Wilmslow only once a month.
The existing shops pay significant charges to be there, think of the recent loss of Simon Dunn, and are there for all the other days of the month. The key is to establish what their majority view really is and the true impact of the market on their sales. Maybe a few teenage Geography students can do this but I don't think so.
Which Retailers? Grove Street? Town Centre only? All in Wilmslow Parish?
Which type of Retailers? A1, A2, A3, A4, A5?
For an explanation of A1..... etc see
http://bit.ly/mx7AAd
Why just Water Lane, Grove St, Church St, Hawthorn Lane, Alderley Rd?
Why not all retail business in Wilmslow?
I personally know of three retail business owners outside of these areas that see their foot fall and turnover decrease on Artisan Market days but are in favour of it. This is because it has brought other things to the town as well the obvious increase in footfall to the town centre which was its primary aim.
A survey of the public visiting the town centre on market days was carried out in early 2012. One of the questions asked then was about moving it to a Sunday. The overwhelming response then was keep it on a Saturday.
A survey during the months of October - December will give atypical results both in terms of the people who are around, as there will be christmas shoppers, and in terms of the replies received as these will not be representative of the usual market shoppers. In other words, a waste of money. A professional survey company will know this but will take your money anyway.
Perhaps the survey should be paid for by the so far anonymous few whose rather dubious tactics seem to work. I've never seen George Osborne at the market so doubt he knows anything about it.
There are 3 groups in this 'marriage', Wilmslow retailers, market stallholders and cutomers to be consulted.
Retail sales may dip on market day so what are affected retailers doing to counteract this on market day? Do they benefit from increased awareness on other days.
Will market traders turn up on a Sunday, given they prob attend several such events per month?
Both the above groups will be adversly affected if the customers stay away on Sat or Sun.
Just look at the last 3 years turnover by the retailers in the area. The independent retailers should be able to provide it (it's published at Companies House) and the local branch managers will probably know this too.
That way, you will see if the introduction of the market has harmed overall business or not. What happens on market day is then a side issue vs the bigger picture of is it encouraging more shoppers to buy in Wilmslow or over the course of the month or not.
Of course in those days there was a Council which actually was interested in what the rate payers wanted and took notice of them.
To date, WTC have not committed any money for the MR survey, only invited some MR firms to pitch a proposal, explain what info can be derived from questions posed, at what cost?
Brick retailers can only substantiate their claim for reduced takings on market day by providing audited monthly accounts for last 12 months vs pre-market year (not directly avail from Co House filed accounts).
As any retailer should realise, his takings are reliant on customer footfall
The Market affects retailers beyond Grove St, Water La & Alderley Rd (eg Chapel La, Davenport Green/Knutsford Road, Stormy point, Lacey Green, Summerfields), which should be included in monthy survey, along with Mkt & non Mkt day shoppers in central Wilmslow.
Any central Wilmslow retailer advocating a Sun market day, whilst not prepared to modify their trading week to include Sun opening, could be regarded as 'protectionist'
Hopefully there will always be more customers than retailers, so who is most important?
Grove St fishmongers only survived 7 months,depite knowing rent and business rates at start.of Lease
So is any assumption that all shops will be affected in the same way.
The only way to find out who is affected and how is to compare full data - which I suspect does not exist in some caes. This would include not only the figures for footfall and takings on market days but also non-market Saturdays and other trading days. It is clear that the objectors are not mentioning one probable cause of any difference in their takings, and that is trade which is transferred from market day to aother day. In other words if their customers don't want to shop there on a market day they will go another day. This is quite hard to quantify and needs full fugures to be made available either publicly or at least to amy specialist conducting a survey. I'm fairly confident this won't happen, ao qw qill never have a real result here.
I'm prepared to place a small bet on this market being killed off by a few objectors who will not notice any ultimate difference in their overall trade. Both the organisers and the stallholders can do without the aggravation and insults they are getting and I would not be at all surprised if they decided to take their experience and initiative somewhere else.
I was not at the market personally but my wife and a friend were running the stall
A "Lady" came to the stall and very aggressively demanded to know if I was there
My wife replied I was not
She then started ranting about how she is not happy with my thoughts and comments on the Artisan market
To behave in this manner is totally unacceptable and if any of us on the stall are approached in this manner again rest assured the police will be called straight away
It appears this person has come from one of the shops on the street and efforts are being made to find out who it is, when we do it will be reported
My wife was quite shaken by this and is very unhappy
If the person concerned is reading this it may be an idea to get in touch and offer my wife a full apology.