What a difference a day makes

As part of a trial to help determine which day the Wilmslow Artisan Market should be held, the first Sunday market took place at the weekend and the crowds certainly came out to support it.

A number of retailers in Wilmslow have called for the Artisan Market to be moved to a Sunday because it is having a detrimental impact on their business being held on their busiest trading day. A significant number of retailers have reported that most of the market customers are not shopping in the shops and their takings are down anything from 30% to 50% on a market Saturday.

There is no doubt about the popularity of the Artisan Market and its ability to attract people into Wilmslow town centre, as can be clearly illustrated by the photos above - the first was taken on Saturday 16th November when the market was scheduled to take place, at approximately 10.30am, and the second was taken 24 hours later as the market had just started on Grove Street.

However, the impact on retailers in the town, who pay high rents and business rates has raised a lot of concerns. As a result, a number of meetings were held between interested parties where a wide range of views were expressed and it was agreed that the market would move to a Sunday for a trial period during November and December.

Speaking about the first Sunday market, organiser Denise Valente said "It seems overall a really good day for both traders and the town alike. As to be expected footfall did not materialize until later in the day (vs a Saturday) but was very good from about 11.30 onwards until close of play at 4pm.

"The vast majority of our traders had an excellent days trading which matched and in some cases exceeded a 'normal' Saturday. This is again not too surprising as with Christmas fast approaching November & December is usually much brisker trading. I also believe that the anticipation of the move to a Sunday lowered our trader's expectations of what trade would be like and so the result was even better received.

"Many of our traders commented that the visitors were a very different crowd to that on a Saturday and many did not see their 'regular' customers. This again was to be expected and was probably supported by the extensive marketing of the change of day – aimed at reaching a new audience to compensate for those that would not be able to attend.

"As for the retailers we have not had the opportunity to speak with many of them yet. Many however were closed especially the independents, as we knew would be the case. There has been a lot of feedback on what the town was like on Saturday (without the market) and it will be interesting to see if retail did better without us on Saturday as they have claimed.

"What we have proven is that, as I thought, the market will do well on either day (especially on the run up to Christmas) this may be different in the early part of 2014 until people come to accept that it is on a Sunday (if this is the decision taken). But is it the best decision for Wilmslow? I still don't know.

"Yesterday we gave Wilmslow a 7th trading day. This, I think is what the shops wanted. Sunday without us is a ghost town. Whether this can be sustained into next year I am not certain. Free parking on a Sunday is obviously an advantage to both traders and visitors – but not so much to CEC coffers!"

Jo Davies, founder and managing director of Black White Denim, said "I opened on Sunday due to the market. It was a lovely day and our takings exceeded expectations.

"We also had a good Saturday so the weekend overall was a success. I felt the atmosphere on Sunday was lovely and people commented on how nice it was to have something to do in town when it's normally dead on a Sunday."

Jo added "I would like the market to continue on Sundays and I will always open."

Tate Jones, owner of The Goal Post, also opened on Sunday for the market.

He told wilmslow.co.uk "I didn't expect as many to turn out with it being the first one but there's only approximately 30 shopping days left until Christmas Day so it's a little deceiving.

"Trading was excellent between 12:30pm and 2:30pm. It was a shorter trading window than a Saturday market day. We don't open on a Sunday. I have a family and like to switch off completely on my only day off but we will open from 11:30 to 3pm instead of 11am to 4pm."

Tate added "The market in December should be very busy for obvious reasons... The real test will be a Sunday Market from late winter/ early spring onwards. I would still prefer market day to be on a Saturday so we enjoy our only day off of the week. Plus if you add our total sales this weekend we could have achieved it, or at least come close to it, in one day - a Saturday market day. All in all Sunday was a positive experience. It's always nice to see Wilmslow busy."

Wilmslow Town Council has also appointed an independent local market research company to look into the impact of Artisan Market on trading patterns in the town.

Wilmslow based Wendy Dunn Research will be carrying out research, at a cost of up to £3500, starting on Thursday, 21st November, to help them determine whether the market should stay on a Saturday or move to a Sunday. The research should be completed on Monday, 25th November and Wilmslow Town Council is expecting to receive the report in early December.

Speaking about the research, Denise Valente commented "I just hope it provides an answer and one that is the best decision for Wilmslow. We have not been informed when this will be taken."

Did you visit the market on Sunday? If you're a retailer did you open on Sunday or not and if you're a trader did you notice much of a difference between the Saturday and Sunday market?

Share yours views via the comment box below.

Tags:

Artisan Market, Wilmslow Artisan Market