Dear colleague
Weekly Newsletter: 4th October 2017
Some good news to start off this week’s newsletter.
UKMI Index report September 2017 Many thanks to Andrew McCall at ROI and PFM Footfall for providing us with the latest footfall figures for August (attached below). Retail Markets continued its strength through August, up by a cheering 3.6% YoY, for a third successive month in positive territory. This contrasts with a continuing decline in Town Centres (down -1.2%) and High Streets (down -2.6%) as reported by Retail Gazette. Apart from Retail Markets, the only positive news was from the Retail Parks sector, reporting footfall up by 1.6%, suggesting we may be seeing a return of customer interest towards value.
“Real Deal” Success for Manchester Congratulations to Manchester Markets who picked up the Team Award for “outstanding commitment and dedication to the Real Deal Charter from 2009 till the present day” at a recent ceremony in London. Manchester were the first local authority to sign up to the National Real Deal Charter in October 2009. Tony Sproston tells us that they identified some serious issues in 2008 as illicit traders were selling counterfeit and dangerous goods on Council and privately operated markets within the city.A multi-agency focus group was formed with Trading Standards, GMP and other agencies. Action was taken which included multi agency raids on privately operated markets; several Council traders lost their licences to trade in Manchester, and in 2011 5 criminal gangs were prosecuted. The latter were the major suppliers of counterfeit goods to market traders throughout the city.
Tony says their work continues as they recently banned Android/Kodi boxes from sale on all markets, and they and Trading Standards recently carried out unannounced visits to Longsight and Gorton Markets. No counterfeit items were found. Market Managers regularly inspect their markets for counterfeit goods and will continue to be trained by Trading Standards regarding current counterfeit trends.
APPG on Markets: Wednesday, 25th October We have a date for the next All Party Parliamentary Group on Markets at the House of Commons at 5-6pm on Wednesday, 25th October. We hope that the Minister for High Streets and Markets, Jake Berry MP, will be coming along to engage with us and MPs. NMTF provide the secretariat for this group and send out a general invitation to MPs but if you are in touch with your MP over the next couple of weeks for any reason, do encourage them to come along on the 25th.
The Great British Market Awards 2018 Did you know that it is only 58 days left to submit your nomination for the GB Market Awards 2018, kindly sponsored by KPR Midlink, as for virtually all of the categories, the closing date is 30th November. For the Best Speciality Market & Best Market Attraction categories respectively, nominations will be received up until 31st December 2017 so that Christmas Markets can be entered. The categories are:
Best Large Indoor Market
Best Small Indoor Market
Best Large Outdoor Market
Best Small Outdoor Market
Best Community/Parish Market
Best Large Speciality Market
Best Small Speciality Market
Best Wholesale Market
Best Food Market
Best Market Attraction
A large market is considered to have 50+ stalls & a small market fewer than 50.
NABMA Life Membership I am sure that many of you noted my error last week when congratulating the 5 recipients of NABMA Life Membership. David Worrall is from Bolton, of course, not Bradford. Apologies, and many thanks for correcting me so swiftly, David.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Paxman
NABMA CEO
07500 177709