Sat 20th Feb. John and I both decided to turn out for Edinburgh much to customers and stall-holders amusement!! Gave us time to ponder a bit more on what is going on at Edinburgh.
Observations: at least half our customers were foreign students and tourists; car park, at which we looked all morning remained deserted. There were lots of people but precious few were actually buying anything. Maybe a burger or a coffee and a free sample but produce to take home, NO.
What is wrong? Well the produce is a delight. There could be more variety. There is a loss of the many interesting products - fish, drinks, bakers, condiments, cheese to name but a few.
WE ARE ATTRACTING MANY FEWER LOCAL BUYERS OF LOCAL FOOD THAN WE DID IN FORMER YEARS AND WE FEEL IT IS NOT JUST THE RECESSION BECAUSE OUR FORMER BUYERS IN GENERAL STILL HAVE THEIR JOBS AND THEIR BELIEFS IN SUPPORTING THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY FOR REASONS OF QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. WAITROSE AND MARKS AND SPENCERS DO WELL.
3 SOLUTIONS: 1. THE MARKET IS 'TIRED' AND HARDLY FRONT OF MIND FOR MANY EDINBURGH RESIDENTS. 2. WE NEED FREE OR SUBSIDISED PARKING AND 3. WE NEED PROTECTION FROM THE WEATHER; TO MAKE THIS A 'MUST ATTEND' MARKET AGAIN.
Come on Edinburgh; you can do better than this.
what about the impact of the rural /organic stores that have opened in the Edinburgh connurbation in the last year?
ReplyDeletecertainly the 20% /80% rule or thereabouts will apply ?
a few regulars to your stall are away and your sales and margins are heavily impacted ?
do you know the numbers as to how many customers you serve ?
what about your collaborative wholesale product offerings ?
What are the market organisers doing by way of social media initiatives to attract a new broader base of younger customers ?
what are you doing as stallholders to be more innovative and proactive in your selling ?
innovation comes in many forms ?
the time clock on this site is off the mark i posted the above at 17.12!! not 09.12
ReplyDeleteClock has been fixed
ReplyDeleteI am worried about the decline in customer numbers at quite a few farmers markets. Some that I take part in are beginning to struggle.
ReplyDeleteI feel that a few of the organisers are taking our stall fees and not doing very much in return in the way of effective advertising and promotion.
Customers need to be reminded on a monthly basis when a market will take place.
And just sticking an ad in the local paper is not really effective any more.
Markets are under pressure due to the recession (people feeling poorer) and from other outlets like Tesco and Waitrose that claim to offer it 'all'- local sourcing, parking and a pleasant environment.
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly awareness stimulation pre-market will help. Resources can be raised by organisers but creativity via use of the internet and traditional media is probably the key.
Fundamentally changing the food culture; engaging local people in valuing and taking responsibility for their food is the bigger prize for farmers markets. Methinks this will come from producers networking with locals to get the right sites and times and the right products, etc....
Sat 27th Feb. Another poor weather day at Edinburgh. Why are we surprised? This is Scotland in February. Stall-holders ask each other, "Would you come to the market on a day like this if you didn't work here? It was a novelty when markets started and linked with "what farmers do" to be outside. But the environment has moved on. We are older. The weather is going to produce more extremes. Supermarkets claim local sourcing whether we believe it or not. We need to up our game and develop accessible pleasant market facilities to suit our customers and us. You would think that planning for communities to live, shop and exercise might welcome us. Suggestions please?
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