Hope you had a good Christmas. Try not to think about the kipper season. Preliminary sales results from the big boys have been poor at best. The ‘Big Four’ supermarkets have been fighting off the Germans – Aldi and Lidl – so margins remained wafer-thin. The High Street fashion retailers were hammered by unseasonably warm…
The beginning of any year is a time for looking back and also forward. In terms of 2015 NABMA has probably had its best ever year. Record membership levels, sell out Conferences and excellent entries for all our competitions are all indications of the continuing progress made by the organisation. In addition we are expanded…
Or so the saying goes and it would seem the adage is at last beginning to ring true for women working in the markets industry. Researching leading and influential women in the markets industry is not an easy task; rather than uncovering a wealth of information about our female Market Managers, company Directors and Chief…
. . . but not the physical kind The New Year always brings about the same question, what is your New Year resolution? Usually all you hear is “join a gym” Well I am going to be honest as usual and when people ask me what mine is and say “make more money” now those…
January is notoriously a slow month for the best of markets, but for most, the show must go on. The New Year is a great time to review with a fresh pair of eyes what you can do in 2016 to revive your market. Here are a few ideas. Go-Niche! As retail institutions markets have…
Happy New Year! 2016 looks to be a big year for markets, beginning of course with the annual NABMA Conference at the City Council House in Birmingham. The theme for this year’s conference is on ‘Creating and Sustaining Successful Markets’ and will feature case studies from market operators all across the UK. After spending the…
Core sector of the UK’s largest retail trade exhibition grows to occupy Halls 4 and 5 Spring Fair 2016, an i2i Events Group exhibition, will incorporate the largest presentation of general Gift products available to the UK trade in the year ahead. The show, which will open at the NEC Birmingham, from February 7-11 2016,…
Local markets are a real asset to communities and a popular national tradition in the UK. They bring social and economic benefits to communities, providing bargains for shoppers, lively attractions for families and visitors, and an environment for legitimate, local businesses to trade successfully. However, they also offer opportunities for illegal traders, particularly in counterfeit…
This week I travelled to Blackburn to meet with fashion-designer and pioneer of affordable, social design, Wayne Hemingway. Having grown-up in Blackburn, Wayne is a passionate champion of the town and a great inspirational figure for the next generation of young entrepreneurs. I arrived in Blackburn just in time to hear Wayne deliver a powerful…
Eastleigh Market Place has recently received a £600k facelift which has re-invented the market area into an exciting environment offering space for more than 50 traders. The revamp has included resurfacing the area, new electric points, lighting and street furniture bringing a modern feel to the traditional market at the heart of the Town. The…