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Blimey.. what's happened to the market.
- Thread starter Mudhoney
- Start date
littleme
250,000th poster!
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
He's moving to The Hollins Centre on Rowley Street, but I'm not a 100% sure what he's doing, I suspect that he may still be able to sort you out, though.NoWe always use Neville
littleme
250,000th poster!
Hmm keys & the
Wormella
Well-Known Forumite
Cheap supermarkets (Aldi, Lidl etc) have had a massive effect I suspect - wilkos too for household stuff.
I can't think of anything you could get in the market you couldn't get in a shop in Stafford for a similar price, and that shop will be open every day of the week and after work too.
I can't think of anything you could get in the market you couldn't get in a shop in Stafford for a similar price, and that shop will be open every day of the week and after work too.
Jonah
Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
I don't think the market has been any good since The Guildhall was built. Remember the size of the old markets, they were massive.
But as @Wormella says, supermarkets pretty much sell everything now 7 days a week. Thinking about it, I can't remember the last time I actually went into the market, let alone when I bought anything from there.
But as @Wormella says, supermarkets pretty much sell everything now 7 days a week. Thinking about it, I can't remember the last time I actually went into the market, let alone when I bought anything from there.
staffordjas
Well-Known Forumite
Last time I bought some dog food from the market (a few years ago now) I went into Asda straight afterwards and it was cheaper there! Only ever go through the market the odd time these days to use the loo. Always just seems to be a meeting place for oldies to meet for a chat, and the remaining stall holders chatting amongst themselves.
Agreed on both the last very good points. Markets are becoming a thing of the past in virtually every sizeable town in good locations.
The reason they are in the past because they are still living in the past. I went to the pet stall in the markets last year to get fish food yet I found it to be £1 dearer than pets at home for exactly the same stuff. Most people go markets with maybe a bargain in their head.
but most markets have the same issue as property landlords who refuse to budge on prices, the outcome you have empty premises and empty markets. All of whom have competition with supermarkets etc etc.
people are less interested in markets, not because they have any great issue with them but because most needs are catered for at least as competitively at big chains, plus people don't want to be moving location to location. Peoples interests in pop up outdoor markets is superior because of the novelty and differences, such as more exotic food choices.
needless to say this is not helped by the incompetence of SBCs town centre management who are so disengaged it is ridiculous
The reason they are in the past because they are still living in the past. I went to the pet stall in the markets last year to get fish food yet I found it to be £1 dearer than pets at home for exactly the same stuff. Most people go markets with maybe a bargain in their head.
but most markets have the same issue as property landlords who refuse to budge on prices, the outcome you have empty premises and empty markets. All of whom have competition with supermarkets etc etc.
people are less interested in markets, not because they have any great issue with them but because most needs are catered for at least as competitively at big chains, plus people don't want to be moving location to location. Peoples interests in pop up outdoor markets is superior because of the novelty and differences, such as more exotic food choices.
needless to say this is not helped by the incompetence of SBCs town centre management who are so disengaged it is ridiculous
gon2seed
(and me! - Ed)
Agree with almost everything that has been said. The key things for me are the competition is so much keener at the cheaper end for customers & Having a pound land on the door step certainly doesn't help! 
Doesn't look a rosey future, despite new houses & potential increase in town centre foot fall!
Doesn't look a rosey future, despite new houses & potential increase in town centre foot fall!alphagamma
Well-Known Forumite
By building a pyramid to Primark at Riverside and moving the library, the BC has adopted a policy that has scuppered the Guildhall and market, so it's a bit late to do anything now.
It is never to late to do anything. If you are willing to spend cash and actually come with a workable plan with good partnership working, its hard buy town centres can thrive.
stafford is generally doing quite well comparison but so much sitting on hands and people thinking nothing we need to do. Until it is then to late
stafford is generally doing quite well comparison but so much sitting on hands and people thinking nothing we need to do. Until it is then to late
arthur
Nixon Garden Neatness
I have nostalgic memories of the very old market I think it was called st Johns market. My mum used to take us there when we were very little, she usually had a least three small children in tow when she went to do the shopping
There was so much hustle and bustle. Men shouting to sell the cabbages and fruit, there was something on the TV about how the Stafford market sellers shouted thing like ‘get your ripe bananas.’ I can’t remember if someone complained about the noise level or objected to what they were saying.
The market was full of life and there was always a long queue for the cheese counter. Supermarkets that sell everything killed the markets. There is no fun at supermarkets, for me they are just another household chore.
I don’t think supermarkets are cheaper than the old markets were, they are just more convenient. Everything in one place the only queue is at the end when you’re waiting to pay, but now most of the supermarkets have self-service check outs which I hate hate hate with a passion – unidentified item in the bagging area is usually my bag.
I do remember my little brother being scared to go in the market because it was so busy, he said everyone was big and the noise was very loud. He was only two and had to sit in a pushchair while all the people bustled around him it must have been scary seeing lots and lots of legs.
Is Penkridge market still going strong I haven’t been there for ages and I used to love markets such as half penny green market, car boot sales also seem to have market trader selling their ware too. I still love markets where ever they are – it a shame that Stafford market traders can’t afford to stay because of high rents.
There was so much hustle and bustle. Men shouting to sell the cabbages and fruit, there was something on the TV about how the Stafford market sellers shouted thing like ‘get your ripe bananas.’ I can’t remember if someone complained about the noise level or objected to what they were saying.
The market was full of life and there was always a long queue for the cheese counter. Supermarkets that sell everything killed the markets. There is no fun at supermarkets, for me they are just another household chore.
I don’t think supermarkets are cheaper than the old markets were, they are just more convenient. Everything in one place the only queue is at the end when you’re waiting to pay, but now most of the supermarkets have self-service check outs which I hate hate hate with a passion – unidentified item in the bagging area is usually my bag.
I do remember my little brother being scared to go in the market because it was so busy, he said everyone was big and the noise was very loud. He was only two and had to sit in a pushchair while all the people bustled around him it must have been scary seeing lots and lots of legs.
Is Penkridge market still going strong I haven’t been there for ages and I used to love markets such as half penny green market, car boot sales also seem to have market trader selling their ware too. I still love markets where ever they are – it a shame that Stafford market traders can’t afford to stay because of high rents.
Steve_b
Well-Known Forumite
The north end of town is being readied for residential accommodation, the town is being moved south and the north neglected.
Why has there never been roofs put up on Stafford, Princess or Crabbery Streets? Like they did in Cannock.
What happen to extending the market into these areas at the weekend? and who has the monopoly on Saturdays use of the Market Sq?
Lichfield, Tamworth and Nuneaton have busy weekend markets.
Why has there never been roofs put up on Stafford, Princess or Crabbery Streets? Like they did in Cannock.
What happen to extending the market into these areas at the weekend? and who has the monopoly on Saturdays use of the Market Sq?
Lichfield, Tamworth and Nuneaton have busy weekend markets.
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The Hawk
Well-Known Forumite
Malcolm
Well-Known Forumite
Poundland, like any business only exists because there is demand for it. If the indoor market offers what people want at the right price, and people can get to it easily and cheaply, it can thrive again. It has to compete.