Stafford Market

Palu23

Palu23

A few posts under my belt
Afternoon all,

Just looking to get some feedback/opinions from you all.

We have a shop on Stafford Market and I'd like to give some feedback at the next meeting as to what people think of the market/whether they go there and if not, why.

I have some ideas myself and could probably predict some of your responses but it would be good to have some of your opinions.

Please be as brutal and honest as necessary!!

Thanks in advance
 
PeterD

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
I go there to see if there is anything new, invariably there is. I find the empty bits over on the left as you enter from the guild hall are a negative, a full market makes for people to peruse more. I dont buy much as I am ahem frugal, but my wife buys from the womans stall as you enter again from guildhall.
I did have a look at the new record stall, I was attracted by the name as I saw it was a happy mondays reference, sadly, but not surprisingly, no country music.
 
Wormella

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
I sometimes walk through it (although I find it very warm at the moment with the heaters on) in order to keep an eye on what stalls are there now - it's usually quite specific if I do need something, Haberdashery or spices etc but I never particularly browse the stalls - but I work out of town and I don't seem to have that many Saturdays free at the moment. If it did a late night opening once a week I'd probably use it more as it's pretty much on my home (or can be) when I get off the train at 6pm ish
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
I would like to see more fresh food stalls, maybe move the farmers market in there that comes to town each month, along with more signage and advertising, it may be the boost that the market needs.
 
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Carole

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
Hi @Palu23

I rarely use the market for various reasons.

It's in the wrong place, not easily accessible and there's not much that I want to buy.
I certainly wouldn't buy any clothing there.

I occasionally go in to the lady that sells haberdashery.

My choice of market is Cannock.
They have a fabulous cake decorating supplies and plenty of stalls selling fabric and haberdashery.

If Stafford had more food stalls, was in a better location, had more variety and looked less "abandoned" then more people would visit.

People like markets. But they need variety, they need choice.

They need a council committed to spending money to make it viable.
 
Trumpet

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
Carole said:
Hi @Palu23

If Stafford had more food stalls, was in a better location, had more variety and looked less "abandoned" then more people would visit.
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Vicious circle there, if more people visited, it may attract more food stalls, more variety. and look less abandoned.
My brother in law who did very well as a market trader considered taking a stall at Stafford but thought the rents too high for the potential returns preferring to travel far and wide.
 
Carole

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
Trumpet said:
My brother in law thought the rents too high for the potential returns preferring to travel far and wide.
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Yes exactly, that's another reason why some towns have thriving markets and others don't.

Organisation, location, marketing, council commitment, reasonable rent.

Some towns make it work and others don't.
 
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tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
As someone who works in town I'd welcome something warm to eat thats not a burger. Street food kinda thing, burrito or a taco, I fear I am in the minority though.
 
John Marwood

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
It has all the atmosphere of a hospital wing in special measures

If a landlord doesn't invest in its assets it can't expect a good return

The town has now shifted downstream to the Sun Smithfield Market site so I guess it's all over
 
Palu23

Palu23

A few posts under my belt
Thanks everyone, some interesting comments.

It's really frustrating as a stall holder as there are some really great stalls - the haberdashery stall, fruit & veg stall, butchers, a great pots and pans stall, grannies attic, the tailors, the barbers (ours) and quite a few others, but I do think there's also some not so great offerings that bring the vibe of the market down, make it look messy and put people off looking properly so they don't see the decent stalls. Equally the actual building itself as John mentions above, does not create the right atmosphere. It needs to be light and airy and it just isn't. I also find it frustrating that there's stall holders like ourselves who are running a shop to make a living so we put all our efforts into it and then others who seem to be doing it as a hobby and open/close when they wish, which in this day and age is just not acceptable really. The rent is ridiculously high as well.

I think a lot of the stallholders have regular loyal customers, it would just be nice to bring a few more people in, but for all the reasons above I can see why people are put off. Not sure what the answer is really.
 
proactive

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Palu23 said:
Thanks everyone, some interesting comments.

It's really frustrating as a stall holder as there are some really great stalls - the haberdashery stall, fruit & veg stall, butchers, a great pots and pans stall, grannies attic, the tailors, the barbers (ours) and quite a few others, but I do think there's also some not so great offerings that bring the vibe of the market down, make it look messy and put people off looking properly so they don't see the decent stalls. Equally the actual building itself as John mentions above, does not create the right atmosphere. It needs to be light and airy and it just isn't. I also find it frustrating that there's stall holders like ourselves who are running a shop to make a living so we put all our efforts into it and then others who seem to be doing it as a hobby and open/close when they wish, which in this day and age is just not acceptable really. The rent is ridiculously high as well.

I think a lot of the stallholders have regular loyal customers, it would just be nice to bring a few more people in, but for all the reasons above I can see why people are put off. Not sure what the answer is really.
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I agree with most of that, especially the drabness of the place and the erratic opening of some of the stalls.

To be honest I think the market, in that location has had its day and no amount of money thrown at it by the council or anyone else (and of course no money will be thrown at it) will make any difference.

The market needs to be an event that people come into town for specifically. So I'd shift the whole lot into Market Square and the northern end of the high street, like the Wednesday one is now, and have it only on two or three days per week. Friday and Saturday, possibly a Tuesday from 8am until 3.

Other towns with thriving markets don't have their markets set up as near everyday alternatives to normal shops. Their stallholders either work part time, or move about to other locations on other days.

Markets can still work and work well. Look at Penkridge, Newport or Uttoxeter. The whole mindset of what a market is needs a change in Stafford, if it is to have any real future.
 
Really?

Really?

Well-Known Forumite
I honestly believe Markets should be outside, in Market Squares, right in the heart of town. Putting a market inside just makes them - well shops !. People like InShops have tried in the past to make indoor markets work but soon gave up in most cases. Having had market stalls in Burton in the past there is something very special about setting up and packing down everyday and wearing three pairs of finger-less gloves to keep warm in Winter. The stallholders and public all seemed to just enjoy the experience and, because the costs were so low, the prices were understood to be lower. Being there two or three days a week meant "Market Day" was actually busy for everyone.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
I use the Market, but only sporadically as i don't find myself in town all that often.

Annoyingly the only day i am almost certainly guaranteed to be en ville is of a Wednesday when you're closed anyway.

The only idea i have is one that i have been saying for many years - you need to get some kind of 'food court' arrangement going on.

I am going to repeat myself, because, do you know what, no, i'm not, feck it, it's all been said before.
 
A

andy w

Well-Known Forumite
Well all the stalls are empty by the side of the café and could be dismantled to form a large seating area and then a couple of catering units could be built along the back wall
 
The Hawk

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
proactive said:
I agree with most of that, especially the drabness of the place and the erratic opening of some of the stalls.

To be honest I think the market, in that location has had its day and no amount of money thrown at it by the council or anyone else (and of course no money will be thrown at it) will make any difference.

The market needs to be an event that people come into town for specifically. So I'd shift the whole lot into Market Square and the northern end of the high street, like the Wednesday one is now, and have it only on two or three days per week. Friday and Saturday, possibly a Tuesday from 8am until 3.

Other towns with thriving markets don't have their markets set up as near everyday alternatives to normal shops. Their stallholders either work part time, or move about to other locations on other days.

Markets can still work and work well. Look at Penkridge, Newport or Uttoxeter. The whole mindset of what a market is needs a change in Stafford, if it is to have any real future.
Click to expand...

Really? said:
I honestly believe Markets should be outside, in Market Squares, right in the heart of town. Putting a market inside just makes them - well shops !. People like InShops have tried in the past to make indoor markets work but soon gave up in most cases. Having had market stalls in Burton in the past there is something very special about setting up and packing down everyday and wearing three pairs of finger-less gloves to keep warm in Winter. The stallholders and public all seemed to just enjoy the experience and, because the costs were so low, the prices were understood to be lower. Being there two or three days a week meant "Market Day" was actually busy for everyone.
Click to expand...

Agree with both these.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
There was a (foiled) bag-snatching attempt in the Market today, although the perpetrators were not apprehended.
 
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