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Sunday 18 December 2016

Street trading, street markets and the High Street

Everybody wants a 'vibrant' centre for their town - the problem being what exactly makes it so.

Here are some thoughts - and 'evidence' - gathered over the last four years or so:

STREET MARKET/STREET TRADING:
Opinion is generally in favour of a 'street market': Futures Forum: Street Market Sidmouth
And yet opinion is against street trading - in Sidmouth: 'Essentially, the key outcomes of the consultation are that non-Sidmouth residents, non-Sidmouth town and parish councils (who took part), and street traders are overwhelmingly in favour of more markets and street trading.’ EDDC Street Trading Consultation. @ Streetlife AND EDDC Consultation about Street Trading @ Streetlife
Sidmouth doesn't want it: Futures Forum: Street trading in Sidmouth AND Councillors told: leave Sidmouth trading as it is - News - Exmouth Journal
But Exmouth does: Street trading and markets set to be allowed on every Exmouth street - News - Exmouth Journal AND Street trading - East Devon

FARMERS’ MARKET:
Opinion is clearly in favour of farmers’ markets: Why can't we have a farmers market by Fields? @ Streetlife AND Farmers Market. @ Streetlife
And there is of course the Vision Group's regular monthly Farmers’ Market @ Kennaway House: Vision Group for Sidmouth - Markets


INDEPENDENT SHOPS:
There is widespread opinion against chains: Chains to revitalise Sidmouth? @ Streetlife
In the USA, some cities have managed to keep them out: (Sept 2013) What It Means to Keep Chain Stores out of San Francisco - The New Yorker AND USA Today Cities put shackles.pdf AND (April 2006) Nantucket Votes to Ban Chain Stores From Downtown - The New York Times

CHARITY SHOPS/COFFEE SHOPS
Opinion is also generally against charity shops: Charity shops? Are there too many? @ Streetlife AND Interference on the High Street. @ Streetlife AND charity shops @ Streetlife
And coffee shop chains are not popular either: Futures Forum: Sidmouth: a town of charity shops and coffee shops? AND Futures Forum: "We don’t want a main shopping area of charity shops and coffee chains."

CLONE TOWN:
And there are fears for the future: Futures Forum: "Sidmouth's different shopping experience is disappearing."
It's clear that buying from local businesses is key: Futures Forum: Why buy local?

SUPERMARKET LEVY:

SMEs:
Small and Medium-sized enterprises are of great importance to the local economy: Futures Forum: "Statistics show us that small and medium-size businesses (including those in tourism) are our life blood."
Support comes from national campaigns: Futures Forum: Keep Trade Local... the campaign from the Federation of Small Businesses
And the push is coming locally too: Futures Forum: “Sidmouth needs more small shops”

HIGH STREET:
There are clearly fears over internet competition: Futures Forum: Sidmouth high street and online shopping

So, what makes a good high street? The Telegraph looked at this last week: Great British High Street Awards 2016: Is your high street as good as this?
And the awards have just been made: The Great British High Street Awards 2016: Winners | The Great British High Street












With a town just down the coast for Sidmouth to learn from perhaps:
Category: Coastal Community: Falmouth
In an incredibly tough category , Falmouth came out on top. Collaboration is key in this coastal community, with the local authority working closely with the BID and Town Team. The strong marketing and events on offer and the lowest vacancy rate in the South-West, blew our judges away. 
Falmouth named best coastal community | Coastal Communities Alliance
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