Hello traders!
I hope you're all looking forward to our next Shop & Go market.
First of all, please read all of this email as details are changing each week.
Secondly, I'm not actually here this week as I'm on leave. I'm not even here right now. I'm writing this email from the distant past of a week ago after which I will schedule it to be sent through to you on Monday. If you have any queries about this coming Saturday, please get in touch with Sean - sean@levymarket.com
Click here for all the basic details you need, including times, location and other essential info, including links to our Cancellation Policy and Terms and Conditions. These are supplemented by some of the information included in this email. If you've read through everything but still find you have some questions or concerns, please feel free to drop us a line at info@levymarket.com.
Shop & Go safety guidelines - This is a socially distanced market, with separate entry and exit points and various markers and signage to help customers browse the stalls and make their purchases while keeping safe. We'll have staff onsite, monitoring and restricting entry of customers to ensure things don't get too crowded. There will be a one-way system around the space for browsing, allowing customers to safely spend as much time at the market as they need without missing out on anything, so please don't feel like you need to hurry anyone along. Although facemasks are now mandatory in indoors shops, this isn't required at outdoor markets. Nonetheless, we do encourage all of you to wear facemasks.
Some of the market team will be around during the day and I'll be sending out feedback forms after we're all done, so please do feel free to let us know of any aspects which you think are or aren't working. These markets are a work in progress, ones which we're already looking to adapt to the changing government guidelines.
Here are the main points to consider while at one of our Shop & Go markets:
- Please ensure you bring along hand sanitiser and gloves for yourselves. Although not mandatory, we do encourage you all to use face masks while trading.
- There are only to be contactless payments onsite.
- We’re encouraging customers to browse with their eyes rather than with their hands so please merchandise your stall in a way which discourages handling as much as possible.
- Likewise, please don't leave out any free samples.
- Any eating, drinking or socialising will also have to take place away from the market. Please make sure all food purchases are given to customers in take-home packaging in order to discourage people eating on site.
- While we're not supplying traders with sneeze guards, these are widely available online, including from NMFT
- Please also continue to observe the standard government guidelines: frequent hand-washing; maintaining 2m distance from customers, other traders and staff; if you cough or sneeze please use a handkerchief and dispose of it immediately.
Before trading can you also make sure you have:
- Emailed me with a copy of your public liability insurance and (food traders only) food hygiene training certificates, if not uploaded on booking
- Provided details and wattages for your electrical equipment.
Our payment provider is Golden Giving, a charitable giving organisation that also supports social enterprises such as the market -
can you please TICK the box relating to us staying in touch with you, so we can allocate the payment to you. I'm aware a few people have been having some issues with Golden Giving - if you've had any problems please do let me know. If you'd rather pay using BACs you can do using the following details:
Levenshulme Market CIC
Sort code: 089299
Acc. No.: 65660485
Toilets on market days - As many regular traders will know, on market days we would ordinarily direct customers, traders and staff to some of the very supportive local bars and cafes which allow us to use their toilets. As most of them are either still currently closed or busy with their own issues created by the current situation, we have a portaloo on site. This is intended for trader and staff use, so we would be grateful if you didn't direct customers to it, although it will be still available to them in emergencies. If you need to use it, please ask Sean or one of the other members of staff and they'll be able to direct you.
Arrival times - The new market involves a new set-up procedure, so please aim to arrive at the site between 8am and 9am, leaving enough time to put together your stall presentation for market opening at 10am.
Food and drink - We can't currently allow customers to stay on the market site eating and drinking and want to communicate this to customers on the day. Please help by making sure all food purchases are given to customers in take-home packaging in order to discourage people eating on site.
A note on crime - Although the site is going to be much less open than usual, thieves have been known to operate in the area in the past. Please remain vigilant and if you do spot anything suspicious please alert one of the market team.
New traders - If you happen to be new to trading at markets we've prepared a handy guide to merchandising, marketing, etc., which you may well find useful and which can be found here. This was put together pre-Covid so some aspects may not currently be appropriate.
Stock - Although we are currently running the market at a reduced capacity, the Shop & Go markets have been some of the busiest Saturday markets we've run and we have noticed that many food traders sell out of their stock well before we close. Obviously, we can't guarantee this, but we'd advise bringing enough stock for a busy day if possible.
Waste - We'd like to remind all traders of our rules regarding waste and parking. Can you please take ALL rubbish away with you at the end of the market. Please do not leave anything behind and do not put anything down the drains.
Recycling - As you may know we are aiming to move Levenshulme Market CIC towards becoming a zero-waste and low-carbon operation social enterprise over the next five years. We'd appreciate it if traders could help to encourage customers to use our new recycling bins. We have three -
Mixed Paper & Cardboard, Kitchen/Food Waste and General Waste.
Parking - As some of you will know, the market car park can get very busy. The restricted numbers of traders and the fact that travelling is currently much reduced has made this less of an issue in the mornings. However, double parking and blocking people in is not permitted and we will continue to make a note of any traders who do this.
Parking is also available at the Levenshulme Tesco car park on your trading day should you wish to use it. There are restrictions on parking there, so once you have unloaded at the market site, you will need to
print, fill in and display this permit in your vehicle windscreen. IMPORTANT: please only park in the spaces at the extreme far end of the Tesco car park (away from the car park entrance).
If on the day you have any questions or comments you'd like to make in person, please feel free to speak to Sean, our Senior Market Coordinator, who will help with any issues or put you in touch with one of our directors. I should also hopefully be around at some point, so if you have anything you'd like to raise in person please let me know and I'll try to stop by.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or issues at all, please email us at info@levymarket.com.
Best regards,
Richard Hirst
Market Manager, Levenshulme Market CIC
richard@levymarket.com
Visit www.levymarket.com for upcoming events, stall listings and market information.
