O happy day. You're a casual trader. It's coming up to Christmas and there just aren't enough pitches to go round. You're one of a few traders left at the end of allocation. You're not too worried about getting a pitch though. You've been coming to the market most days all year round. Loyalty has it's reward and you're sure Barmy will pick you.Wait... What's this? Barmy's got young Dodger with him. Ah, it's alright. He's obviously brought the young spud along to show him how a professional market manager operates. Here we go - the moment of choice.
Barmy bends down to little Dodger, indicates you and your fellows, and asks the lad to choose who should stay and who should go. Dodger points at one trader, then another, then another. But not you. You're not one of the favoured. You're going home.
3 comments:
This is a very touching story and indeed very true, but what is anyone actually going to do about putting the injustice right?
Ah yes. Not the only time a young child was used to decide the fate of traders at Christmas.
Imagine you are a trader that's been coming to Greenwich Market for 1 year, 2 years, 3 years. You are a consistent trader with an excellent attendance record.
It's the busiest time of the year, a time when you need to stash a bit of money away to get you through the next few quiet months, when incidentally, many of the other casuals have left the market after the busy Xmas trading period.
It's also the time of year when you've had to spend much more money than usual on stock or materials.
You've bought your extra stock - in actual fact, you've bought loads extra because of the time of year.
Then a young child under the leadership of the market manager decides you have to go home. Just like that! On a whim!
You've lost money on that extra stock you bought for the trading weekend. You've also lost your days trade at the busiest time of year. There are new traders who have turned up that day for the first time and have been allocated a pitch inside the market.
You feel sick to the pit of your stomach. You may protest to the manager, you may even cry. He's been taking your money off you all year round through the quiet times too and now he and innocent Dodger are sending you home! He tells you loyalty stands for nothing and he doesn't want to talk to you anymore.
There's nothing you can do about it. You feel powerless. No-one in authority seems to give a s**t. Your business is screwed.
You now know the pattern and you don't even know if tomorrow will be any different. You have no other outlet to sell off your extra stock.
Sorry, but let me just check - why did these blogs start up again? What a disgusting way to treat a small business, designer maker or not.
The priority system that existed last year still remains in place this year even after all the problems.
So my advice to some of you long standing casual traders. Find somewhere else to trade from at Christmas where you will be treated like a human being!!
do Barmies governors agree with his dictatorial policy?? Or are they ignorant of his managerial skills in this department. Are there not any legal guide lines that can be pursued. What about the Chinese lady who had her scarves etc stolen because of incompetence from the Barmie Army, wasn't her hubby a lawyer could he poss advise
Post a Comment