PICTURE the Manchester Arndale.
Your first thought might be of a busy Saturday with hordes of eager shoppers fighting it out for outfits to wear that night. Or it might be an image of the watering hole-esque Food Court where free tables are usually scarce but cholesterol and fast food meals are aplenty.
"The council don't advertise us properly. They take money off us for advertising and it gets shuffled around but we never know exactly what's being done with it"
Whichever scene you imagine, it’s doubtful you’ll picture the Arndale Market first. On one side you have the food market, catering for all tastes with every cuisine going, on the other there's the fashion market, a mismatch of shops, salons and even a tattooist.
It's a shame the latter isn't on people's minds. Especially as the markets have been gems for some of us at Confidential (here and here).
A quiet and dimly lit Arndale Market is full of unhappy vendors
Disgruntled talk of neglect, being pushed aside and forgotten are some of the main issues among market traders. The popularity of the Christmas Markets is a particular sore point. "They’re not even from Manchester," says one unhappy vendor. "Yet they get everything done for them. All the promotion and advertising."
Another trader agrees. "The Council need to advertise us more. We could do with them moving the seasonal markets closer to us and connecting us with them," he suggests.
"They take money off us for advertising and it gets shuffled around but we never know exactly what's being done with it," a third vendor tells me. He, alongside all of those I speak to, wishes to remain nameless for fear of reprisal and endangering his livelihood. "Us traders are here 360 days of the year and we just get screwed over."
In response, the city council argues that the markets are indeed successful and continue to be so.
Councillor Rosa Battle commented, “The Arndale Market has always been, and remains, a must visit location for any city centre shopper, as demonstrated by the significant increase in visitors over the last five years.”
Food vendors aren't happy eitherThe footfall figures don’t lie.
Back in 2008 the Arndale Markets saw a figure of just over six million visitors. This has risen to seven million according to recent figures. Whilst traders argue their businesses are struggling, the figures indicate the markets are busier than ever.
"People just use us as a cut through into the Arndale," comes the usual exasperated response to council statistics.
True, there are plenty of shoppers who cut through from High Street to save a few minutes, but surely not every visitor is looking for a shortcut?
"We do get lots of customers, but it's not enough," says the vendor of one tired looking stall. "Not when you compare it with the rest of the Arndale or even how busy the seasonal markets are."
The seasonal markets have been a real success. Council figures say over nine million people visited the Manchester Christmas Markets in 2013 with a festive boost to the city economy of £90m. They're bursting out the sides.
However, it's not just the highly promoted seasonal markets that have annoyed the Arndale traders. "It's the poxy little things, like the door that leads to High Street. It was broken and it took three and a half years of complaining to get it fixed. Not to mention other conditions such as air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. It's been absolutely freezing this winter."
The Christmas Markets vex the Arndale Market traders
"How many council workers does it take to fix two light bulbs?" asks one trader. No, this isn't the start of some joke. One or two you'd imagine. Eight is the answer. Yes, eight council workers to change two light bulbs.
"Two to come out and look at it and then six came back to fix it. Two to hold the base of each ladder and one to go up each ladder. Eight in total to fix two broken lights. It's ridiculous."
So if the vendors are so annoyed, surely they've complained to market officers?
"It doesn't matter," sighs a trader. "The market officers are great, they listen to your problems and try their best. But then they go back to their bosses and get told no. Nothing changes."
One trader tells me it's become so bad that numerous others have left the markets due to poor sales and qualms with the council. "As sales go down, the rent goes up. It makes no sense." However, as one trader vacates, another takes their place. Vacating is deemed to have little impact on the council.
One trader tells me of a current investigation into where the money goes. "Advertising is the main issue," he says. "Where does the money go?"
He may have a point.
Picture the last time you saw an advert for the Arndale Markets. With traders struggling to attract customers, pouring much needed money into an invisible advertising budget has many pulling their hair out. Hopefully the Council investigation will shed some light on the issue.
Still, eight Executive Lightbulb Consultants don't come cheap.
Follow Niamh Spence at @missnspence
