On the last Sunday evening of July, 2010 one in four Australians were tuned into their TV, not to watch a sports program, but to watch a cooking program. It was the finals of Masterchef, a series to find the best amateur chef that has generated more profit than any other lifestyle program Australia. At the same time across the water in the USA two of the top ten retailers announced that they were expanding their food offer to the consumer. In fact Target announced it was removing the garden category from their range and replacing it with a food category.

Food is the trend sector to be in. The consumer is looking for new fresh food offers and the industry is providing it. As a result every town seems to want it s own farmers market and restaurants are looking for new ways to provide the offer. This trend has become a concern for many supermarkets who are now promoting locally grown produce as a combat strategy.

Hence new trends keep popping up. (more…)

One of the things that hits me us as we travel up the west coast of the USA is how much more organised the marketing of markets is compared to most parts of the world. There seems to be a lot more cooperation between markets to build the pie for everyone.

Oregon could be classed as one of the homes of the farmers market movement in the USA. The first market was at Salem and that started in the 1940’s.

Oregon, the hazlenut capital of the USA which supplies 100% of Americas hazelnuts, blackberries, raspberries and loganberries, plus 43,100,000 pounds of blueberries, $55,184,000 worth of cherries, $29,175,000 worth of crabs and 30% of the nations peppermint. The State fruit is the pear and 197,000 tonnes are sold to Americans from this State, but the  State also boasts over 800 vineyards. (more…)

When travelling the world and staying in hotels one of the challenges is noisy neighbours. How do you address the challenge when other consumers can become a problem?

One hotel I stopped at in California had a noisy neighboiur policy and this got me thinking about whether this type of policy could work for other retailers. Could we have a policy for a pet store or garden centre where we kept neighbours happy or even a restaurant? Food for thought.

Here is the policy and it may provide an idea to help you.
 
Good Neigbour Policy
If you disturb your neighbours you will be asked to leave the hotel. We do not knowingly book reservations for Batchelor, Batchelette or Birthday Parties. The hotel has a Good Neigbour Policy and does not allow gatherings in guest rooms. If the hotel receives a noise complaint from another room due to a gathering in your room or public space you will be financially responsible for the room charges of the rooms that complain. There will be no further warnings issued. No refunds will be given. Please be respectful of your neighbours.

Yes, 700  markets are scattered across the State, there are 140 markets in the LA basin alone!

Linda and I spent a Saturday morning at one of them, the Pasadena Market at Sierra Madre Blvd, in downtown Pasadena with the market manager, Gretchen Sterling.

Gretchan operates four markets in the area for the City Council. Stall holders get a site for free, but each week let Grechan know how much they have taken and 6% of the turnover is collected for a fee.  30% of this goes to the city and 70% goes to the operation of the market. (more…)