Reading Room

Below you will find links to a number of publication that would be of interest to anybody involved in the market industry. Its a small list but we will continue to update as new publications become available, as always if you know of a publication you think we should include here, please let us know.

 

NABMA Annual Report 2010

National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA)
8 Pages 1.2MB PDF
>> Link

 

A little from the introduction

In the last Annual Report I indicated that “the challenge for the next twelve months is to build on the positive messages provided by the Select Committee” and it’s fair to say that our work over the past year has been dominated by the responses that have been made to the various recommendations of the Select Committee through our ongoing work with Government.

 

 

Markets 21

A Policy & Research Review of UK Retail and Wholesale Markets in the 21st Century
The Retail Markets Alliance
November 2009
Supported by The BCSC Educational Trust
84 Pages 2.8MB PDF
Available from the NABMA website
>> Link

 

. . .what makes a successful market? Why are some markets doing well and others failing? What is the role of wholesale and retail markets in the 21st century? This report seeks to answer those questions.

A comprehensive if a little dated report, weighing in around 80 pages, but full of information, case studies, data and charts, its essential reading for anybody with an interest in the market industry

 

 

London’s Retail Street Markets – Draft Final Report

Regeneris Consulting Ltd, June 2010
79 Pages 2.7MB PDF
>> Link

 

 

This pre-publication draft report analyses the retail markets sector in London in detail, assessing its contribution to the London economy as well as the wider social benefits markets bring. The final publication will recommend a number of measures to help ensure these benefits are maximised in future.

 

 

Market Failure?: Can the traditional market survive? Correspondence relating to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2008–09

Report, together with formal minutes
88 Pages 500KB PDF
House of Commons
Communities and Local Government Committee
>> Link

 

We believe strongly that local authorities and central government should care about markets, because of the multi-faceted nature of the benefits that successful markets can bring to local towns and communities. Our report identifies five key benefits. The economic benefits are perhaps the most obvious. However, we consider that the social benefits of markets are equally important. For example, markets can play a significant role in encouraging social cohesion. We identify further roles for markets in assisting the regeneration of town centres, in promoting healthy eating ,and in reducing environmental impacts in the retail sector.

 

 

Markets as social spaces

Joseph Rowntree Foundation
4 Pages 74KB PDF

>> Link
This is a summery the full report can also be purchased

 

 

This study, by The Open University, examines the importance of markets as social spaces in towns and cities in England. Fieldwork and observation in eight markets across the country were used to: examine the key factors that make markets work well as social, vibrant public spaces for different groups in the community; identify the main users of markets as social spaces in different contexts; and examine the different kinds of social activity in markets.

 

 

Retail Markets: A good practice guide

Department for Communities and Local Government
18 Pages 2MB PDF
>> Link

Also in this title Retail Markets: Management Models and Supporting Retail Markets: Executive Summary

 

Markets are the birthplace of towns and cities across the world. Starting in some cases as crossroads where travellers would barter their goods and chattels for food and products they were the catalyst for the development of hamlets into villages, villages into towns and towns into cities. Haymarket; Grassmarket; Market Rasen; Market Street – the history of the market is woven into the very fabric of English society.

 

 

The Portas Review: an independent review into the future of our high streets

Mary Portas, December 2011

52 Pages 2.1MB PDF
>> Link

 

 

My review has shown me that much of what we do know about high streets is stored within professional silos and relates specifically to particular stakeholders. The information lies stagnating and festering somewhere, and whilst there has been an awful lot of thinking about the high street most of it has been done in isolation rarely backed by any kind of creative vision.

 

 

Understanding High Street Performance

A report prepared by GENECON LLP and Partners, December 2011

147 Pages 2.2MB PDF
>> Link

Executive Summary also available 25 Pages 274KB PDF

 

GENECON, leading a multi-disciplinary team from Colliers International, GJR Consulting, and Urban Pollinators, was commissioned by the Department fot Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to provide a review of the available research and analysis of the drivers and barriers which impact on the economic and social performance of high streets, in order to provide an independent and robust evidence base.

 

 

2011 Retail Market Survey Report

The Market Alliance, NABMA, December 2011

51 Pages 4.6MB PDF
>> Link

 

The survey was designed to measure year-on-year changes in the performance of retail markets – comparing performance in March 2011 with March 2010, using a red/amber/green ‘traffic light’ system, and measured against a number of key indicators, which are represented by 8 closed questions in the survey (See Appendix 1). Each of the 8 questions had 3 possible responses or answers. These were: decrease, increase or the same. Not all respondents completed every question.