I had a lot of emails last night about one topic; so many I've only just managed to sort out the full picture.
So it was true. I reported in "A bit of a barney" the terrible news that Barmy (my thanks to an anonymous commenter for that one) himself would be "managing" the market yesterday - and so it came to pass. Ben seems to have been shoved out to Elephant & Castle so Barmy has a free hand to screw up the weekdays as effectively as the weekends. How's he getting on?
According to my informants, brilliantly. He began by taking until almost 10 am to allocate half a dozen traders - finished before 9 if Ben's in charge. As always, the Chinese were dealt with last. The last trader to turn up (Chinese actually) was made to wait while he enjoyed a chat with some of the antiques guys before being allocated a pitch. Making a dog's breakfast of that simple task wasn't enough though.
One Chinese trader, who has always had the same pitch for years, was declared "regular" rather than "permanent", meaning Barmy could give away her normal pitch on a whim. He tried, she resisted and got her pitch. He continued the dispute later in front of other traders and the public (very much his style and the subject of a forthcoming post). If Barmy gets his way - and when doesn't he - she'll be out by the toilets next week.
He's in again today - can't wait to hear from you guys...
Friday, June 13, 2008
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19 comments:
A Barney too far
time to hand over the reins to Ben & Pat
Barmy seems to be attempting to bring in the so-called "Creative Priority System" on weekdays (more on that fiasco later). What the hell for? If it weren't for the non designer/makers there wouldn't be a weekday market most of the year.
I hate that Creative Priority System. It seems to be the poison of the market.
Creative Priority System? Why not give everyone a clipboard and a card to grade the traders and call it Barmy's Army?
Ummmmm... BARMYSARMY that's it -Greenwich Barmysarmy sounds a bit like BAZAAR - which, in fact, IT IS...
...From the hand that gave
you "BARMY"...
What is your obsession with Chinese people about- makes one wonder...
Do you know what? I'm getting tired of a lot of people in the market making reference to the Chinese stalls in a negative way. It is not their fault they have been let on the market. They are basically the innocent ones getting caught up in a Priority System that not many people seem to understand. I know it can be frustrating for designer makers when these kind of goods turn up on the market but as I said before, it is not the fault of the Chinese traders. They are not in charge of the market. To Mark who has commented above, I don't think anybody in particular is obsessing about the Chinese. I think it is just a topic that keeps coming up time and time again.
O come on Mark. 1 comment about chinese isnt an obsession. Sounds like your the one with a problem. If people like you didnt pick on chinese I dont suppose there would be a need to mention them. Dont you think this place is bad enough without racists as well.
and homophobia going by the shine on you freaks comment!
You are all choosing not to understand what the person behind the article on the top is saying- "as usual Chinese were dealt with last" etc. So what? What are you trying to say? Whoever sells imported goods is dealt with last, this is what I've noticed. I also have noticed designer and maker Chinese trader who is dealt with first ( their stall is absolutely beautiful!)
So what that the person coming in late was Chinese, why do you have to state their nationality? If they are not on time- it's their problem and they can't expect everything to stop because they just turned up.
Whoever is behind this blog has a serious problem with assessing what the situation they are trying to describe is about. Look at the bigger picture, that's what I say.
IF the emphasis is on DESIGNER/MAKER then what's the problem with making those who choose to sell mass produced products, that they have had no hand what so ever in the production of wait til last..? If everyone knows the criteria, that Greenwich is a designer/maker arts and crafts market, those selling imported stock should accept it as said that they are at the end of the queue. Nationality does not mcome into it, English, Chinese, Italian, Spanish whatever/where ever - we all have a right to be there but must accept the rules....
I think the problem lies with the way the system is implemented. My understanding is that all casuals should be graded in accordance with the written rules. However, even after all this time, there are a number of casuals who still haven't been graded. There are also casuals who have been incorrectly graded according to the criteria. This has caused resentment and confusion between stallholders. This system seems to cause many problems. Is there a better system I wonder? Just because something is there doesn't make it right.
It's you that has a serious problem assessing the situation Mark! A trader turns up late. There are 2 choices. Either finish your chatting and make them wait - after all as you say, it's their fault they are late - very nice attitude not!!!!! OR you say to the stallholder you are chatting to, excuse me for a few seconds, I'm just going to allocate a late arriver. You give the late arriver their stall which will take you about 10 seconds and then go back to your chatting. You take into account that the stallholder may already be stressed out enough about being late without you giving them grief too. That's a good attitude!!!! That's the kind of management attitude we need!!!!!!!! What kind of market am I on here!!!!!!
Whatever happened to win/win? The attitude appears to me to be very much 'I'm ok, You're not'. How about levelling, 'I'm ok, You're ok'. Worth a try dont you think?
Chinese are not innocent they try to convince Barmy about the handmade stuff and he believe that.... wen they get the pitch the smile and start to take all the imported stuff out. It is impossible to compete with those prices
Well said again. I am embarassed to be a trader. Some of the comments are disgusting. What a sorry state of affairs!
This whole blog is now just a disgusting, mud slinging, abusive, foul mouthed waste of space. What at the outset looked like something that could do EVERYONE some good is turning everyone against each other - we are at each others throats... or is that what was intended to happen???
Who is "The Whistler"?
We know who he/she (according to their words)is not...
"A market trader
A shopkeeper
On the staff of GSM/USM
An employee of the Hospital
An employee of NBRE
A journalist
A restaurateur
A publican
Somebody obsessed with their personal profits
The Sugar Plum Fairy"
Odd then that someone seemingly "unattached" directly to the market is so concerned about it's welfare.. Perhaps it's a manager of another market jealous at the sucess of Greenwich who has now successfully set everyone against each other? Sitting back and throwing fuel on the fire as and when needed...
We are better than this
To the Whistler we have not heard any comment from you .I think you have a responsibility to put things straight ,you started this blog which now has turned into a vile diatribe.Maybe it is time to stop this blog after you have made it clear you do not endorse any racisist behaviour.
All quiet on the Whistler Front... something must be wrong with his whistle, perhaps he's gone for a pea..?
WHERE HAS THE WHISTLER GONE?
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