{"id":1382,"date":"2010-11-23T09:27:17","date_gmt":"2010-11-23T09:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localenterprise.wordpress.com\/?p=1281"},"modified":"2010-11-23T09:27:17","modified_gmt":"2010-11-23T09:27:17","slug":"dock-street-market-and-the-role-of-the-leeds-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/realisedevelopment.net\/index.php\/2010\/11\/23\/dock-street-market-and-the-role-of-the-leeds-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Dock Street Market – and the role of the Leeds communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u00a0went\u00a0to a very wonderful opening for Dock Street Market<\/a> last Friday. \u00a0It used to be a decent enough shop that had many fans and reportedly turned over a million a year. \u00a0But still it could not survive.<\/p>\n

Now the shop has been taken over by a number of local artisan producers and entrepreneurs, all of whom offer a\u00a0phenomenal\u00a0product. \u00a0We have fish and chips reinvented by the wonderful Fish &<\/a>,\u00a0excellent north Italian coffee and more from Bottega Milanese<\/a>, superb breads from the Riverside Sourdough Bakery and more. \u00a0The people behind these businesses are phenomenally hard working and focussed on quality, service and value. \u00a0They are doing their bit to make\u00a0the collaborative project a success.<\/p>\n

But my interest is in the role of the rest of us. \u00a0The fine citizens of Leeds. \u00a0Of the 700 000 plus people that live in the city, my guess is that the vast majority will not even know that the Dock St Market exists. \u00a0They are ‘strangers’ to the market. \u00a0Perhaps 10 ooo or so are aware of the market and certainly a couple of hundred rocked up at the opening last week. \u00a0These constitute ‘prospects’. \u00a0People who know the market exists and may become customers.<\/p>\n

But customers so far, by\u00a0definition, are a smaller group. \u00a0Having only just opened not many of us have had the chance to spend our cash in Dock Street Market yet….<\/p>\n

A large part of the success of the market will depend on the rate at\u00a0which\u00a0strangers are turned in to prospects, prospects are turned into customers, and customers are turned into loyal supporters of the\u00a0brand.<\/p>\n

Historically this process of marketing and sales would be down to the entrepreneurs. \u00a0This is their job. \u00a0But I am interested in the role of the rest of us. \u00a0Those who are already prospects and customers, and our <\/em><\/strong>ability to help in the sales and marketing process. \u00a0 Our power to influence others to check out and support the development of the great independent traders \u00a0in Dock Street Market.<\/p>\n

Because the ability of a community to support great business is perhaps as important in developing an enterprise\u00a0culture\u00a0as the development of the entrepreneur.<\/p>\n

Social media has amplified the voice of the prospect and the customer. \u00a0It can help to reach the strangers. \u00a0As can word of mouth strategies based on good quality referrals and introductions.<\/p>\n

So of course let us keep giving the entrepreneurs the training and skills that\u00a0they\u00a0need. \u00a0But let us also consider how we can equip the rest of us to properly support businesses\u00a0in our community.<\/p>\n

Good luck to all behind the Dock St Market venture. \u00a0And let’s see just how much the rest of us can do to really support the kind of\u00a0independent, artisan based businesses that many of us say we\u00a0want\u00a0to see thriving in Leeds.<\/p>\n

You can find Dock St<\/a> just south of the river. \u00a0It is well worth checking out!<\/p>\n

More on Dock Street Market<\/a>. And More…from Bronchia<\/a><\/p>\n