The future of the central market in Arkhangelsk is of interest to city residents, regardless of whether they go there for shopping. It is still one of the city’s iconic shopping buildings. Although in recent decades the market has collected more “bumps” than positive reviews. Having been a lifesaver in the 90s, in the minds of many he seems to have remained somewhere in that era. Others, on the contrary, are sure that this is where you can buy fresh local products and things at good prices. Who is right?
Let us recall that last year the central market was privatized: according to the results of the auction, the Forship company received 100% of the municipality’s share in the authorized capital of the LLC. The purchase and sale agreement was signed almost exactly six months ago – on October 20. This event was preceded by long discussions with the participation of the head of Arkhangelsk and city deputies. We were worried: will the object retain its purpose? What concept will allow it to reach the level of the main market in the region?
Our conversation with the new director of Central Market LLC was about this. Svetlana SHADRINA.
– Svetlana Vladimirovna, we think everyone is interested in knowing what will happen to the central market, what will change? The plans sounded grandiose…
– Let’s proceed from what the central market was like at the time of privatization. In recent years, by almost all parameters, it was in a state of disrepair, bringing losses to the city or nominal profits, which in fact did not indicate economic efficiency. There was no talk of any development.
Meanwhile, the object is very interesting! I think you will agree that in any city the market is a place of attraction for both residents and tourists. This should be the case in Arkhangelsk. In addition, we have the only agricultural market in the region.
– Will this direction remain key?
– Yes, this status according to the law provides advantages. But it also involves a number of obligations. First of all, the agricultural market must have a laboratory that tests all food products without exception. We have a state laboratory, and the premises are provided free of charge. I admit, when I came to work here, I was amazed at how carefully the specialists approached the checks. I don’t know of any other retail outlet in the city where such control exists. Products are checked before they arrive on the shelf and throughout the entire period of storage and sale. In this regard, one can only be glad that such a Soviet legacy has been preserved.
Also, few people know that we can only enter into contracts with tenants for three months. But this ensures their replacement, for example, when it comes to seasonal trade – watermelons and melons, potato harvests, and so on.
By the way, it is the status of the agricultural market that allows trading from cars here, in the city center. And of course, we will use this right. Now we have already agreed on the supply of watermelons at a good price, we are looking for suppliers of cabbage, which in our region is still not grown in the required volume.
We will continue to cooperate with local farmers – there are specially designated trading areas for them. As you know, the central market has a lot of locally produced meat, fish, dairy products, northern mushrooms and berries.
In general, we must provide agricultural producers with 50 percent of the area. The remaining retail spaces, including unclaimed ones, have the right to be allocated to other tenants for various goods. This scheme will remain.
At the same time, we will gradually change the zoning of retail spaces, their sizes and content depending on the needs of customers. We see, for example, that ordinary shoes and clothing are not in demand in such quantities, but things and products that reflect our regional specifics may be in great demand.
– What could it be?
– We communicate with product manufacturers in the Arkhangelsk region, and there have been many of them in recent years. We are currently negotiating with an entrepreneur who has gathered several such manufacturers under his wing, and is preparing a comprehensive offer: at his outlet it will be possible to purchase various products – from sweets to meat delicacies.
In the near future we are waiting for tenants with bread and bakery products, including those that can be taken away from Arkhangelsk as a souvenir. Here we focus more on tourists. We measured the traffic at the entrance: about 1000-1500 people visit the market per day, and there are many tourists among them, especially on weekdays. We would like to create a gastronomic tourism center here. Tenants support this concept. Our immediate plans include creating a tasting area. Tastings will be held mainly for organized tourist groups with the aim of introducing city guests to our northern cuisine. Well, so that they can immediately buy everything they like. We will open the tasting area in April, and at the latest in May.
– So soon?
– The new owner has set the task of returning traffic to the market as quickly as possible.
– Recently it became known that Diet’s market was closing. Is it possible that some of the sellers from there will flow to you?
– We don’t rule it out, but there are nuances. We adhere to the principle of diversifying our product range. Why inflate unnecessary competition within one object? This is of no interest to either suppliers or tenants. What is presented here must be on conditions close to exclusive. Buyers also appreciate this. Keep in mind that the central market is not that big in terms of trading area.
– We’re not just talking about products, tastings and delicious “souvenirs”? In the region, in particular, there are many local brands of clothing and accessories.
– We are considering such options. In general, we want to “play out” the whole Pomeranian concept. For example, we made an offer to manufacturers of motorized dogs to present their original vehicles on our site.
– But a tourist won’t buy a motorized dog right away…
– No, but, in our opinion, tourists, even during a short visit, should learn as much as possible about the region, what is produced here. Well, you can buy it remotely. We are located at the very beginning of the main tourist street of the city and, in principle, are ready for dialogue with organizations in the field of tourism and goods for tourists.
– Will you keep street trading?
– Yes, but new approaches are also being thought out in this direction. As soon as the weather permits, the area on the side of Vyucheyskogo Street will be covered with seedlings and seedlings. An agreement has already been signed with a Severodvinsk entrepreneur – the owner of the nursery.
We are trying to rebuild the very form of interaction with tenants, including in terms of street trading. For a long time they have become accustomed to floundering in their business on their own. We want to build completely different, more partnership-based relationships. Hence the emergence of the central market group on the social network: we need to more actively inform customers about what is happening here. We created a general chat with tenants. Together we began to organize various events for the holidays. On March 8, for example, we greeted customers with mimosas, now we are preparing for Easter and Victory Day. We launched a crossbooking point.
The tenants’ concerns were absolutely obvious and understandable. They went through a lot, including rumors about the closure of the trading platform. By the way, in the end these speculations even benefited us. Now the period of uncertainty is over. Tenants saw that we were changing the concept of the central market and at the same time continuing to operate.
We are trying to change their attitude towards the place itself. Now we are finishing the renovation of the room where the sellers used to change clothes, because the conditions there were, to put it mildly, not very good. We will replace the terrible toilets in the near future. We improve the service culture and work culture.
We will soon open a free fitting area: it will be the same for all customers, no matter where they choose the product – outdoors or indoors.
– So as not to be “behind a curtain on a piece of cardboard”?
– Yes, a civilized format convenient for everyone. I understand the essence of your question; it has really been a problem for a long time, including from the standpoint of the formation of the urban environment.
– Yes, walking around Chumbarovka, you suddenly see counters that are not always tidy, naked mannequins…
– These are the specific problems that need to be solved. In general, street trading is still of interest to many; it continues to retain its target audience, its atmosphere: come, bargain, lower the price… This is a whole tradition. And many price tags will surprise you. And the quality is decent. Let’s be honest: today almost all famous brands are made in China. Including clothes that are sold at many times more expensive in shopping centers.
I would like to note, by the way, that despite all the difficulties that existed here, the tenants managed to retain their client base. And they feel very well both traditional demand and new trends – marketing is in their blood.
– What is the occupancy rate of retail spaces today?
– There are 15 percent empty seats, that’s how it was initially. But the problem is not the rent – there are practically no such complaints. Rather, this is also about the zoning of retail space. I think this issue will be resolved as our plans are implemented.
– In connection with the adjustment of the assortment, could it turn out that you will ask some of the tenants, say with simple Chinese textiles, to vacate space?
– It’s all about business. Some of the tenants themselves will not see themselves in the new concept, others will not withstand the competition. We may not renew the contract with someone in order to accommodate another anchor tenant in this place. It is also possible that we will offer a smaller area or a different point.
But, you must admit, tourists are unlikely to go to the central market to buy Chinese goods. Our task is to convince both city guests and townspeople that on the market you can find, first of all, what is produced in Arkhangelsk and the Arkhangelsk region.
– What needs to be done with the central market building itself?
– At the first stages, we will pay more attention to the internal content, and then, based on the results of the technical audit, we will begin updating the building and engineering systems. The biggest financial burden is associated with heat supply, which today is provided by electricity. These are colossal costs. We need to find a solution that is technically, visually, and economically the most feasible. We will build on it when planning further external transformations.
The building also has a whole underground world: the same two and a half thousand square meters of space. There are huge storage lockers that are actively used, but there is a lot of empty space with good characteristics. In test mode, we offered some of the cameras for goods storage services for individuals, and we have already concluded the first contracts.
– How do you fight those who try to trade illegally in the central market? And also with the random parking?
“Maybe I’ll upset someone, but you won’t be able to join us so easily.” There is a 24-hour video surveillance system. In addition, there are inspectors on staff who make sure that tenants occupy their places and that there are no outside sellers.
Parking is more difficult. Although there are enough of them for those who come to the market. I hope that a new tenant with seedlings will help us out from Vyucheysky. We are really looking forward to the opening of Trade Union Square: renovations are currently severely limiting traffic flows.
– Under the purchase and sale agreement with the city administration, you have an obligation to maintain the use profile of the facility and staffing levels throughout the year. We talked about the first aspect, but what about employees?
– Now we have a staff of 22 people, and we are doing everything to retain these people. Many of them thoroughly know the history and peculiarities of the functioning of the market – for us this is a very valuable experience. Now they have to work in a different format, the pace has accelerated, new tasks have appeared. But this is received with enthusiasm. Everyone understood that changes were necessary. The founder provides maximum support.
It is clear that for design, construction and other complex work we will attract outside specialists. Objective changes in the staff are also possible. For example, with such an abundance of refrigeration and other electrical equipment, I do not have a full-time electrician. I don’t think it needs to be outsourced.
– Are you planning to organize a presentation of the new concept of the central market yet?
– It’s too early for the presentation – too little time has passed. But, as you can see, we are ready to tell you what goals have been set and the first small results.
