Seven Thousand Attend Chiswick Flower Market Say Organisers
Event hailed as huge success with local shopkeepers reporting increased takings
Trade brisk at the first Chiswick Flower Market. Picture: Frank Noon
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The organisers of the Chiswick Flower Market have described the event this Sunday (6 September) as a huge success and are estimating that 7,000 people attended.
Most of the stalls sold out despite sending out for more stock during the day and are reported to be ‘amazed and thrilled’ with the day. Local shops are also reporting increased trading with a ‘buzzy’ atmosphere along the High Road.
One of the founders of the market, Karen Liebriech said, “Overall the organisers are really pleased with how the event went off. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from traders, visitors and local shopkeepers. We will change the layout slightly for the next one and give the most popular stalls a larger area. We also plan more cut flowers (one of our stall holders had a bereavement and had to pull out the night before). We now have a very long list of stalls who have applied for a space! “
There were a number of celebrities in attendance including Nikki Chapman and Arit Anderson (presenter of Gardeners World) as well as Rupa Huq MP and the Mayor of Hounslow, Tony Louki.
Chiswick Flower Market crowds. Picture: Rupa Huq
Queues were forming to enter market and some people have expressed reservations about social distancing at the event.
Karen Liebriech responded, “Being outdoors and carefully marshalled made people feel comfortable about attending, and recent research about outdoor safety confirms their views.
“At the peak we had a short clustering problem around a couple of the most popular stalls, so we put our plan into action which was to close the entrance and ask people to move along, and spread out. Mask-wearing compliance was very high (even though it was outdoors). Luckily we had 60 marshals on duty over the day (including a couple of our local councillors, Ranjit Gill and Ron Mushiso) who all worked hard ensuring the safety of the visitors and providing information about other attractions in Chiswick. Hounslow enforcement officers and the Met Police were on hand to assist us but did not feel any need to intervene. Safety will always be our number one consideration. “
The event’s Covid-19 policy is published on its web site.
We wanted to kick-start the revitalisation of our High St. Thanks to an amazing community-led team we had 7,000 people come to @ChiswickFlowers today. Proud to be part of it. Proud to see the community start the recovery of #Chiswick pic.twitter.com/tqSnHuhU1F
— Ollie Saunders (@olliesaunders1) September 6, 2020
The organisers feel they got the balance between established traders and smaller new traders right. A number of local businesses which had previously traded exclusively online were there in the innovation corner and they reported remarkable success. The Columbia Road traders who came along for the day said they would be returning with one saying she had had her best day ever in all her years of trading.
Picture: Frank Noon
Overflow car parking was provided for visitors at St. Mary's Primary School on Duke Road and although traffic appeared to be busier than it would normally be at this time on a Sunday, no significant congestion was reported in the area.
The market is to be held on the first Sunday of the month with the next one due on 4 October.
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September 12, 2020
