Memorandum

Memorandum 

To: Market City Flea Market  From:  Vendors 

Date:   January, 2022 

Re: Vendor Comments & Concerns 

________________________________________________________________________ 

The purpose of this memorandum is to address the views, and concerns of the small business owners of Market City Flea Market (hereinafter referred to as the “Market”) who have been denied the right to a habitable and conducive environment for business. It has been submitted by the vendors who have signed this memorandum (hereinafter referred to as the “Vendors” or “We”). Their names and signatures are attached as Appendix A. 

We have been experiencing challenges at the Market which can be attributed to the management’s blatant neglect of its responsibility to maintain habitable standards at the Market. The management has failed to set up necessary facilities to increase the ease of conducting business at the market. The challenges relate to the following areas:

1. Promotion and Flea Market Advertising

• Lack of proper consumer direction to booths.
• Prohibition of business owners from hanging any advertising materials to direct consumers or generate new traffic.
• Prevention of self-promotion.
• Lack of effective social media awareness.
• Outdated social media presence.
• Lack of advertising or commercial presence of the Market.
• Lack of email marketing of the Market.
• Poor internet service.

2. Market Upkeep and Bathroom Conditions

• Poor lighting over vendor spaces.
• Poorly monitored isles for spills and puddles which pose a hazard of spills and falls, especially during winter and rainy seasons.
• Poorly cleaned walls surrounding booth space.
• Limited restroom access for vendors and patrons.
• Foul sewage stench emanating from the restrooms.
• Little to no heat at the rear of the Market.
• Poor ventilation at the Market.
• Understaffed maintenance personnel.

3. Security Risk/Vendor Access/Stock and Preparation Hours

• Reduction of stocking hours on Thursday from between 9:00am and 5:00pm to between 8:00am and 12:00pm with favoritism towards certain business owners.
• Failure of hired security to show up for scheduled shifts.
• Failure of hired security to follow sign-in protocols.
• The rear door of the market is open and fully accessible by the public, raising safety concerns among business owners.
• Vandalism.

4. Inventory/Oversaturation of Duplicate Items Allowed/Sales

• Lack of equal opportunities for business owners to conduct business.
• Vendors have expressed concerns over monthly inspection of inventory to prevent the oversaturation of markets and duplicate vendors.

5. Management 

• Failure of the management to respect the privacy of confidential information.
• Arrogance, rudeness and disrespect by management towards business owners.
• Over taxation by management.
• Lack of proper channels for business owners to forward their grievances to the management.

As a result of the foregoing acts and/or omissions by the management, business owners at the market have suffered damage. Restrictions and promotions on marketing and advertising have prevented the business owners from increasing their market reach while business owners in other flea markets are allowed to market and advertise freely.

The deplorable conditions at the Market pose a health hazard to everyone at the Market and do not provide a conducive environment for conducting business. Business owners have lost clients due to their inability to find occupiable and sanitary restrooms outside the Market to relieve themselves.

The reduction of stocking hours on Thursdays reflects no consideration of business owners who are employed and may be independently-owned and operated. Vendors should be able to operate during efficient operating hours (9:00am to 7:00pm) with proper advertisement of new hours. They should operate within fair conditions, which should not be reduced by the management’s inability to stay full hours or a Market employee’s unwillingness to show up for scheduled shifts.

Some business owners have had to resort to resort to B2B sales due to the decline of B2C sales. Low traffic volume on Fridays is critical for vendor sales, leaving only one day of high traffic on Saturdays to make a profit and pay obligations on Sundays for vendors who pay weekly rates.

The Vendors would like management to address ALL the grievances outlined above within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Memorandum. The management can contact [YOUR FULL NAME] via [CONTACT INFORMATION] to discuss how to implement change at the Market to ensure a conducive business environment. 

This Memorandum will act as a final chance for the management to address the grievances above. At this time, the Vendors who have signed this Memorandum are not contacting the authorities or filing a suit against the management of Market City Flea Market as they believe that their grievances can be resolved without authoritative involvement. The Vendors are not under any circumstances, however, waiving any legal rights they have presently, or future legal remedies against the management by sending this Memorandum.

Once again, the Vendors expect the management of the Market to address their grievances within no more than twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Memorandum. If the grievances outlined above are not addressed within 21 days from the date of this Memorandum, the Vendors who have signed this Memorandum will seek appropriate relief before a court of proper jurisdiction for full payment of damages, including all costs and witness fees.

Sincerely,

Business Owners of Market City Flea Market

APPENDIX A

We, the undersigned, call on the management of Market City Flea Market to address the grievances outlined in the attached Memorandum.