2 November 2010

City Walk Expo - Launching this Saturday (6th November 2010)

| City Walk Expo
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artist's impression

VI Ambition Support Incorporated (VIASI) is proud and excited to announce the launch of City Walk Expo, an exclusive market-type event in the very heart of our Nation’s capital – the City Walk strip Canberra on the 6th of November.

The City Walk Expo will be a weekly, year round event operating from 9:30am – 5:00pm every Saturday with over 100 stalls selling a variety of locally made products and produce, such as arts and craft, clothes, accessories, fruits and vegetables, tea, spices, toys and much more. There will also be a stage to showcase local performers. As part of its ‘grand opening’ on 6th of November, there will be a great varying range of entertainment to enhance the festivities.

Designed to promote local creative and performing artists and producers, the event is free and welcomes visitors, stallholders and locals from near and far alike to participate and attend. Free parking will be available in a nearby site on the day.

The organiser is expecting a crowd of thousands to attend and hopes that the event will not only create a commercial avenue for local artists and producers, but also boost revenue of surrounding businesses. Additionally, the organiser hopes that City Walk Expo will encourage greater community volunteerism and seeks the help of various organisations, businesses and the media in welcoming this event. All proceeds from the event will go to VIASI in support of their charitable endeavours.

VIASI is a Canberra based not-for-profit association committed to opening the doors of opportunity to those in the community who without support may find it difficult to reach their goals. VIASI is also currently in the process of constructing homeless shelters in Canberra and Sydney to assist underprivileged individuals and those requiring social welfare assistance.

For more information on the event, please contact City Walk Expo on 0402 524 039 or turners@viambitionsupport.com

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Gorman House Markets has been established in the City for almost 25 years, only minutes walk from the Canberra Centre.

Great setting, diversity of stalls, live music and children’s entertainment.

Welcomes new stallholders.

Extended Christmas Trading December 11th, 10am – 9pm. Santa will be visiting Kids Land at 2pm.

For all Canberrans wishing to shop in vibrant market in the City, why not stroll up Ainslie Ave to Gorman House each Saturday.

The City already has a great Saturday Market.

Go Gorman!!!!

Is anyone else concerned about the validity of VIASI as a “not for profit” organisation? Their website has remained the same for months now with the promotion of their market only coming on line in the last fortnight. Additionally there is no way to make a donation to this organisation. We should all be questioning why TAMS has seen fit to support this organisation who says it “constructing homeless shelters in Canberra and Sydney” I was under the impression that Sydney was the capital of NSW, so why is the Canberra Community being asked to support this?

I went along on Saturday as I was curious to see the quality of this “exclusive” market. It must have been incredibly exclusive as there were only about 40 stalls!

basketcase said :

100 stalls selling a variety of locally made products and produce

I bet! I bet they will all have imported junk from China or India.

And you were right basketcase! I saw a number of stalls that were only selling cheap imported toys, jewellery, baby goods and clothing.

I am also intrigued by Genies comment:

Genie said :

Firstly I will point out I am a market person…Handmade Markets and Bus Depot are too fussy, hence waiting lists.

Genie – I will take “fussy” any day of the week if it means quality for shoppers.

taliesinsmuse7:15 am 05 Nov 10

Stall fees aren’t so bad, deposit’s just one week of fees, and they let you book for as far in advance, or as few weeks, as you like. They credit you another week if the markets are cancelled one week IIRC.

Bus depot markets have a huge waiting list- I’ve been on it for over a year. I’ve phoned up – to no avail. I see the same empty stalls you do..it’s just the way they run things.

Bummer that they are making the stall fees so expensive, I would have liked to see more of Canberra’s local crafters. After the last couple of comments about it sounding like a scam, I went and looked at the markets website, and then found the website for the company who owns the markets. It certainly doesn’t look very professional.

Still hoping for a night market one day… I like shopping at night markets, easier to shop sans kids (ie spend more money because no small people are demanding my attention!).

Firstly I will point out I am a market person…

emd said :

Actually, given there is a wait list for stallholders at Handmade, and sometimes also for the Bus Depot, there may well be plenty of quality stallholders for another daytime market. Would love to see a night market in summer though.

Handmade Markets and Bus Depot are too fussy, hence waiting lists. They have to approve your stock and only let you sell ONE type of merchandise. (eg.. Sewing OR Jewellery not both)
When it comes to Handmade Markets, if your stock is similar to someone else’s stall they wont permit you a site. (YES I am speaking from EXPERIENCE) I could go on further about my experience and disgust for the runners of this markets but I’ll be nice for once.

As for Bus Depot.. I have a large variety of stock in my families market stall and we would be required to have 5 different stalls. Last time I was out there at least 50% of the space was empty, fine sunny day. So i’m confused about waiting lists – unless your refering to their “speciality markets”

As for this new market. Being a stall holder I personally thought this was a scam. Your required to lock in 12 months of markets and pay up front, plus a massive deposit fee. No refunds if the markets are cancelled (either due to bad weather or the whole thing falls through)

As a market person I fear this market is going to fail. I heard many different reactions from stall holders, some think great idea others not interested, I am hoping to head to the city to look at all these 100+ stalls that they expect to fit into such a small place the last city walk market was lucky to fit in 40 or so, the other reason why I believe it will fail is the over priced stall fee’s and deposits that are being asked of stall holders the rumors are you must pay a $500 deposit refunded when you longer do market and lock into 3-6months worth of markets payable upfront at $95 per market so that’s a total of 3 months $285 6 months $570 I will point out most canberra stall holders don’t have that kind of money. Some market stall holders are very concerned that it is a scam as they have been give different dates info etc. BUT I could very well be wrong.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Night markets are great but a very hard to run as you need right location with heaps of lighting which is hard to get here in canberra as there is so much red tape from gov

Actually, given there is a wait list for stallholders at Handmade, and sometimes also for the Bus Depot, there may well be plenty of quality stallholders for another daytime market. Would love to see a night market in summer though.

The London Circuit carparks near the Theatre Centre are pay and display until 12 or 12:30 on Saturdays.

Presumably a hangover from the days when the shops closed at that time on Saturdays.

Yes, you’re right. But the carparks on London Circuit further away from the Theatre (ie. on the left hand side of the Constitution Ave extention, not the right) are free all day.

100 stalls selling a variety of locally made products and produce

I bet! I bet they will all have imported junk from China or India.

I like the concept but it is really nothing new and I wonder if it will just make saturday morning in Civic even more crowded and unpleasant.

I think a really good night market during summer would be better. Something that encouraged lots of food stalls and entertainment and added more to the City than the bar and nightclub crowd.

We already have more than enough day markets – I wonder if there is room for another. I hope this wont kill Gorman House.

The London Circuit carparks near the Theatre Centre are pay and display until 12 or 12:30 on Saturdays.

Presumably a hangover from the days when the shops closed at that time on Saturdays.

It sounds fantastic to me. Gorman House does ok right through winter. This is something you walk through and have a look, not sit down at. I would go in winter. The merrigoround operates right thru winter too.

– Is the london Ct carpark free Sat AM?

luther_bendross1:05 pm 02 Nov 10

Looks like the artist has copied the Eastern Bloc architecture of Belconnen.

Free parking in the city, all day Saturday?

There is lots of parking in the city that is free all day Saturday. Around London Circuit from the Canberra Theatre, for example. Admittedly it is not as close to most places people are likely to want to go as the pay parking, but then that would be because people are willing to pay for convenience.

I hate to be a nay-sayer, but a year-round _outdoor_ market in Canberra is doomed from the day the leaves start to fall.

I just spent a minute looking at that artists impression picture of City walk. Were they creating from a photo? Looks a bit ‘Dawn of the Dead’ meets ‘Tron’. Does it inspire me to go to a market? I don’t know…

“Free parking will be available in a nearby site on the day.”
Free parking in the city, all day Saturday?

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