Olympic traders

[marymck]

I've just received an e-mail about this petition ...

Mary -

Like everyone I know, I couldn't wait for the Olympics to arrive. It's a real chance for East London, where I've lived all my life, to show the world what a great place it is. So when I was offered the chance to be part of it by having a food and drink stall close to the stadium, I jumped at it.

More than 30 of us - all small business people from the local area - have paid an average of £25,000 for our stalls. We were told by North London Business -- who sold us the pitches -- that there would be around 80,000 people walking past our stalls every day as it would be a main route for spectators walking to the Olympic Park.

Instead of what we were promised, spectators were being directed a different way and only a handful of people walked past. I took £110 in the first three days - myself and all the other stall holders have been forced to shut up shop.

So I've started a petition on Change.org to try and get our money back.

Many have borrowed the money and refused other jobs as we were focusing on this opportunity. Now, some of us are on the verge of ruin - days have passed and we've sold nothing, even having to throw away good food.

I know that this was a business deal, and like anything, it comes with some risk. But what we were sold and what we actually got were totally different -- just guesswork and empty promises that lead to us investing in something that wasn't real.

I have had my catering business for thirty years. I have built up respect and loyalty for it and it has provided for my family. Now it is under threat because I believe we were lied to.

Please help us get our money back by signing my petition.

Thanks,

Donna

I haven't time to check it out today, but if true it sounds horrendous.

[Annie.]

That sounds terrible Mary, when you get time to check it out,if its a fact, i will sign a petition if it will help these poor people.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[leenewham]

I got that too. I find it incredible that anyone would have to pay £25,000 for a market stall for a pitch for a few weeks. The Greyhound, an actual building is £45,000 a year. Stalls in Greenwich market vary between £10 for a week day and £50-65 per day at the weekend.

More info here:http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9 ... host_town/

Stalls were actually £13,500 for 45 days. Which is a hell of a lot of money. But look at the article and again it come back to common sense, especially when you look at the comments. The market appears to be on a main road, there are parking restrictions and it's not a main route for people to walk past. They have been sold down the river, but to be honest, with a bit of common sense they would have known this anyway.

Good market stalls can turn over thousands a day, but with overheads etc I can't believe anyone would have made a big profit from these stalls 45 days.

North London Business does exist and has commented on the market:

http://www.northlondonbusiness.com/2012 ... d-markets/

It looks like they will get compensation. Which is just and right. But it goes to show that small businesses don't really do their research.