Fun day not a load of laughs for Wick traders
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WICK Fun Day has been slammed as a “complete joke” and “lacking in atmosphere”.
Several shopkeepers have hit out at the lack of trade on the one day where they are actively encouraged to promote themselves and keep the town centre thriving.
Fingers have been pointed at a new seasonal bazaar organised by the Wick Christmas lights committee in the Assembly Rooms as the reason people stayed away from the town centre on Saturday.
Donald Gow, of Wick Sport Shop, said what was supposed to be his busiest day of the year quickly turned sour.
“Everybody just stayed at the Assembly Rooms,” he said. “It was just a complete joke.
“I think there was a lack of communication between the Christmas lights committee and the shopkeepers.”
Mr Gow said had the Christmas lights committee held one section of its events in the Waterfront nightclub and another at the Norseman Hotel then everyone would have benefited.
However, lights committee treasurer Anne Mackay said the group had to move from the Market Square it would have faced a funding crisis.
“Up to now there has never really been a Christmas bazaar,” she explained.
“Over the years the Christmas lights committee has supported traders on their fun day in different ways but last year we made £29 in the Market Square and it was raining and frosty, so we’d really had enough. It was a disaster.”
One woman even claimed to Mrs Mackay that her child had contracted pneumonia after standing out in the cold in line for Santa’s grotto last year.
Mrs Mackay said they received very little in the way of support from the local shops for staging events in the Market Square over the years – with the exception of a couple of traders.
“I know the traders were not happy but what are we supposed to do? We need to raise money for the lights that are on the street,” said Mrs Mackay.
“To raise the money we need to think what is going to help us do that and in the past few years that just wasn’t possible in the Market Square.
“In an ideal world we would like to have held the function in Haldanes’ old building or somewhere like that, or a large area in the town centre, but it’s not an ideal world.
“The Assembly Rooms was the ideal location for us this year.”
In stark contrast to a quiet town centre the Assembly Rooms was positively crammed with people.
The hall was packed with a huge variety of stalls and the day raised well over £3000 for the Christmas lights fund.
“We exceeded our expectations and everybody turned out for us,” said Mrs Mackay. “It was a fantastic day.
“From when the doors opened at 12pm until 4pm the place was packed. If anything it was slightly too busy.”
Meanwhile, in Bridge Street D.E. Shoes manageress Lyn Rosie was less than happy with business.
She said trade was noticeably down compared to fun day last year.
“Usually it is really busy,” she said. “This year the shop was quiet and there was no atmosphere on the street.”
Mrs Rosie said the only busy spells were first thing in the morning and just after 4pm.
“I agree with keeping kids in the warmth like they did in the Assembly Rooms, but they could have had something down in the Norseman,” she said.
“Fun day is for the traders and for people to come out to spend money and take advantage of the offers in the shops.
“I’m not against the bazaar in the Assembly Rooms I just think maybe it should be done on a separate occasion and just leave the traders with their own day.”
Stewart Gunn, of J. Gunn & Co, just along the street, said that his business had gone well for him on the day but suggested that traders work together with the lights committee in future.
“We actually had quite a good day’s business but there definitely wasn’t the number of people on the street as there normally would be,” said Mr Gunn.
“I think the traders need to get together with the lights committee and sort something out.”
Kevin Milkins, of Biron’s Ironmongers in Bridge Street, and Hamish McAllan, of McAllan’s clothing stores in High Street, both told the Caithness Courier that they were reasonably happy with how the day went for them.
