Charges necessary, says market organiser

WHEN things change, it’s not always for the better. Patrons of the popular I heart Market discovered this to be the case when they were asked to cough up a R20 entrance fee to the market at its new premises in the Point.

An angry post on social media garnered a slew of complaints, but the market organiser, Anna Savage, says the fee is necessary if the market is to pay its way at its new venue at The Hay Store situated at the corner of Albert Terrace and Camperdown Road, Point.

Not only did people complain about the entrance fee, but also the fact that free parking was limited and additional parking in the area came at a cost of an additional R20. One complainant posted that she thought it was a ‘rip off’ and added that she would no longer be supporting the market.

Responding to the complaints, Savage said it was not easy to please everyone. She explained that since the market was forced to move from its site on the lawns in front of Moses Mabhida Stadium after eThekwini Municipality hiked its rental by 600 per cent from R6,508 to R48,300 a month, it had faced a number of challenges to find a new venue at short notice which could accommodate is more thn 120 traders.

“The responses on social media are varied. While there are lots of grumbles, it’s heartwarming for us to have so many super fans that understand our challenges and are rooting for us. We are confident that the market will continue to flourish, support traders and provide a great experience for Durbanites,” she said.

Anna said the market’s new venue at The Hay Store offered many advantages – a two story brick and mortar building (no more windy marquees), dynamic outdoor spaces and a fresh vibe. She said, however, that this all came at a price with additional expenses that previously they didn’t have to contend with.

ALSO READ: I heart Market settles into new waterfront home

“The move, however, has spurred us to take I heart Market to the next level and add even more value for our customers. We have been wanting to expand our offering for a long time but were not able to do so at our previous venue. Our vision for the I heart Market 2.0 is to transition from just a market to an event, with free yoga classes, live music and kids’ entertainment just some of what we are adding. And, as a result, we are charging a minimal entrance fee. Without this the I heart Market would not be able to continue operating,” she said.

With regard to parking, Savage said the market did not get any kickbacks from parking income. She said the paid parking at uShaka was safe and under CCTV surveillance and felt it was a fair price for secure parking.

“The Point Waterfront Management Company manages the precinct and ensures that there is safe, clean and accessible parking. A reminder that the costs range from R18 to R24 for the full market day and this is per car, not per person. We encourage carpooling to save costs and reduce environmental impact. I am sure that people will get used to the idea, just like they did when Musgrave Centre or the Pavilion started charging for parking. After a while, everyone got used to it and it became the norm,” she said.

Despite the naysayers, Savage said the market has a number of loyal supporters who saw its value. “They have said they will happily pay the fee, which, after all, is less than a cappuccino. Meanwhile, we will keep on making I heart the best place to be on the first Saturday of every month!” she said.

There will be three I heart Markets in December on 7, 14, and 21 December. Entrance is R20 for adults, R10 for pensioners and free for children under 12.

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