Both a Manager and an Free Range Egg stallie: great combo if ever there was! Can you give us a brief rundown on how market day starts for you in your two roles
On a typical day at Riverside, I first pick up the eggs from Ingleside and arrive at market around 6:45am.
After parking, I set up customer tables, chairs and gazebos, place bins in their designated area and check to see if anyone needs help setting up, and/or guide them to where their stall will be for the day and then set up the egg stall.
After parking, I set up customer tables, chairs and gazebos, place bins in their designated area and check to see if anyone needs help setting up, and/or guide them to where their stall will be for the day and then set up the egg stall.
Set up done, I do a walk around until 8am (when market trading begins) ensuring that everyone is ok and there are no issues to deal with. Once market starts, I sit at my stall and serve customers.
Throughout the day I get up, walk around, always keeping an eye on my stall to return and serve customers, don the manager's hat for some admin and at end of market, pack down, tidy up, secure everything, make sure that stall holders are ok and go home at end of market.
As a free range egg stallie , what has been the biggest turnover of eggs in one market day
The biggest turnover at market has been 5 boxes which I believe is 75 cartons!
What is one of the highlights you have as Market Manager
As a manager, the thing I enjoy most about the markets is the community feel. Everyone is up for a chat and is there to socialise and have a good time, as well as buying needs/wants. The music also creates a great foundation for a happy and lively market.
From your viewpoint, what is it about a market like Riverside, that is important not just to the producers but to the local community
The thing about markets (like I said above) is that it is not only a place to do your shopping, but for most people a place to go and socialise, soak up the sun and listen to some good music. All the while you are giving money direct to people who you know have earned it, rather than to a supermarket chain, and at the same time, you know you are buying a quality product.
How would you sum up Riverside Markets in 5 words
- Genuine
- Caring
- Community-driven
- Relaxing
- Quality
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And there you have it.......a manager and a stallie (who sells THE best free range eggs on the North Shore!).
Reckon it's time people! Get yourselves to market, buy up those eggs, get some quality produce and simply enjoy just "being".
Thanks to Jared for sharing a bit of his time and telling us what it's like to be a man who wears 2 caps!
