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MarketTimesAugust2015

Market Times • August 2015 NEWS MMM campaign kicks off in Preston THE NMTF’s Making Markets Matter campaign is back, visiting markets all over the country. The first event took place on Preston market and was enjoyed by traders and shoppers alike despite a rainy start. Preston Market Manager, Dave Bullock said: “The NMTF team were simply first class with their interaction and engagement with the public and kids. We also loved NMTF joins coalition for review of new tax on ATMs 31 EASY and convenient access to cash for consumers is a vital prerequisite for the success of many retailers and none more so than market traders. But a recent decision by a government authority puts the ready supply of cash for customers of retail businesses under serious threat. After changes to the business rates regime, many ATMs facing the outside of small convenience stores and petrol retailers are now required to pay a separate business rate bill. The changes mean that many free ATMs across the country will have to start charging a surcharge fee for withdrawals to cover their running costs. In some cases, ATMs might even have to be removed. Losing close-by cash facilities can have severe consequences for small retailers, such as market traders. With the removal of ATMs, traders might see themselves forced to offer expensive non-cash payment facilities and process a higher number of costly card payments. Furthermore, with less cash in their pockets, customers can be quick to do their shopping elsewhere, for instance in large supermarkets or retail parks. Here, shops are able to offer the latest technologies in non-cash payments or absorb the cost for an ATM. The changes to the business rate regime for ATMs are set to be implemented at the same time as the number of high street bank branches continues to decrease and consumers increasingly depend on ATMs in small stores and at forecourts to do their shopping in local communities. Since market traders rely in particular on the consistent and convenient supply of cash to their customers, the NMTF has decided to join a coalition that urges the government to review the way in which business rates are levied on many independent ATMs in retail locations, such as markets, high streets and convenience stores. The coalition is spearheaded by independent ATM deployer Cardtronics UK, which operates several thousand Cashzone and Bank Machine branded cash machines across the country. The campaign will be a voice for small retailers and traders who rely on access to cash for the success of their businesses. Also you as an individual trader can support the campaign by writing to your local MP and the Minister for Small Business, Anna Soubry. Raising your concerns will demonstrate the impact that the changes to business rates on ATMs could have on market retailers like you. Your call for action will increase the chances of success for the campaign. Please contact cash@westminsteradvisers.co.uk for any help in completing the letter, or with any questions about the campaign. Geoff’s cookery demo.” The MMM campaign is designed to raise awareness of the delights of UK market shopping. There are still two events to go this year – Kirkby, near Liverpool on July 11 and Northampton on July 25. Anyone interested in hosting the event in 2016 should email vanessa.higginbottom@nmtf.co.uk or telephone 01226 352812 and speak to Vanessa or Rebecca.


MarketTimesAugust2015
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