I left school with good grades but didn't follow my pals to university, for complicated reasons I was instead thrown into working in the family business.
And that family business was a motley collection of market shops and stalls in Sheffield Castle and Sheaf markets.
Those markets no longer exist, but in the 1980's they were busy and very cut throat, my university professors were larger than life market characters who taught me, while chewing on fat cigars, the importance of a good flash, offering value to keep customers regular and serving folk as fast as possible.
My fellow students were the other young traders. Customers would be fickle and move loyalty for a penny. I learnt early to pile it high and sell it cheap. You had to graft to succeed and some traders were making a fortune and others couldn't stay afloat whatever they did. I would watch and learn. I still have friends from those days.
My father had a bakery business, and when it was hard to find customers he would open another shop in the market. Soon the market business was as big as the bakery.
Later I started my own business in Harpurhay market in Manchester, I was laughed at by the other traders who thought my ideas mad. I remember the market manager saying to me that the markets had produced more millionaires than universities in Manchester. Citing of course Mr Marks and Mr Spencer. Er (blush) my business went on to be 100 shop chain, not quite M&S, but not so shabby.
So you see I have market trading in my blood.
And the thing is in Asia the markets are so like the old Castle and Sheaf markets in so many ways when I'm in the markets I can feel the same spirits of enterprise and competitiveness. That fight for space and the customer's eye. Retail is great you can change your plan daily to see what works.
And just like my father who needed an outlet for his products some of these market stalls are outlets for small family businesses. As I discovered in Yogya a great place to find suppliers.
