Flower Market Circular – 20 January 2023

– Valentine’s Day
– Lunar New Year Blessings
– Australia Day

Market News

Welcome to 2023!

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the first newsletter of 2023!

This year we’re looking forward to a great lineup of Market events to connect us as a community, as well as rolling out some new initiatives to continue to create a safe and inclusive market environment for all.

Keep an eye out for updates on the upcoming Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day campaigns, as well as news on the developments and investments that make the Melbourne Market a great place to do business.

We’re always keen to hear what individuals and businesses are up to and share it with our market community. Feel free to drop us a line and tell us your story at submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.

Here’s to a prosperous, safe and happy 2023!

Valentine’s Day

This year, we have continued the retro theme and taken inspiration from the buzzword ‘OG’.

OG is something that is an original or the originator, and we all know Flowers are the OG love note for Valentine’s Day.

The campaign will go live on Wednesday, 1 February and includes the following:

• Radio advertising on Nova 100, Smooth FM
• Social media video showcasing flowers being created with a love note
• Social vox pops
• Vintage style poster print for instore promotion – limited number of A2 posters available

Get on board with the campaign by picking up one of the A2 posters, which will be available for collection from the Flower Market and Customer Service Centre from Tuesday, 24 January.

Keep an eye out on our social media channels and get involved!

1. Use the hashtag – add #FlowerTheOG to all Valentine’s Day posts
2. Share social media video from the Melbourne Market Facebook or Instagram page on your socials
3. Use “Give Flowers The OG Love Note” imagery on your socials
4. Make your own fun posts with “Give Flowers The OG Love Note” theme
5. Remember to include #melbourne.market and #nationalflowercentre in all your posts

For all enquiries, please contact Theresa on 9258 6191.

Lunar New Year 2023

2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit, symbolising longevity, positivity, auspiciousness, wittiness, cautiousness, cleverness, deftness and self-protection.

To celebrate the new year, the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne will perform traditional lion dance blessings next Tuesday, 24 January, from 4am.

The lion dancers are hard to miss, however, please remain vigilant during their performances throughout the Flower Market, Trading Floor and Buyers’ Walk.
MROs will be directing traffic to ensure the safety of performers and market users.

Australia Day

If you are on-site, please join us for an ‘Aussie BBQ’ next Wednesday, 25 January, from 4am under the breezeway between the Flower Market and the Trading Floor.

Gourmet sausages will be on offer for everyone to enjoy, and we will be accepting any donations people wish to contribute towards our flood-affected growers fundraiser.

If your parking permit only allows access on a day that falls on a public holiday, and you would like to come to the market on an alternative adjacent day, you will not be charged for parking and can enter the market. However, your regular bay may not be available. Please see a Market Relations Officer on arrival for instruction.

Market Satisfaction Survey Winners

Thank you to everyone who completed the 2022 Market Satisfaction Survey. Your feedback is crucial for us to continue to improve the operations, facilities and opportunities for businesses at the Melbourne Market.

Our lucky prize draw winners picked up their prizes last week. Pictured below, we have Pat picking up his brand new smart TV and Marlon receiving his new Sennheiser headphones.

Market Operations

Stand Reminder: Removal of Stock and Waste
A reminder that all equipment, stock and waste must be removed from your stand and surrounding areas at the end of trade each day so as not to impact the Market cleaning program and business operations.

What to do if you find wildlife stowaways on site

You may have recently heard about the family of endangered Northern Quolls stowed away in a box of pumpkins on site.

If you come across wildlife in the Market, you can report it to the DELWP Conservation Regulator on 136 186.

Alternatively, you can email portphillip.cr@delwp.vic.gov.au directly with information about where you saw the animals.

Please make sure you also notify the MMA on 0438 513 894, so they can give access to the site upon the arrival of wildlife rangers.

Immediate flood relief grant

Businesses directly impacted by the Victorian floods beginning in October 2022 can access a one-off grant of $5000 to cover immediate expenses. Businesses must be located within an eligible local government area and incurred significant direct damage to their place of business, business assets, stock or equipment.
Eligible businesses can apply for the grant to cover expenses, including (but not limited to):

• qualified tradespeople to conduct safety inspections, repair premises and internal fittings
• equipment, materials and services needed for clean-up
• removal and disposal of debris, damaged materials or damaged stock
• equipment, stock and materials essential for immediately resuming operations.

Applications close at 4pm on Tuesday, 7 February 2023 or earlier if funds are exhausted. Applications will be assessed on a first-in, first-served basis.

Click here for more information and to apply for the grant.

Melbourne Market Job Board

Ask the MMA

If you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to: submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.