Belleville’s Economic and Destination Development Committee is considering asking city council to approve financing a formal business plan for Pop-Ups by the Bay in next year’s budget.
A special meeting has been called for Tuesday after the committee failed to meet quorum at its meeting Wednesday, however the matter was discussed during the meeting and most members agreed that a business plan was necessary.
Elisha Purchase, the city’s Development and Tourism Coordinator, said the first 3 years of the project have presented many challenges, not the least of which has been COVID-19 and weather.
However, overall Pop-Ups by the Bay has been a success with this year’s vendors rating the overall experience a 4.1 out of 5.
From just 3 vendors in 2019 Pop-Ups by the Bay featured 13 vendors for most of the season.
Purchase says they’re hoping next year will be a normal season at West Zwicks adding its time a formal business plan be created using an outside consultant to create a permanent plan to guide the project forward.
The plan would consider layout, landscaping, types of retailers, and marketing.
“Examining the marketplace and competition, so that’s competition from outside of the region but also from within because we know that Quinte West is now doing pop-ups and we have been approached by Brighton and Tyendinaga Territory about them looking at doing pop-ups.”
Another idea that will be considered is bringing in different retailers on a rotating basis.
“I think this would really support success for other retailers because there’s no doubt about it that operating retail at a park for 4 months is much tougher, requires a lot more hustle for success versus a food operator”.
Councillor Kelly McCaw supported a business plan but believed the pop-up marketplace should be for start-up businesses who have the ultimate goal of setting up in a permanent location in the city.
McCaw said several business people had concerns about subsidizing the pop-up business’s profitability with low rents and advertising and potentially hurting permanent businesses with higher costs.
Councillor Tyler Allsopp suggested a sliding rental scale based on the sales of any particular business.
Others thought businesses should only be allowed to participate in Pop-Ups by the Bay for limited time, such as 2 seasons and Allsopp suggested there be a youth business showcase as part of the project.
Tuesday the committee will vote on a recommendation that council approve the $15,000 for the business plan and $75,000 for capital spending.
