San Telmo Flooded With Street Vendors . Business Protest..!!

[Montauk_Project]

Your gut feeling is that formal sales will go down if they kick out the manteros from San Telmo?? The Stores owners figures show the opposite? What do we do ?? a DILEMA...!!

So, the thousands of people who go to the market in San Telmo every Sunday have no positive impact on sales on neighborhood businesses? I live in San Telmo and go to the market at least once a month, if not more. On that day restaurants are packed, stores are open late and are filled with people.

If the stores feel that they the street sellers have a better deal, why not give up their high rent and set up a stand? Doesn´t make sense. That is the logical solution.

Where are the figures of the store owners?

BTW, most of the stores in San Telmo sell overpriced crap, can their statistics take this into account?

Why be against the number one tourist attraction in Buenos Aires? Because cars can´t circulate? "residents are trapped"--who says this? I don´t feel trapped.

This reminds me of an argument in the USA: undocumented immigrants take away jobs and destroy the economy. So some states (like Arizona) have made it very hard for them to live there and spent tons of money on law enforcement. Result? Empty stores, malls, economy not doing well.

Any one who studies marketing and urban planning will tell you that lots of street activity (fairs, events, concerts) has spill over activity for surrounding businesses. Really, who is doing the consulting for these store owners?

Instead of trying to kick out artisans who sell hand made items that there is a demand for, they should re-examine their business model.

When I started my business, I complained about other companies getting more customers. When I stopped complaining and examined my business model, customer service and marketing, things improved.

And if they want to complain about something, it should be the sorry state of calle Defensa.

 

[Rich One]

[background=rgb(252, 252, 252)]If the stores feel that they the street sellers have a better deal, why not give up their high rent and set up a stand? Doesn´t make sense. That is the logical solution.[/background]

I rescue this piece of of your posting ....! Please write to Mr. Medrano, President of the Anticuarios Association of San Telmo, proposing your Logical Solution.

I have no opinion on this matter, have been to San Telmo twice in my life...

 

[Montauk_Project]

That would be the best solution. If Mr. Medrano wants to have the police invade San Telmo to kick out artists and sellers (many of them have been there many years) many neighbors will be upset--we don´t want La Republica de San Telmo to be turned into a mess like Florida Street.
Last time the police did something like this it did not end well. We are not a neighborhood that likes to be bullied:
There are subtitles in English:
http://youtu.be/HqzLvE21ZQQ

 

[la_guachita]

What a great video. I love the granny.

I'm friendly with one ST store owner who says that the entrance to his store is blocked on Sundays and that does affect his business. That being said, the law is that if they are selling artisania or playing music, they have a right to be there. If they are reselling goods that they bought, for instance, in La Salada, they are not able to sell in the via pública.

Works for me. The informal sector is still a big part of Argentina's economy, whether the tax-paying store owners like it or not.

 

[Montauk_Project]

In the video they actually mention that Mr. Medrano is the a**hole that called the cops. Seems like his plans to improve the hood are not popular with residents.
200 years ago the residents of San Telmo kicked out the British by pouring hot oil (however, I think it was most likely boiling water, as oil is expensive) on their heads. Don´t mess with la Republica.

 

[scotttswan]

That would be the best solution. If Mr. Medrano wants to have the police invade San Telmo to kick out artists and sellers (many of them have been there many years) many neighbors will be upset--we don´t want La Republica de San Telmo to be turned into a mess like Florida Street.
Last time the police did something like this it did not end well. We are not a neighborhood that likes to be bullied:
There are subtitles in English:

There's a huge difference between artists, musicians etc and people selling

These:

and

These:

 

[TomAtAlki]

I've been to the San Telmo Sunday fair many times and would not have gone to San Telmo if not for the fair. I can't remember any street vendors selling the same stuff as the stores.

A few years ago they tried to kick the street vendors out of Serrano Sq on Sat and Sun but that didn't work. Also, I think the street vendors bring business to the stores.

T/

 

[nlaruccia]

What is wrong with someone working?
What is the alternative for them?
The street fair is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, causing spill over traffic into the businesses. The business owners aren´t thinking this though. Their sales will go down if they kick them out.

Are they documented? Do they pay taxes, provide factura A o B tickets for sells, pay for the space on the street? Business will go down for those that are registered with AFIP and pay rent. They not only block the streets, but they leave trash, and pollute the neighborhood and it's not fair for the residents in the area. They need to have a designated area to sell their goods. You can't even walk down Florida street anymore, or Avenida Rivadavia and Acoyte. You have to walk in the street with the cars and it's totally out of control.

 

[Napoleon]

Almost NONE of the vendors in San Telmo actually make their product. They just get stoned and then hang out all day selling mass produced s#!+.

I would oust anyone not paying taxes. Because limiting it to people selling things that they made would shut down the market immediately.

 

[syngirl]

For every seller that is hand making shoes there are 20 that are selling crap they bought at la salada, cheap made in china trinkets, pirated DVDs and stolen goods. Pretty much anything not made of wood (or a hollowed out gourd) was not made here. And even those selling the wooden things are not the actual artisans -- most of the wooden boards for picadas etc come from other provinces if not from Bolivia. You can buy exactly the same stuff in Santiago del estero as you can at the San telmo market -- for about a tenth of the price.