Competitor in markets move

By MICHELLE HERBISON
TWO FORMER Mill Markets sites will create competition for the brand’s Newcomb operations under new ownership revealed this week.
Williamstown’s John and Robyn Lah will operate vintage markets at the sites in North Geelong and Brougham St under a new name.
The move follows months of negotiations on the business and numerous sites after former boss Ian Ballis plunged Mill Markets into administration.
The Independent reported last week that Geelong antiques dealer Mark Ward had bought the Mill Markets business with plans to “centralise” Geelong operations at Bellarine Hwy, Newcomb.
Administrator Sellers Muldoon Benton’s said Mr Ward would have sole rights to the Mill Markets brand.
Mr Ward would also continue operating Mill Markets at Daylesford and Ballarat.
He declined an offer to purchase the North Geelong and Brougham St sites to avoid “too much dilution” in the town.
Mr Lah, a Mill Markets stallholder for 10 years, was optimistic Geelong had the capacity for multiple vintage retailers.
“You could call it competition but the more the better,” he said.
“(North Geelong) is fairly new but people are coming here from word of mouth and our little sign out the front.
“I can really see it growing. We’ll probably get new Melbourne clientele coming in here, too.”
Mr Lah said he would continue to run the businesses under a similar model to Mill Markets, with stallholders selling antiques and bric-a-brac on commission or renting space.
Mr Lah, who operates with his wife a Bam Bam Vintage store in Williamstown, would also consider bringing a costume shop to the North Geelong site.
Mr Ward was “more than happy” with Mr Lah operating a similar business at the two locations.
Individual stallholders at Mr Lah’s sites could “make their own decision” to stay or move to Newcomb, Mr Ward said.
“I won’t be influencing them at all.
“Newcomb’s just about full now anyway. When I took it over it was about 75 per cent full.
“In just our first week of operations we increased overall takings by 13 per cent.”