WOKINGHAM Borough Council has been “greedy and cynical” with its Virtual Christmas Fair, according to a local business owner.
Julie LeFevre, who makes needle-sculpted figures and decorations for her business evieandteddy, is outraged at the council’s decision to charge businesses to advertise on its digital marketplace.
And she claims it’s making thousands of pounds at the expense of local retailers.
The decision is also being questioned this evening by Lib Dem councillor Imogen Shepherd-DuBey at a virtual meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive.
She will ask: “I can see that Wokingham Borough Council have decided to start up a Virtual Christmas Market for small local traders on a Facebook feed, for which they are, rather shockingly charging £20 to £50 to use.
“Considering that there is clearly no website development and this looks like a very minimal service, I am wondering what value it offers.”
Sellers fee to Wokingham Borough Council depends on the size of their business, and allows them to advertise their wares once a day.
“I don’t think it’s justified, given what’s going on with lockdown,” Ms LeFevre said.
She believes there are around 1,000 businesses advertising at the Virtual Christmas Fair on Facebook.
“At just £20 per company, the council would be making over £20,000 — so it’s raking in a huge amount from these adverts,” she said.
The charge goes towards covering Facebook advertising costs, Ms LeFevre said.
But there are actually around 40 businesses signed up, according to the borough council. This could reach a total of roughly £1,000 — not £20,000.
Ms LeFevre believes that the council has “seriously over-calculated” the fee and is “ripping off” local businesses.
“I think it’s a very cynical ploy to charge people who are struggling to get things off the ground, especially at this time of year,” she said.
“A lot of us are on our knees as it is, not able to do what we normally do.
“We are trying to find ways to make money just to get by and pay our bills.”
She would be happy to pay the fee if she knew the money was going towards a charitable cause.
Ms LeFevre has contacted the borough council to express her anger.
In a letter she said: “I am shocked and disgusted that in the current climate when small businesses need all the help they can get, Wokingham Borough Council is taking away from the very small profits we make.”
She is now asking the council to remove the admin charge and allow business owners to advertise for free at the Virtual Christmas Fair.
Cllr Stuart Munro, executive member for business said the virtual market was set up after a planned in-person Ice Rink & Christmas Market event was cancelled.
He said: “The small admin fee charged allows us to ensure customer safety when using the platform we’ve provided – stallholders have to provide evidence of insurance, hygiene certificates etc.
“The 40-plus stallholders who have signed up also get help creating their social media posts, data on the best times to post and promotion via our social media.”
He added: “We have received very positive responses on the virtual market – with some suggesting it should become an annual event.”
