Left to right: Coun Alan Bradley, NMTF CEO Joe Harrison, Kathereen Paterson, NMTF President Julien Lewis and Ann Coffey MP
The NMTF First Pitch competition for entrepreneurs taking their first steps as market traders has been won by a delightful contestant who trades on Tachbrook Street Market in Pimlico, London.
Kathereen Paterson has made a huge success of her business Dulce Kitchen, selling a wonderful selection of cakes, baked by herself and including some, since she originates from Chile, with a distinctive South American style about them.
The £2,000 cash prize was presented to Kathereen at Tachbrook Street by NMTF National President Julien Lewis, All Party Parliamentary Market Group Chair Ann Coffey MP, and Westminster City Council ward councillor Alan Bradley.
On hand were NMTF CEO Joe Harrison, Julie Bundy of Westminster Artisans, which runs the market in a pilot scheme on behalf of the council, and Paul Frater of The Retail Group, consultants brought in to look at breathing new life into the previously failing market.
“I love working on the
market,” Kathereen said. “It is the best place to start a business. It’s
not just the low overheads but you get to meet your customers and receive direct
feedback. I try a new product every day and it’s a great way to develop a
business because you find out exactly what your customers like and want.
“The market is just like a
big family; it is so friendly. The other traders couldn’t be more helpful and
it really is a great place to work,” she says.
When the competition was launched
last year, Business Minister Mark Prisk commented:"The Government is committed to
encouraging a more dynamic private sector, and we can’t just count on big
business and a few tried-and-tested industries. We are backing new
start-ups and those setting up in business for the first time.
"Market traders are a great
example of people striking out on their own and the First Pitch competition
will encourage more aspiring entrepreneurs to set up in business."
Joe
Harrison, NMTF Chief Executive commented on Kathereen’s win: “Reaching our
decision was not easy, since all those who lasted the pace were of excellent
quality. But in the end it came down to the fact that Kathereen scored top
marks in all the categories – presentation, quality of product, personal
appearance and, perhaps most of all, her engaging way with her customers.
“I am sure
that Westminster Artisans, who run Tachbrook Street market would agree that
Kathereen is a shining example of someone who has used the federation’s NMTF
First guide to setting up as a trader to full effect.”
The First
Pitch competition gave budding entrepreneurs across the UK an opportunity to
become market traders for one year and, if chosen, as the overall winner, win a
cash prize of £2,000.00 to continue growing their business.
The competition was open to anyone
over 16 years of age not currently trading on a market.It aimed to give a helping hand to aspiring
entrepreneurs who would like to set up their own market stall, but lacked the
experience to do it themselves from scratch.
Julie Bundy, Operator of Tachbrook Street, Westminster Artisans, said: “Kathereen is
a great trader and really popular on the market. She epitomises what a market
trader should be about – presentation, great product and a fantastic way with
the customers. I have no doubt that Kathereen will achieve her goals for her
business and congratulate her on being the winner.”
Runners-up
of First Pitch competition were Melanie Angold, trading at Bolton Ashburner
Street market; Vinod Patel, trading at Tachbrook Street market; Tabitha Potts,
trading at Old Spitalfields market; Marcus and Katy Saide trading at Manchester
street markets and recently also from a shop. They will each receive a further annual free membership of the National Market Traders Federation.
