Page 42 - MarketTimesAugust2013
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  Neil Stodd, a fruit and veg man, is a fourth generation trader. His great grandfather started the family business, Stodds of Leicester, on Leicester Market
  Brian Bonsell has been running a greeting cards business on the market for the past five years after being made redundant from his job in the steel industry
Brian Chapman and is wife Julie sell electrical goods and tobacco products on adjacent stalls half way up Castle Street
“After a new shopping centre opened, the retail centre moved and it made sense for the market to move with it up Castle Street,” he said.
On a fine day it is an attractive sight, with up to 50 stalls running up the hill from Market Square offering all the traditional lines you would expect to do well in a down-to-earth, working town.
Gary said: “Saturday is the best day. Friday used to be a flea market, but I decided to change it to a general market and Fridays are now pretty good market days too.”
The 32 traders who are regulars on Hinckley market are mainly long-established, traditional market people with market trading running through their blood.
Neil Stodd, who runs a family fruit and veg business, Stodds of Leicester, said: “My great- grandfather started the business and it has gone down the family.”
Neil was 13 or 14 when he became a regular Saturday boy on the market. “It’s a good life. We are up at 2 am, so it’s hard work. But market trading is in my blood — it’s all about great
presentation and customer service. You don’t get that banter in supermarkets,” he added.
Ann Williams, who sells wild birdseed, has been on Hinckley market for the past 19 years, said: “I have seen a lot of traders come and go over the years. Some lines like babywear and children’s clothes have disappeared. But this is a good market,” she added.
Brian Bonsell, who runs Bri-Vis greeting cards, took over the business five years ago after being made redundant from the steel industry. “Business has dropped off over the
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