Page 23 - MarketTimesDecember2018
P. 23

FEATURE • BICESTER
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trying to build that up. The charities or community groups help promote the market and we have started to build up a following on social media,” he added.
Persian stews and other specialities from her native country, and Alex Munyeza who has established a loyal following for his African meat and hot food including Boerewors sausages and burgers.
 The traders are also looking at developing some market branding and putting up some attractive signage.
“This is a good, busy market and people seem to like the meat I sell which means I am getting a lot more regular customers,” Alex said.
Rent is good value for money — £15 a week or £12 if traders pay monthly. And traders seem more than happy with the set up and the footfall.
There is a mix of anything and everything on Bicester market, with the emphasis on quality and value.
John Hayden, who sells high quality soaps, candles and pampering products, left the corporate world where he worked as a sales director to sell at corporate head offices three days a week and on markets on the other days.
Richard welcomes casuals who add to the variety, and most say they like the market and do well here.
Just 18 months into his new enterprise he is enjoying the face-to-face contact with customers and certainly doesn’t miss computers and emails. And he rates Bicester market because of the good footfall which he can
“I used to work in occupational therapy but I decided to do something completely different and now I am one of around 50 ambassadors for Alana selling the cakes she makes in Wales at food festivals and shows,” Sophie said.
turn into sales.
Martin Roe, who has an unusual line of vintage-style children’s clothes
“I do mainly shows and festivals but I make an exception for this market because it is so good and it’s close to my home,” she added.
and babies’ shoes, also finds it a lucrative place to trade.
“I have been here as a casual for six months but I am planning to become
Bicester shoppers have plenty of choice. There’s a designer outlet outside the town which is a big crowd puller, a new Tesco superstore and the Pioneer Square development with its Sainsbury’s.
a permanent trader and get a bigger stall,” he said.
Richard has also welcomed some great little street food businesses on to
But there is always room for a good market, as long as it is well run and in exactly the right location.
the market. They include Mitran Masoumi who has a popular stall selling
They include Sophie Beasley who sells Deliciously Rich cakes by Alana, the 2016 winner of BBC TV’s The Apprentice.
 Sophie Beasley sells the cakes made by the 2016 Apprentice winner under a franchise arrangement with Deliciously Rich by Alana
  FACTS & FIGURES
l Market Days: Friday
 l Market Rent: £15
l Bicester’s claim to fame: Bicester in north east Oxfordshire is a rapidly expanding historic town with good communication links, located halfway between London and Birmingham. It was named as a new garden city in 2014 and as many as 13,000 new homes are
in the pipeline.
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