Page 17 - MarketTimesFebruary2013
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   Len Evans and his wife Linda moved to the Boston area eight years ago. Len previously had a fruit and veg business on St Albans Market
   Carla has been selling women’s underwear on Boston market for the past 30 years
“We did have to shrink the footprint of the market and cut down the number of parking places, which did not please everyone. But the market is doing well.”
It is very popular with locals and people living in the area, and attracts people from far afield who visit the market as part of a day out.
In the summer, coaches stop in Boston on the way to or from seaside resorts — 27 coaches was the record for one market day.
And all the traders say the market is one of the best in the area.
Sue Gosling, who runs The Tasty Tucker with business partner Richard Kew, said: “We have been on this market for 20 years. It is the only market we do so I can’t compare it — but we would say it is a really good, busy market.”
Len Evans, who has run a fruit and veg stall on Boston market for the past eight years after moving up from the St Alban’s area, is happy with the level of business.
He said: “This is still a vibrant market.” Like
several other traders, he found business was even better when the market was moved to a temporary location in Wide Bargate while the refurbishment work was being carried out. “The market was all on one street with no traffic, and shoppers seemed to like that,” said Len, who is acting Chairman of Boston NMTF branch.
But he has no complaints. “I have a lot of regular customers including many migrants who make up about 40 per cent of my business,” he said.
Boston has the highest number of migrant workers per capita than anywhere in the UK, and Len and other traders are glad to have their custom.
“They are very nice people and they like to shop on the market,” he said.
Jack Manning, who recently stood down as NMTF branch Chairman, has steady custom on the card stall he runs with his wife, Doreen.
“I have been on this market for eight years,” he said. “We didn’t do particularly well in Wide
Bargate, probably because we didn’t have a good pitch, but business has been good since we returned here.”
And Carla Beavers, who has sold women’s underwear on the market for the past 30 years, is also glad to be back after the revamp.
Jeannie Killick, who first helped out on her father’s haberdashery stall at the age of six,
47 years ago, wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“My father started the business on Sleaford Market in 1965 after buying material in London and making aprons with lace on,” Jeannie said.
She loves the market life and had no qualms about taking over the business from her father. Jeannie’s daughter, Katie, 25, helps out when she can.
“I hope that one day I will take over the business from mum so that the family market tradition will continue,” Katie said.
With committed traders and significant investment, it seems that the future of Boston market is secure.
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