Page 43 - MarketTimesFebruary2013
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Ian said: “The market wasn’t doing well on Market Square. There were 225 fixed stalls on the old site and the wind blew through the market in bad weather. It could be cold and gloomy.”
He said occupancy then was at 80 to 85 per cent on the main Wednesday charter market day, but the Friday and Saturday markets were down to seven or eight traders.
Contrast that with the new-look market, with bright new green and yellow stalls stretching almost half a mile down Bridge Street. Occupancy is at 100 per cent and it is regularly packed with shoppers.
Ian said: “We had to cut down the number of stalls to 115 but we managed that by natural wastage and didn’t lose any traders.”
When the finishing touches are completed, the council will have invested over £200,000 in the move — and every penny has been worth it.
Ian said: “The market was a financial burden on the council and it is now profitable.”
In the first six months after the move car park takings increased significantly and people are now back in the habit of market shopping.
Among those enjoying the benefits is Chris Orchard, who travels from
Alan Peters, who sells underwear, hats and school wear, has been a trader on Worksop market for 46 years. He considered retiring because trade was slow in the old location but he is now happy with the upturn in the new location and has no plans to call it a day
Clare Barker who runs Tasty Grill has been on the market for eight years. She described the market move as a great success
Wolverhampton to sell quality meat on Worksop market.
“I have been trading on this market for two-and-a-half years now and on our first day on the High Street my takings went up by a third. Now
I am taking double what I was taking in Market Square,” he said.
Alan Peters, who sells underwear, hats and schoolwear, was planning
to call it a day after 45 years of trading on Worksop market because trade was so quiet at the former location.
“It’s amazing what a difference the move has made,” Alan said. “It’s revitalised the market and the town centre and I am glad I didn’t give up trading.”
Clare Barker, who has run Tasty Grill, a burger and tea van, for the past eight years, said: “We have the footfall here. We are getting a lot of extra business from the shops and local businesses, so I would say the move has been a grand success.”
Hazel North, a relatively new trader, who turned her back on a career as a BT call centre manager to start her own market business with her partner Chris Brown, said: “I absolutely love it here.”
And she supported Ian and his team. “They can’t do enough to help us,” Hazel said.
‘It’s amazing what a difference the move has made. It’s revitalised the market and the town centre.
Hazel North and her partner Chris Brown are relatively new to market trading but love running their business, Inky, specialising in ink cartridges and computer accessories
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