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MarketTimesFebruary2016

t 37 remains at the centre of things. Traders speak nostalgically of Wrexham market, which used to be one of the biggest crowd pullers in north Wales. Now Mold has overtaken it. There is 100 per cent occupancy on the market, which fills the High Street and meanders on to the nearby Daniel Owen Square, named after the Welsh language novelist. The square was recently upgraded, which involved a £600,000 investment in new paving and the creation of an entertainment area. Traders were moved on to the upper High Street during the refurbishment. Because the market in the High Street is so busy, they all did well during the relocation. In addition to the bustling outdoor market, Mold boasts an indoor market that moved to its current location in a former shop just off the square 15 years ago. The indoor market is full, with 16 traders working six days a week. Again it is a mixed offering with food and non-food side by side. A £30,000 upgrade is planned that will include redecoration, new signage and some new lighting. The traders who stand Mold are unsurprisingly pleased with the set-up and have kind words to say about the market team and Flintshire County Council. Simon Plank, who has sold bags and leather goods on the market for the past 10 years, said: “I have stood a lot of markets and in my opinion this is the best market in Wales. We get people from a large outlying area and in the summer we get coaches. “I came here through recommendation by other traders and I would recommend it to anyone,” said Simon, who also has a stall selling clutch bags and fascinators managed by his daughter, Laura Forshaw. Michael Bradbury, who has been selling crockery on markets since 1968, also describes Mold market as one of the best, and he has stood more than most traders in his time. He said Wrexham used to be as good, but the retail centre shifted and the market is not what it used to be. David Jones, who sells smokers’ items with his partner Julie, also stands Wrexham and says it has dwindled, whilst Mold has remained strong. Joan Smith, who has been selling hats and gloves on Mold market for the past 36 years, simply loves the market life. “We have been on this market so long we know our customers and they know us. We have customers we remember as children, who now have their own children,” she added. Some traders, like James Rainer, have developed large businesses out of markets like Mold. James, who is 28, started selling the plants he grew himself on markets 10 years ago. “I used to spend a lot of time with my grandparents who liked growing plants, so I got the bug and decided to try selling them on markets,” James said. Brenda remembers him as a focused, driven Michael Bradbury, who sells crockery, has stood numerous markets in a market trading career going back to 1968. He rates Mold as one of the best David and Julie Jones are pictured on the stall where they sell smokers’ products Joan Smith has been selling hats and gloves on Mold market for the past 36 years


MarketTimesFebruary2016
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