Yours for just a tenner - a chance to trade in Newton Abbot's market

THERE'S an opportunity for anyone to give market trading a go for just £10 on Tuesday, July 3 as Teignbridge celebrates ‘Love Your Local Market’ fortnight.

Kicking off with National Market Day on Saturday, June 23, the fortnight aims to raise awareness of local markets across the country and encourage more people to give trading a try.

Newton Abbot’s popular markets will be celebrating with a mega-market on Saturday, extending the normal markets all the way in to Courtenay Street.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, July 3 anybody can give market trading a go by booking an outdoor market stall for just £10 for the day, including Public Liability Insurance.

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The offer is designed to give small traders a taste of market life and help encourage them to take on a regular stall.

Anybody wishing to trade for a tenner should book in advance by calling Mick Ford, Teignbridge’s Market Manager, on 01626 215426 or emailing mick.ford@teignbridge.gov.uk.

Organisers are hoping the event could be the first step for businesses looking to thrive in Newton Abbot.

The town has a history of helping traders develop through its markets and growing their businesses. Town centre shops which started as market stalls include Mr Biscuits, Stroll On Baby, The Cake Stop, The Wool Gallery, PC & Phone Doctor, and Lemon Jelli, as well as Teignmouth’s Shabby Chic Lane.

Cllr Jeremy Christophers, Leader of Teignbridge District Council said: “Newton Abbot’s markets are home to a huge range of enterprises run by people who’ve embraced the entrepreneurial spirit and set out to succeed. Despite the economic doom and gloom Newton Abbot has resisted the recession well, with regular bustling market days. For our part we've concentrated on some simple, intelligently applied ideas to help us invest where we need to and make things easier for shoppers and traders.

“We’re really pleased to be offering everyone the opportunity to give it a go and trade for a tenner. Our outdoor markets are always popular, and we hope this opportunity will be the first step towards new traders creating more local success stories.”

Glyn Newport of Mr Biscuits added: “The Farmers’ Market was a great place to test the business out on local shoppers and to get the brand awareness started. The opportunity of a stall for a tenner will definitely help anybody considering starting a business to see if it has potential.”

While the ‘Love Your Local Market’ fortnight is a national event following recommendations from the Mary Portas report on high street health, Newton Abbot is already streets ahead of many of the Portas recommendations.

In December Mary Portas unveiled her independent review on the future of Britain's high streets, making 28 recommendations to help them survive and thrive in the future. These include an emphasis on market trading, making it easier for new traders to set up shop, managing high streets in partnership, and using planning powers to reduce bureaucracy and involve local people in the future. Of the 13 recommendations in which councils currently have powers or influence, Teignbridge has already achieved or is taking action towards all of them.

Newton Abbot embodies much of the spirit of the Portas Report by encouraging market trading, operating a successful management partnership, benefitting from recent regeneration to make it more attractive and accessible, and from involving the community in long term plans for the area. The results for the town, which also offers free Sunday car parking in its off-street car parks, have been impressive. Most recently its Farmers’ Market has extended to two days a week, now running on Tuesdays and Fridays. It’s proving so popular that the council has invested in a further four stalls, which will be available soon and already have a waiting list of eager traders.

Sally Henley, Newton Abbot Town Development Manager said: “Over the past few years the Newton Abbot market scene has gone from strength to strength. Mick Ford and the team are passionate about what they do and this shows - as our markets are the envy of many other towns. We have many one-time stall holders who have used their experience as a launch pad onto the high street and we also have traders who have built up their businesses within the market itself.

“A stall for a tenner is a great way to give it a go and I love the idea of celebrating local markets nationally – they are a crucial part of today’s and tomorrow’s high streets - as much so as they were in yesteryear.”