Six sign up to try life at Fylde coast market

Fleetwood market has welcomed six new hopefuls to try their hand at trading and see if they can follow in the footsteps of Marks and Spencers.
Charlotte Unsworth and dad Patrick Greaves at Fleetwood Market with their Little Joy Emporium businessCharlotte Unsworth and dad Patrick Greaves at Fleetwood Market with their Little Joy Emporium business
Charlotte Unsworth and dad Patrick Greaves at Fleetwood Market with their Little Joy Emporium business

They have taken part in a discounted stalls scheme to help get their businesses off the ground as part of Love Your Local Market Week.

Market manager Julian Brent said the idea was to encourage people to start their own retial business by mitigating some of the uncertaintites such as set-up costs and the challenge of trading beyond the first year.

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Among the new starters are father and daughter partnership Patrick Greaves and Charlotte Unsworth with their business Little Joy Emporium selling cupcakes and jars of homemade fudge.

In search of a retail outlet they discovered the offer for new traders and thought it worth a go.

Janet Scott is selling her range of handcrafts doorstops, plaques, cushions and ragdolls. She said: “I’ve always wanted to try market trading and this offer has made it so easy to give it a try.”

Also starting is Shaun Casey with his range of aromatherapy products, Eric Thompson with his array of handbags and accessories and Michael Taznier selling gothic and mystical gifts and his son George selling Play Station games and consoles.

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Julian Brent said: “The whole point of market trading is to try being self-employed with no pressure.

“Many large high street businesses like Marks & Spencer started their retail journey on markets.

“This year we have offered an easy in easy out offer to take the risk element out of trying market trading.

Fleetwood Market is one of Lancashire’s largest markets hosting 250 indoor and outdoor stalls and is presently operating at over 90 per cent occupancy.

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“We feel this is a real success story in today’s retail environment.

“The Love Your Local Market offer is easy in easy route to business.

“Those market traders who wish to continue trading at the market after this trial period will be given support from the market manager.”

Fleetwood Market is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday all year round from 9am – 4.30pm.