The Teenage Market

How a successful grass roots initiative in Stockport is now being launched nationally. The Teenage Market was created by teenage brothers, Tom and Joe Barratt, in their hometown of Stockport, to give young people free market stalls to try out their creative business ideas. The initiative was developed with the help and support of Stockport Market Manager, Paul Downs and his team, who gave the brothers the use of the renovated Indoor Victorian Market Hall free of charge. Tom and Joe believed that there should be a specialist market designed specifically for the large population of young people in the town, which would give them a free platform to be entrepreneurial, try out a new a business idea and sell creative products.

The concept of The Teenage Market immediately captured people’s imaginations and became an instant hit with young people in the North West. The Teenage Market gave young people who were already selling online a chance to trade at their local market and inspired those who have never considered the idea of trading on a market to give it a go.

Eighteen year old trader, India Wood, said: “The Teenage Market really brings the community together and makes the town a much nicer place. It gives aspirational young people a great opportunity to start something they could be very successful in and creates a totally different view of teen culture than is normally portrayed in the media.”

As well as a creative retail offer, The Teenage Market also included a performance element, giving a much needed, free platform to local performers and large community groups, to showcase their unique skills and talents. The Teenage Market quickly gained local, regional and national media attention and received online backing and support from the Queen of Shops herself, Mary Portas, who described the event as “unique, innovative, inspiring and game-changing”.

Stockport MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Markets, Ann Coffey, has also lent her support to the initiative, which she said: “offers young people an amazing opportunity to showcase their talent and a place to sell their goods.” She went on to say: “a new generation in our market place with their enthusiasm and vitality is proving a magnet to young and old and a powerful regenerative force. Every town should have a Teenage Market.”

The fusion of creative retail and live performance, created a thriving, bustling marketplace in Stockport which has acted as a catalyst to attract a new generation of shoppers and increase footfall to the market area. This achievement led to the brothers being awarded financial support for The Teenage Market from Stockport Council’s Business Challenge Fund which is now enabling them to develop the idea on a national level so that other towns can benefit from the influx of creativity, diversity and community spirit the events bring to market areas.

The brothers had received so many requests to run The Teenage Market in other towns around the country, that they came up with the idea of licensing the event and have created a toolkit from everything they have learned, which includes tips and advice as well as templates for marketing materials, which include the bright, eye-catching branding of The Teenage Market.

As well as this, the brothers have also developed an online portal which will make the management and promotion of each Teenage Market event incredibly easy. From the click of a button, organisers will be able to input the date, time and location of their Teenage Market and then use social media tools to share it online and invite traders to take part.

The national launch of The Teenage Market is being fully supported by NABMA, who are making the initiative a core part of Love Your Local Market 2014, as they look to focus on finding more ways to engage young people with market areas. NABMA CEO, Graham Wilson OBE, said: “The success of the Teenage Market is a clear indication of the positive contribution that young people can bring to markets and help secure the future prosperity of our industry”.

For more information on The Teenage Market visit www.theteenagemarket.co.uk

If you are interested in purchasing a Teenage Market licence and running Teenage Markets in your town then please email info@theteenagemarket.co.uk

Whats on at Stockport Market

Stockport Market is going all out this May with a staggeringly diverse range of events to tickle the taste buds of nearly everybody! It all kicks off on the 4th of May with the Sausage Festival in the Stockport Victorian Market Hall. Stockport Sausage Festival 2013 will be a celebration of hand-held happiness, combining beers, bangers and bands.
The following weekend, Sunday 12 May sees the ‘Hand in Glove Fair’, marking the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Smiths' single. As a World Exclusive, there will be a display of recently discovered, never-before-seen authentic Smiths documents from 1983 on show at Room at the Top Vintage Goods, a few steps away from the Market Hall.
The 15 – 29 May sees national Love Your Local Market. In Stockport, the celebrations start for real on Friday 17 May. From 4pm you will be able to taste the best of Greater Manchester's gourmet street foods till 9pm, courtesy of Guerrilla Eats. Guerrilla Eats is a collective set up by a group of street food traders in who just love the food they make. You’ll also be able to the best of market shopping till 7ish and High Peak Beer's Pop-Up Bar till 9. This is the perfect opportunity for people who work in the town centre to stay a while and appreciate the hidden gems in Stockport.
Saturday 18 May is Funky Weekend, with a marquee on the Market Mile showcasing the Sunday event market, along with live music from Raised by Radio AND Le Funk, as well as classic 70s and Northern Souls sounds from the DJ. It is also the day of Big Dance, so expect some flash mobs too.
Last but not least, Bank Holiday Weekend (24-26 May) sees a 70s Roller Rink come to Stockport Market, complete with DJ, balloon modellers, free showings of Grease, pop up bingo and even a Carpenters tribute act! More is being added each day, so watch for the posters and flyers around town and put the dates in your calendar – you won’t regret it.



http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/leisureculture/visitstockport/stockportshopping/stockportmarket/
http://highpeakbeer.webs.com/events.htm
http://www.thevintagevillage.co.uk/events/the-vintage-village-hand-in-glove-fair
http://www.guerrillaeats.co.uk/
http://www.robinsonsvisitorscentre.co.uk/times

Government Backs Love Your Local Market

The Markets industry was taken by surprise at the Nabma January Seminar when Communities Minister The Rt Hon Don Foster MP outlined the Government’s support for the 2013 Love your Local Market scheme with significant financial support .

The Minister began by acknowledging that the last few years have been a tricky time for markets and his department have been keen to help the sector meet the challenge. The Minister acknowledged that over the last two years help had been provided but in the absence of finance. The Minister paid tribute to Nabma for its endeavours in Love your Local Market and presented the Nabma President, Council Mrs. Geraldine Carter with a cheque for £25,000 with the aim of helping Nabma help turn the passing interest of a wannabe trader into a fulfilling career.

The Nabma President, Councillor Mrs. Geraldine Carter admitted that Nabma was stunned by the presentation.
“We are overwhelmed by this generous support from Government. This is a huge endorsement for the work that we have been carrying out and clearly shows that we are making an impact with our commitment and investment. Love your Local Market 2013 will now be even bigger and better”.

Nabma Chief Executive, Graham  Wilson OBE, told MTN, " Love Your Local Market provided a great boost to the markets last year with research showing that markets that took part experienced a 10% increase in footfall. With the government's financial backing and support from our headline sponsor Radfords, we aim to make it bigger and better this year. Every market in the country should be getting involved"

Also at the conference, Nabma delegates were overwhelmed with a presentation by Joe and Tom Barrett, the creators of the Stockport Teenage Market.

The Teenage Market was described as a creative space for young people to connect and collaborate in, giving a platform to young creative entrepreneurs who become market traders for the day as they sell their products to customers.  It also gives young performers, musicians, singer songwriters, dancers etc the chance to show their skills to an audience.  The first even was held in April 2012.

The young people have developed a very positive relationship with Stockport Market and also Stockport Council.
Over 70 applicants were received for the first market and 20 local musicians wanted a platform to showcase their own talent.

The event has attracted huge media interest and importantly thousands of people visiting the Teenage Market on the day.