East Lindsey District Council supports two first time market stall holders as part of ongoing market improvements

IN a bid to encourage exciting new products for visitors to Louth Market, East Lindsey District Council is supporting two young entrepreneurs.

Hannah Bristow is currently Louth’s youngest market trader at just 21. After working in her parents’ café for 18 months she decided she wanted to try something new and roast and grind her own coffee beans, creating a whole new range of delicious flavours. She sells the coffee, as well as a range of coffee syrups, at Louth Market on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

And, younger visitors to the market cannot help but be drawn to James Simpson’s colourful toy stall. Twenty two-year-old James was inspired by his own young children to take the plunge into markets after working in a café. He stocks a range of toys, from pocket money toys to larger items suitable as gifts.

Both young entrepreneurs are new additions to markets and are being supported by the District Council, in conjunction with the National Market Traders’ Federation, to ensure they make a success of their new ventures.

As part of the First Pitch Scheme Hannah and James can take advantage of free rent throughout Love Your Local Market fortnight, from May 15-29, followed by a 50 per cent reduction in June and July and one free stall per month from August until May 2014.

They also get the option of a free mentor and membership to the National Market Traders’ federation for a year.

At the end of the 12 months, Hannah and James will be invited to a Markets Master Class and Awards Ceremony with other First Pitchers from across the country where one will bag £2,000 to boost their business to the next level.

The Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Development, Councillor Craig Leyland, said: “It is vital to the future of the markets that we support both existing but also new traders. The more choice we can give to visitors, the more successful and popular the markets can become. Building on the solid foundations which our regular traders offer, we hope to introduce new products and ideas over the coming months and, in conjunction with the National Market Traders’ Federation, offer incentives to new traders which will ultimately benefit everyone.”

Supported by dad Mike and mum Angie, Hannah turned to Louth market where she trades as Larder Coffee. She said: “I am very customer focussed so markets suit me very well. I come from a catering background and love coffee so it is great to be able to do this. The other market traders are all great have helped me out a lot. I really love it.”

And, James trades on Saturdays under the name Simpsons Toys. He said: “I had been thinking about trading on markets for a while so spoke to a few people about it and it just went from there. I trade once a week at the moment but am hoping that I will be able to start to trade on four or five different markets a week and eventually open a toy shop.”

It is hoped that more new traders will join markets across the district, with the District Council supporting two more new businesses through the First Pitch scheme next year.

* In the meantime, anyone interested in applying for a market stall on any of the East Lindsey District Council run markets can call 01507 613532 or email markets@e-lindsey.gov.uk for more information.