Page 18 - Market Times April 2024

18
FEATURE • PENISTONE
Dale Sleight is market officer and runs Penistone market for Barnsley Borough Council
from a van outside, whilst Paul Robinson, who has invested in a converted horse box for his key and watch battery business, is able to manoeuvre the trailer inside.
Angus took over the fresh fish business from his father who acquired it from the founder’s son-in-law.
“The business, Joseph Cliff, has been on the market since the 60s and 70s,” he said. “It’s a busy market and we have a lot of loyal customers after all these years.”
The fruit and veg is without doubt the anchor business. Steve had travelled the world as an electronics engineer but returned to his hometown and the family business more than 40 years ago.
Carol and Andrew Millard have been selling plants and flowers on the market for around 10 years and they love it.
“We stand other markets but this is a really good one,” Carol said. “The people are lovely. They tend to shop in all weathers. I would definitely recommend
Angus McKinlay runs Joseph Cliff, a fresh fish business previously run by his dad who used to work for the founder’s son-in-law
this market to traders,” she added. Other traders are relative newcomers.
Lisa Gibson started selling dog treats and healing crystals on the market about two years ago. She does well here, but her pitch is also a showcase for her unusual business which offers holistic healing and treatment for dogs.
Lisa said: “I have worked with holistic vets and I can advise on natural remedies and pain relief for dogs.”
It all started when her beloved bulldog developed a skin condition and Lisa managed to come up with a tonic that solved the problem. Then, when another dog had a displaced hip and an x-ray suggested it would be crippled by the age
of two, she again came up with a formula. “I find certain crystals are good for
stressed dogs, and I have a healing room I use,” she added.
She decided to try a stall at Penistone market after Covid, and found it was a good place to sell dog treats and crystals, and she meets dog owners who then want to use her holistic healing services.
Paul Robinson also decided to try his luck on the market two years ago. “I have a shop in Sheffield and have been offering key cutting, watch batteries, and shoe repair for a lot of years. Because of the decline in the high street, I decided to try markets as a new outlet, so I got a trailer and now I have switched to a bigger one.”
Carol and Andrew Millard have been selling plants and flowers on the market for the past 10 years