Page 32 - Market Times October 2024

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FEATURE • SHERINGHAM
hands during the lockdowns and started making gifts and homewares from hessian. She began selling on markets three years
ago and now buys in most of her stock, as well as selling her handmade items under her brand name Just Hessian Around.
“I began trading on markets because it is a cheaper way to start a business than in a shop. I’m not making the income I used to as a dispensing optician, but I am enjoying selling on markets a lot more than my old job,” she added.
Kate is a new recruit to the market, having taken the plunge to turn her hobby into a
“One issue was that there wasn’t a named person from the council they could speak to about any issues,” he said.
“That has now changed and the market is building back up. I can’t put my finger on exactly why things are improving, but we are working with the traders and exploring things like themed events around the market including a Christmas event and a 40s day to support the market,” he added.
The council’s communication team was working on new signage and was continu- ing to promote the market through social media, he said.
Themed events and entertainment were helping, Colin added. And traders and the council team have joined forces to support the Wednesday market by encouraging more craft traders to boost it as a makers market.
Among the makers who have joined up are Kate Marvell who sells the jewellery and needle felt decorations she makes herself and Kerry Smith who sells attractive homewares including hessian goods she also makes herself.
A locum dispensing optician by profes- sion, Kerry found herself with time on her
Colin Brown is North Norfolk District Council’s leisure and locality services manager and part of the team that runs the market
Mark Wye-Harris who sells books has been trading on Sheringham market since 1992
Kerry Smith runs a homeware business on the market called Just Kate Marvell has turned a hobby into a market business selling her Hessian Around handmade wirework jewellery and needlefelt decorations