Market initiative just the beginning
Since summertime last year, Hartlepool Enterprise has followed the progress of the town's pioneering initiative to breathe new life into its Indoor Market. As the initial six-month campaign comes to an end, we look back at the achievements made and how this simply marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to the future of the market.
In August 2009, Hartlepool Council announced plans to revitalise the town's Indoor Market, which had become tired and under-used. The two key aspects of the project were to firstly physically refurbish the market hall and secondly to give fledgling or expanding businesses a free chance to try out their ideas on one of the 20+ vacant plots.
The market hall, based in the upper reaches of Hartlepool's Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, underwent a full redecoration programme courtesy of Hartlepool College of Further Education's painting and decorating students, while new signage and repair work took place on all of the stalls.
A range of new businesses populated the empty stalls as part of the initiative, providing a more diverse choice of goods for existing shoppers and attracting many new visitors too. As a result, shoppers can now purchase hand-made jewellery, gifts, clothes, flowers, fine art and houseware, along with all the existing stalls that sell fresh food, newspapers, toys, greetings cards, make-up and confectionary.
With the backing of Mayor Stuart Drummond along with other partner agencies, the new-look market hall was launched at a special event held on Saturday 5th September 2009, when shoppers turned out in their droves to take a look around.
Since then, footfall at the Indoor Market has increased by 10% and traders enjoyed one of the busiest Christmas periods in years. Furthermore, many of the new market tenants have agreed to stay beyond the initial six-month trial period, having experienced good results from their presence in the hall and establishing a strong customer base.
The initiative has also attracted interest from other local authorities across the country who too have suffered a decline in their indoor markets and are looking to implement a similar rejuvenation programme.
Under the banner of its Buy Local campaign, Hartlepool Council is working hard to continue the early achievements of the Indoor Market initiative, looking at how to sustain the improvements and entice more shoppers through the doors. The ultimate aim is to extend the success of the campaign to the outdoor market, the entire shopping centre and the town's economy as a whole.
