Market initiative brings business boost
An initiative to breathe life into an underused market hall has been hailed a huge success with a dozen new businesses created and more on the horizon.
Hartlepool Borough Council's Enterprise Team took over 20 vacant stalls at the town's Market Hall in the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre six months ago.
Students from Hartlepool College of Further Education were drafted in to help spruce up stalls and decorate the hall whilst new signage was erected for all stallholders and electricity points updated.
The Market Hall was officially re-launched in September last year when Mayor Stuart Drummond and Hartlepool United footballer Adam Boyd cut the red ribbon to herald its new beginning.
Now, following a six-month period of help and support for new and existing businesses, all but two of the new tenants have negotiated terms to continue on the stalls on a permanent basis.
Mick Emerson, Principal Economic Development Officer at Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the take-up of units beyond the initial six-months. We would have considered half of the new tenants staying as a success but to have nearly 80% is absolutely fantastic.
“We just hope that the people of Hartlepool continue to support the Buy Local campaign and remember to pop into the Market Hall and have a look around. If they haven't been in for a while it will be a big surprise as to the number of things you can buy in there.”
The new stallholders include In2Stitches, Music Box, What Every Woman Wants, Books 4 Us, Cats and Dogs Pet Supplies, Bed Bath & Beauty, Bright & Beautiful, Librata and Picture House.
Hartlepool Enterprise Team will also be taking control of two stalls to help local entrepreneurs test trade their businesses in the short term.
Andrea Miles, Hartlepool Enterprise Centre Manager, added: “A lot of hard work has gone into making this project a success and there were always going to be people who were wondering whether it was going to be worthwhile.
“We went into this initiative with two aims: to help new businesses test out their ideas, and to drive more shoppers into the Market Hall to support the new and existing stallholders. Footfall has been up by more than 10%, which is fantastic in the current economic climate and we have all of these new businesses who may not have considered self employment without this initiative.
“We will continue to support the market traders through PR, marketing and business advice and hope the good people of Hartlepool continue to do their bit too by shopping local.”
There are still vacant units available for anyone interested in setting up at Hartlepool Market Hall. For more information, contact Andrea Miles or Janet Day on (01429) 867677.
