Cllr Jane Oates with hairdresser Adele Titherington at her new salon on Darwen Market.
Published Tuesday 6 March 2018 at 15:06
Traders at Darwen market are celebrating making a move for the better after relaunching their stalls in the market hall.
Four traders have now moved into the hall from the annex and are already seeing positive results.
Framer Darrell Smith, was based in the annex for around three years and now has a new stall in the hall where his stall is spread over two levels.
It’s brilliant. I’ve now got an upstairs workshop where I can work and lay everything out, whereas previously I had to keep moving things every time I had a customer – it’s much easier.
There’s a lot of positivity in the market.
Kath Broadley who runs a jewellery and accessory stall in the market says she is delighted with her new stall.
It’s a definite improvement on the old stall and there’s more customers. The hall has a very nice atmosphere and just looking up at the lovely roof makes us happy.
Fellow stall owner Stephanie Rostron who owns a pet stall, has also been impressed with how things are going since her move and is pleased to be back in the hall where she originally started out.
I’ve come back to where I started 48 years ago I feel like I’ve come home.
The four stallholders will soon be followed by Jennifer Bidewell who runs the nail shop in the Annexe whose stall in the market hall is currently being designed.
Councillor Jane Oates of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
The feedback we’re getting from stallholders is fantastic There’s a new lease of life in the market and a determination to make the success it deserves to be.
People increasingly want to shop locally and are choosing to shop with independent retailers more and more, so it’s perfect timing for the market to make the most of this.