Tattooists and hair stylists welcome - council eager to attract new stallholders to Top Town market

                                                    

Council is hoping to revitalise market trading during 2023 

FOOTFALL  levels at Grimsby Top Town's indoor market are under review pending the crucial Christmas trading period.

So says North East Lincolnshire Council as it considers way to stimulate activity in 2023.

A report says: "The New Year is a difficult period for market traders and the Council will be working closely with traders to assist them to a Spring recovery. 

"Marketing and social media activity will continue to promote the market, to drive footfall and to attract new traders such as haberdashery, pet stalls, hairdressers/ barbers, tattooists, fabrics and niche food items."

At the beginning of last year, it was acknowledged that traders were  facing significantly difficult trading conditions. 

The National Market Trader Federation  and the local Market Management team met to discuss the challenges what supporte might be on offer.

At this time last year, occupancy at Grimsby Top Town Market was 55.29 per cent, with 47 occupied stalls.

However, footfall figures were down by 52.4 per cent compared with pre-pandemic footfall in 2019. 

In response, a rent incentive scheme to attract new traders was introduced in March 2022. 

The scheme is based on a four-month period at 50 per cent rent, two months at 75 per cent rent and, after six months, the trader would pay full rent. 

Since its launch the scheme, the market has attracted seven new traders, five of which are still trading but subsequently two ceased trading due to their businesses not being viable.

As of last November and December, occupancy stood at 49 per cent.