PARAP MARKETS FULL OF CHEER

PARAP Market stallholders are preparing for what they hope is a bumper Christmas.

Although the annual Build-Up and wet season drop has started, owners are still hopeful they have a few weeks of Christmas shoppers ahead.

Birds of Paradise worker Chantelle Mullan (pictured) said the markets were some of the best selling places.

“It’s always pretty quiet this time of year but it might pick up in the last week before Christmas,” she said.

“And anyone around here will agree this is the market that does well.”

Although not all stalls remain open during the quiet season, veteran stallholder Jimmy Yunken, of Zebra Rock, said this only helped the stalls that did.

“A lot of people drop off this time of year but that just means more business for us,” he said. “It is getting quiet but you’ve just got to put the effort in. You tell a story, get them involved and then they stick around and buy.”

Mr Yunken said many stalls made the mistake of shutting when it started raining. “When it rains, you don’t pack up early,” he said.

“It won’t last long and when it’s over everyone will head to the open stalls.”