Each trader has own pandemic tale to tell in success stor y of Thursday market
Jeffrey Philips, a member of Ashbourne Communities CIC, reflects on the community interest company’s achievements in 2020
TOMORROW is the last 2021 market day and, as it’s nearly three years since Ashcom rescued the market from closure, this seems a good time to take stock on what had been achieved.
From the outset Ashcom’s mantra for the market was to “reach out through the town bringing footfall to benefit retailers and hospitality providers, put quality before quantity and have themes and street entertainment.”
This was against the backdrop of the closures of the Saturday market on the Market Place, the Thursday market and the monthly artisan market.
Notwithstanding that and the impact from online shopping and Waterside with free parking, Ashcom’s volunteers were determined to demonstrate that a thriving market would be created.
In that environment, Ashcom determined that the market is about ‘shop local’ combined with leisure and fun.
“If we believe that communities need their own local identities then we need to support our local suppliers and retailers. The market complements our existing independent retailers and increases the number of people visiting and spending in Ashbourne”, we said.
Presenting our market objectives to the district council in January
2019 Ashcom underlined that “Presentation, appearance, quality and well-priced products with hands on community management are central characteristics.”
Ashcom considers that it is fulfilling its objectives although at the time we knew the uphill task we were taking on.
Back in early 2019 our own research showed that only 9% of respondents went to the market weekly and 47% monthly or less.
As Ashcom said at the time “That research highlighted that a town the size of Ashbourne would only be able to sustain one weekly general goods market and recognised that developing either a Saturday or Thursday market would be in effect starting from scratch. So we assessed the level of competition from existing street market offerings within some 40 miles of Ashbourne and as a result decided that our focus should be on a Thursday weekly market.”
Thus Ashcom started with three core food products - bakery products (still supplied by The Loaf ), seafood (supplied throughout by Lucky Catch) and fruit and vegetables now supplied by Streets.
The market also offered two nonfood products - and then Covid-19 hit, which resulted in the market being closed for a few months. When re-opened we were obliged to limit the offer to “essential” products.
The community responded positively with comments such as “good to be able to shop in the open air”, “not having to be in enclosed spaces with many others”.
Following the reopening supported by effective social media promotion, the core food products have now expanded to include cheeses, cured meats and pies from Lichfield Cheese Company as well as hot drinks, soups, savouries and pizzas from Delicious Coffee.
Currently the market also offers books, jigsaws, collectables, puzzles, seasonal flowers and St Eval candles and local handmade potteries. Ashcom has also welcomed short-term traders, bringing a variety of goods ranging from vegan food, furniture, pottery, doughnuts, chocolates to bespoke dog accessories as well as charities such as WWF and QEGS students who are engaged in the practical side of business studies.
Each of the traders has their pandemic story. A theme amongst a number is how as a consequence of the pandemic effectively closing their previous business the market enabled them to create a new commercial activity or even used the market as stepping stone to opening a permanent retail presence in the town.
Whilst the pandemic has seriously disrupted the plans Ashcom had back in 2019, the financial assistance from Duke of Devonshire Charitable Trust, Moy Park Community Fund, Ashbourne Partnership Trust and DDCVS has enabled Ashcom to create a viable and sustainable community enterprise to be the platform for its plans in 2022.
Our overriding objective is to build footfall in Ashbourne for the benefit of the town and area’s economy and wellbeing.
Our overriding objective is to build footfall...for the benefit of the town and area’s economy and wellbeing.