Toy market to return at last
ACHILDREN’S and baby market selling pre-loved clothes and toys is returning to Macclesfield for the first time since the pandemic.
The Little Children’s Market of Cheshire is coming to Tytherington High School on May 8 from 10am to 12.30pm.
Families can sell or buy nearly-new children’s items from other families in a way to keep costs down and reduce the environmental impact of shopping.
Bethany Shirley, who runs the markets across Cheshire, said the event is a ‘one-stop shop’ for families to find what they need for their children.
She said: “It’s essentially a nearly new sale for children’s and babies items, we also host a small selection of local small businesses. It’s great to be back in Macclesfield after not being able to run for so long due to Covid.
“We’re not like a car boot sale, it all has to be baby and childrenrelated. It becomes a onestop shop for parents.”
Bethany, who shopped at her home market in Sandbach and Crewe before joining the company, said that finding cheap clothes and toys is especially important in these hard economic times.
“I bought a load of my daughter’s clothes and toys there and now she’s outgrown them. Now I’m using the events to sell her items, so it’s a sustainable model,” she said.
“Parents can get the next size up in their children’s clothes; they can buy the toys for birthdays and Christmas in a way that saves money.
“In these hard economic times it’s so important for families to find ways to save money but also in a way that helps the environment.
“80% of toys end up in landfills, incinerators or in the ocean so it’s also a way for environmentally-conscious families to shop in a more sustainable way.”
Bethany said she is expecting around 30 stalls for the event, with space still available to book a table.
She also said that a portion of the profits will go towards domestic abuse charity Refuge - with Bethany planning a fiveday trek to Himlayas later this year to raise money for the charity.
Having started in Cheshire, Little Children’s Markets has now grown to host events across the country.
Bethany said: “Kids don’t notice if items are pre-loved. They don’t care if it came in a shiny box.
“They care about the toy. Buy pre-loved, it saves you money - everything is getting so expensive so finding small ways to save a bit of money where you can really helps.”