Market traders in fight for survival
Adam Maidment speaks to Levenshulme stallholders battling to stay in business
SINCE the middle of March, a string of businesses have been shut due to lockdown measures.
For customers it’s a disruption to familiar routines, but for the owners operating these businesses, it’s been a real fight for survival.
One group of business owners that has been directly affected by the coronavirus is the traders who run stalls at Levenshulme Market.
The market, which was recently crowned Best Small Market at the Great British Market Awards 2020, had only just reopened for the year when lockdown forced its closure.
“The situation has been one which everyone has found difficult and upsetting,” market manager Richard Hirst tells the M.E.N.
“We’ve always said that Levenshulme is very good at coming together and rallying round those who are most vulnerable, and the outbreak has seen such a strong demonstration of that resilience, solidarity and warmth that we feel prouder than ever of our community.
“Markets are always more than their stalls - they are a place where people can come together and share the space they live in.”
Usually operating every weekend between March and December, the volunteer-run market is a big source of income for a number of small and independent businesses.
We spoke to traders selling everything from ice cream to art illustrations, to find out how coronavirus had affected them.
■ Exclusive Scoop
Started in 2017 by Tom Gillam, Exclusive Scoop sells artisan ice cream and sorbet made in Manchester.
“A lot of other businesses can move online and do deliveries but it’s really tough selling ice cream - you can’t post things out,” says Tom, who operates his business from Whalley Range.
“I’ll be ready to rock and roll and resume trading as soon as the government says.” But he is worried he will have to pack up permanently and find alternative employment.
■ Rack
Selling street food such as chicken shawarma, nachos and burgers, Rack have been in business since 2018.
Based in Stockport, they are now able to deliver food to customers in their home town as well as a number of areas in south Manchester. “We were worried to start with but we’ve been able to adapt and find a way of making it work for us,” owner Rhys says. “It’s almost been like starting a new business from scratch but it’s worked.
“We barely make any money over the winter. This is the time of year we wait for, so we had to find a way to keep going.”
We barely make any money over the winter. We had to find a way to keep going.
Rhys, owner of street food business Rack
■ Little Italy Kitchen
Andrea Dello Siesto has been running his Little Italy Kitchen business at Levenshulme Market for almost seven years now.
He sells a range of homemade Neapolitan, southern Italian and
Mediterranean food including pasta sauces, quiches and preserves.
Andrea, who is also trying to work as a gardener, applied for the SelfEmployed Income Support Scheme as soon as details were released but says he has yet to receive any support.
“It took over a week just to verify my identity - that’s an extra week without money,” he says.
“I’m still in limbo with them. I haven’t seen a pound from that yet.”
■ KatyDidThese
Kate Riley started trading at Levenshulme Market in June 2019 after a family friend bought her a stall and convinced her to start selling her art.
While business is down in general since lockdown, she says commission requests have ‘gone through the roof.’
Asked if she thinks there is enough support for local businesses and artists, Kate says she feels more could be done.
“Everyone is extremely stressed right now. An artist’s income is quite fragile at the best of times.
“However local art groups and communities, like the people at Levenshulme Market and Stallmcr, are
really trying to increase the online visibility of their traders, which is great.”
■ Cibus
Giorgio Fontana has been running Cibus Manchester for about two-and-a-half years now.
When lockdown measures were first announced, Giorgio decided to shut down Cibus but it reopened at the end of April for delivery-only.
“I feel very humbled and lucky to be in a position where we have the right product for delivery,” Giorgio says. “It’s bits and pieces of Italian starters, meals, and things that travel well. It’s all comfort food.”
However, Giorgio said he had concerns for how the food and drink industry would be able to recover from the pandemic.
“Social distancing in restaurants isn’t really something you can do.
“It’s quite tragic and scary thinking about how many different businesses won’t be able to reopen.”