Shopping centre to back traders

SHOPPING centre bosses are appealing to Rochdale’s independent traders, as they gear up to host the annual Small Business Saturday market.

On Saturday, December 2, Rochdale Exchange will be showing their support for ‘Rochdale Loves Small Business’ by welcoming 20 local retailers to the centre as part of the special market between 9am and 5.30pm.

Small Business Saturday is an annual campaign, which started in the UK in 2012, and encourages people to show support for independent retailers by shopping locally.

Lorenzo O’Reilly, Rochdale Exchange manager, said he is looking forward to supporting the town’s businesses for the second year running.

He added: “Last year’s Small Business Saturday Market was a huge success with traders selling everything from candles and jewellery to baby clothes and beauty products.

“As part of the event, we also offered each stallholder a week’s free promotional space on the Rochdale Exchange mall.

“This was a great victory in particular for Nicola Cunneen of Aromaflow Candles, who managed to raise enough money to put a deposit down on her first ever store on Yorkshire Street in May.

“So far we’ve managed to fill many of our market spots, but we’re appealing to more small businesses to get involved and help make the centre buzz with the start of the Christmas shopping season.

“There are some amazing independent traders in and around Rochdale and we are really proud to be able to offer them a fantastic platform at our market for small businesses, and we look forward to seeing our customers shopping locally.”

Anyone interested in taking a stall should email info@rochdaleexchange. co.uk.