FooD FAir – whAt hAppEns whEn...
TWO WEEKS TO GO …
Many traders are regulars and book ahead.
Andrew Riley, who co-organises Scarborough Food Fair with his colleague Caroline Anderson, said: “Our application forms are on our website and on our Facebook page, so stallholders can apply at any time. “When an application is received, we check all traders have insurance and comply with Heath and Safety Regulations. Ideally, they should be local selling local products. However, we do accept applications from stallholders from further afield selling different produce.” Caroline added: “An important consideration is what they offer Scarborough shoppers and getting the right mix of product. And it’s always beneficial to have regulars and new stallholders in order to keep up interest.” ONE WEEK TO GO …
Andrew and Caroline inform stallholders they’ve been successful and have a place at the next Scarborough Food Fair. They also ensure each trader knows when and where to set up, where to park and other details.
Publicity begins, including press releases, updating events listings, leaflet distribution and social media updates. TWO DAYS BEFORE …
The market van is loaded up with the correct kit, along with a checklist of any special requirements. “Essential kit includes the stall plan, which is our bible,” said Caroline. “There’s a lot of thought goes into who ‘sits’ where, so if there are similar products, they’re not too close together.
“If a stallholder requires power, then this also affects the layout overall, and needs to be considered from the beginning.” ON THE DAY …
“It’s an early start, with the alarm set for 4.30am!” said Andrew. “We need to be in Westborough by 6am to set up the stalls, tables and gazebos ready for the traders. This takes about 90 minutes depending on the number of stalls we are expecting. “We also require a good ‘flow’ around the stalls, so shoppers have space to browse.”
The weather is an important consideration, with high winds and rain affecting the event. “If the wind is very strong, we have to cancel for Health and Safety reasons,” explained Andrew. “This is a last resort, and is not a decision taken lightly. Also heavy rain isn’t welcome, as it can reduce footfall.” DURING THE DAY …
Andrew and Caroline are on site all day to deal with any potential hiccups. Shoppers deal directly with traders but sometimes a stallholder needs a break, so the Scarborough Food Fair team will step in. “This provides invaluable insight into the life of market trader, even if it’s brief,” said Andrew. “In the main, we get positive comments from shoppers who are delighted that a good outdoor market is held right in the town centre.” AT THE CLOSE OF PLAY …
As soon as traders have packed up and removed their vehicles, stalls are packed away carefully ready for the next event. Caroline said: “The mop up procedure at the end of the day does seem to take longer. “This is probably because we are getting a bit tired and we also have to load the van in a particular sequence: weights first, then tables, then gazebos. “It is a physically demanding job, but we’ve all developed muscles we didn’t know we had!” HAPPY CUSTOMERS?
Andrew said: “We get some great feedback from customers, saying Scarborough Food Fair provides excellent produce from traders who wouldn’t normally be in the town.
“As well as offering choice for consumers, we hope it attracts more folks into the town centre, hopefully benefitting other shops and businesses in the process.
“We try to expand the range and variety of stalls, and if there’s anything someone would like to see, we are open to new ideas.”
To apply for stalls, visit www. themarketmanagers. co.uk