A stallholder was left to sell their wares ‘completely on their own’, after no-shows and last minute drop outs left a town’s makers market near-abandoned.
Ramsbottom Makers Market, held once a month, has gained a reputation for attracting visitors to the town with independent businesses selling, food, clothing and showcasing wide and various crafts.
Sspread across the civic hall, St Paul’s gardens on Bridge Street and the town’s urn statue, organisers say the market has always been about ‘community, fairness and an ethos of ‘handmade, heartfelt and homegrown’.
However, at last Sunday’s event, all but one of traders due to set up at St Paul’s gardens, failed to show up or cancelled with late notice, which organisers said ‘let others down’.
Organiser of the market, Clare Cummins, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I don’t like this, but it needs saying.
“I’ve always done my best to treat people fairly, offering flexibility, support and even free or reduced stalls to help small traders get started. “But no-shows and last-minute drop-outs let others down.
“Yesterday, one lovely trader ended up completely on their own on St Paul’s gardens because others didn’t turn up. “It’s not fair and it’s not how we do things here.
“So please communicate, confirm and show up. Let’s keep it fair, supportive and full of Rammy spirit. “Thank you to our brilliant regulars who bring their magic every single month.”
Clare said that at St Paul’s gardens there had been an expectation of around six stalls on Sunday with around 30 traders, who did turn up, set up at the other locations.
She added: “Our regulars, the ones we’ve built up a rapport with are really really good.
“But seeing one stallholder, who turns up every month and never lets us down on her own because we didn’t get any notification for the others made me really feel for her.
“On market days I’m up at 4.30am, organising and wanting the day to be successful. “I could have been contacted.
“If I’d known she was going to be on her own at the gardens I would have made space in another part of the market.
“We’re a community and it’s about trying to get the traders to be successful.
“I guess what we’re saying to the people who don’t let is know is that we’re a self-supporting community and that is not how we work.”
After the disappointing turnout last weekend stallholders at the markets are now being requested to tell organisers earlier if they can’t attend and
stalls will only be confirmed once payment and details have been received.
The next market, on Sunday, November 30 between 11am and 3,30pm, is billed as a ‘Christmas Cracker’. There will be a Dickensian market in the civic hall, Santa and friends around the urn and Christmas treats at the church gardens on Bridge Street.
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