Young Traders return to Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon's beautiful Waterside will be the setting later this month for a competition to find the country's best young market traders.

The grand final of the Young Traders Market initiative on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 August will see around 70 entrepreneurs competing for the top trophy and a prize of £500.  

The Young Traders Market has been devised by the NMTF, the only national UK organisation representing market and street traders, events retailers and mobile caterers.  

The final is being held in Stratford thanks to great support from both the town and district councils and the private market operator LSD Promotions. It follows on from six regional heats in which around 120 16 to 30-year-olds took part.  

"The aim of the initiative is simple," says the NMTF's CEO Joe Harrison: "We have a great retail markets industry in the UK, but to make sure they thrive in the years to come we have to bring new blood, young entrepreneurs with fresh ideas on to our markets.  

"We know this project works because we tried it on a much smaller scale last year at youth markets, with regional finals in Leeds and Manchester before the national event in Stratford.  

"This year we have invited as many young people as possible to get involved, whether they are would-be traders who want to dip their toe in the water, others who have been trading for some time, perhaps on a part-time basis, or those who have traded exclusively online but think a market pitch could be their shop window."  

Cllr Ian Shenton, Operations Portfolio at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, says: "We are very proud to be hosting the Young Traders Market final once again following last year's successful event.  

"It is pleasing and exciting to see so many young people showing amazing entrepreneurial spirit and wanting to develop their own businesses. The NMTF should be congratulated for creating the competition, as these young entrepreneurs bring their own dynamic approach to markets and will ensure that they thrive and grow in the future.  

"Alongside our market operators LSD Promotions, I warmly welcome all the young traders to our town and wish everyone the very best of luck in the competition - it's going to be an amazing event."  

The young traders at the final will aim to follow in the footsteps of other notable success stories, including Rose Dyson from Yorkshire, who is aiming to turn over £150,000 for her Pura cosmetics business next year, and Gloria Royer from Canterbury, who was named Young Trader of the Year in 2015 and is now honing her design skills at Chelsea College of Art.  

Rose began her business with £25, making ethical, cruelty-free lip balm in her mother's kitchen because she could not afford the high street prices. After winning the Young Trader of the Year title, aged 15, she continued to run the business alongside her A level studies. Now 19, she works full-time for her brand, Pura Cosmetics. She has her own shop and online business and supplies 30 independent retailers.  

Rose said: "In the next few years I want Pura to be the number one ethical lip scrub and care brand in the UK and in 10 years I want Pura to be on the shelves of retailers all over the world."  

Gloria, who won the accolade with her vintage clothing business three years ago, has taken a different path. She said: "Winning made me believe that I could make a go of a creative design business. But I realised I needed to gain more skills, which is why I went to university and I am confident I will be able to build a brand after I graduate."

The Young Traders Market will be on Waterside from 10am to 5pm on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 August.