Giving Added Value to the Town Centre Christina Marshall, Specialist Markets and Town Centre Events Coordinator

Stockton’s Vision In Stockton, our main aims for our Specialist Markets Programme are: To support and promote the businesses on the High St To encourage footfall into the Town Centre To encourage visitors from outside the area to visit Stockton To encourage repeat visits to the Town Centre

The Programme Each year, we evaluate the programme from the previous year and decide on those to continue with and those to remove from the programme We then look at what is popular going into the next year by researching and looking at the programmes of other local authorities We also set a projected budget for each market depending on the theme Finally, it is important to note the dates of other events in the area to avoid clashes and therefore avoid losing traders to other events Often, our Specialist Markets compliment a larger event also happening in the Town Centre e.g. our record fair which formed part of ‘Stockton Stages’ music and comedy event in July of this year

2017 Retro Market Vintage Fair Kapow Sci Fi Market Record Fair Book Fair Railway Fair Christmas Market

Finding the Traders Social Media Stallfinder Enquiries/Word of Mouth Visiting other markets and events across the region

Working with Operators Research the operators available for your chosen theme Ask them to pitch for you Visit their event at another location and speak to their traders/visitors Read comments on social media/Speak to other local authorities who have used them before

Example – Record Fair

Improving your Offer Catering – in a survey carried out in 2016 90% of our visitors said that knowing that food offer was on site prior to a market or event was important to them Entertainment – music/entertainment attracts attention of shoppers and increases footfall Additional activities/workshops – offering activities free or charge to interest families has been hugely important to developing our markets programme

Evaluating Success Footfall Speaking to High Street businesses Social Media Feedback and Visitor Surveys Trader Surveys

Moving Forward Better methods of footfall counting Surveying Town Centre Businesses using a more formal method Linking Specialist Markets and Traditional Markets together

The End Result….

Any Questions?