Love Your Local Market 2017 – Official launch at Keswick Market
You couldn’t have asked for better weather on 11 May when Geraud UK’s Keswick Market played host to the launch of LYLM 2017. The sun shone and visitor numbers were plentiful to enjoy the day’s activities.
Members of Allerdale Council and Keswick Town Council; Mayor of Keswick, Cllr David Burn; NABMA’s President, Cllr Chris Rosling-Josephs and CEO Graham Wilson; NMTF’s Chief Executive, Joe Harrison and Managers from Groupe Geraud, gathered in the Market Square for the official launch of Love Your Local Market 2017.
Launched by NABMA in 2012, as a dirrect result of the Portas Review recommending a national market day, Love Your Local Market has become the world’s biggest markets event and the event at Keswick is the sixth anniversary of that launch.
In that time, it has continued to grow momentum and around 1000 markets were expected to celebrate LYLM in the UK during the month of May. Sixteen countries from Europe and the rest of world have joined the campaign, with Argentina coming on board this year. It is hoped that around 3000 markets overall will be taking part this year.
A number of speeches began proceedings, with NABMA’s President referring to the recent focus that NABMA had placed on determining the best way to operate your market and commended Allendale Council and Groupe Geraud on their partnership, which led to Keswick Market winning a Great British Market Award in 2015. He commented, ‘The model you have in Keswick is one that other local authorities need to look at and consider whether a partnership with the private sector will work for them.’
The focus of LYLM has always been about attracting new traders and particularly young people. In the six years of the LYLM campaign around 10,000 have tried their hand at market trading and NABMA evaluations have shown that around 2000 new businesses have been created.
This year’s focus is very much geared towards encouraging the next generation of market traders and this was very much the basis of NMTF CEO, Joe Harrison’s speech. He spoke about the importance of supporting the next generation of traders and the NMTF’s tie in with the campaign with their National Youth Market, which encourages young entrepreneurs aged 16 – 30 to run their businesses on a market. Working in partnership with NABMA, they are encouraging operators to nominate their best young trader for the chance to win a place at their event in September. Full details of this appear further in this issue.
The market was fully bedecked in LYLM branded bunting and flags, provided by Gala Tent, the official merchandise sponsors of LYLM 2017. A programme of events included a jazz band, children’s choir and Keswick’s Town Crier, David Hall.
In addition to creating new traders, LYLM is about celebrating the role of markets in the local community. Last year, around 5000 events were held around the country, celebrating LYLM and this year, markets have once again fully embraced the campaign, with some fantastic events taking place throughout the country. Next month’s issue of Market Trade News will be a celebration of the great success of LYLM. We want to hear about your event, no matter how big or small.
Please send your photos, links and press releases to: editorial@markettradenews.com
