Business booms at Clitheroe Market despite the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic reared it's ugly head in the beginning of 2020. Like the majority of businesses and shops across the country, Clitheroe Market was forced to close in March due to lockdown restrictions.

The pandemic has brought lots of challenges for stall holders and customers, but since the outdoor market reopened at the beginning of June, it has seen the number of shoppers soar, welcomed more stallholders and continues to receive enquiries from new potential traders.

Traders have also been made to adjust to new guidelines in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Among the new stall holders is Bethany Banks. She is the co-owner of Meltz Exchange and runs it with the help of her family. She said: "We started off mainly online and we wanted to branch out a little locally and thought our local market would be perfect.

"We have had such a warm welcome from every single other trader, the atmosphere of the market is that of a family, and since lockdown, the market seems to be thriving and quite possibly busier than I've seen it!

"More and more people seem to be utilising the market now, possibly with it being an outdoor market, people feel safer re Covid-19 situation and also they like to support, small local businesses in these uncertain times we have found ourselves in."

Long-standing Clitheroe market trader, Sharon Russell, of Sharon's Habicraft, is delighted with the number of shoppers flocking to Clitheroe Market. Sharon, who has sold haberdashery, ribbons, sewing threads, buttons and craft felt fabric, for almost four decades, said: "Since reopening, we've definitely noticed increased footfall and there are lots of new traders - some of them who unfortunately cannot go back to work, while others who have shops, but have lots of stock to sell.

"All our customers - new and existing - have adapted to social distancing guidelines and we all have our hand santitizers. It's great to see the market so busy on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday."

Similar views were expressed by Sue Duxbury, who runs Sweetie Sue's stall. She said: "I opened five years ago from scratch and the business has gone from strength-to-strength. "Lockdown was devastating as I had to close. I have two other businesses which I had to close also. Since reopening, we haven’t so much seen our regulars as a lot still are self isolating ( the elderly, mainly) but we have seen an influx of locals who normally would not visit the market and the reactions are great.

"The general consensus being they say they didn’t realize it was such a good market, selling virtually everything. I have a sweet shop on an indoor market and sadly that is not thriving as much. It is definitely the outdoors that has helped."

Pleased to see shoppers supporting the local market, a spokesman for Ribble Valley Borough Council said: "We are delighted that the market is bustling and it shows that people currently feel more comfortable shopping in the open air.”