Young traders and independent businesses are going to be celebrated on Saturday at Hull’s Trinity Market.
Some of the city’s most creative, entrepreneurial and hard-working traders are going in front of a panel of judges – full of familiar faces – with the hope of being crowned the National Market Traders Federation’s (NMTF) Young Trader of the Year.
Latest figures (from HullBID) show that 41 per cent of retail units in Hull city centre are independent.
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for economic investment and regeneration, said: “Hull is a city which supports and promotes young, creative and hard-working people.
“Young traders are vitally important for the growth and sustainability of the market culture in Britain.
“It’s brilliant that Trinity Market is hosting the event because the market gives a fantastic platform to many independent businesses and new traders in the city.”
The traders will be judged by the Lord Mayor, Radio Humberside presenter James Hoggarth and Debbie Denby, who owns Debbie’s Sweet Cabin and acts as a mentor for young traders. Debbie established her sweet shop, full of retro, traditional and American treats, in Trinity Market 28 years ago.
Faith Hanson, Ethical House, is one of the young traders entering the competition.
The 14 contestants will be judged in the categories of retail, grocery, street food and arts and crafts.
Three traders will be selected to go through to the regional heats in York, before hopefully progressing to the NMTF national finals
Four of the traders are based in Hull’s thriving Trinity Market. Eco Shed, Cone Queen, Ethical House and O.T.L (Outside the Lines) are all entering the competition.
As well as the competition, the market it is also hosting its monthly Farmers’ Market on Saturday from 10.30am until 4pm. There will be traders inside the market and outside on Trinity Square.
Faith Hanson, 27, runs the recently opened Ethical House in Trinity Market. She said she wanted to provide somewhere where people could buy ethical cosmetics at affordable prices.
“Younger people are looking to go green, so this kind of sector is going to thrive and be here for a long time.
“Young traders are bringing creative ideas and different ways of engaging with customers, which is needed to keep retail alive and bring something new and different.”
Anna Beaumont, 27, runs Trinity Market’s Cone Queen, which offers the unique idea of serving pizza in a cone.
She said: “Young traders are different, they are creating new niches and creating things that young people want.
Anna opened 18 months ago and said she found Trinity Market attractive because it gave her an instant platform to a large customer base.
“I wanted to set up in the market because it’s new and the space is beautiful. We’ve got so many options here, even if people don’t want our food there are plenty of other options which is great because we often see parties come in of six or seven and each person has something different.
“Having so many traders around me that have got so much experience has been invaluable.”
