A business owner is bidding to turn around the fortunes of the farmers’ market in Great Harwood.
The long-running monthly market has seen the number of stallholders dwindle in recent months, forcing previous organisers Gaskell Motor Bodies to concede defeat.
However, after notices were sent out to traders last month, online toy business owner Andrew Wallin agreed to take over the running of the market.
The 28-year-old has had previous market success after taking over the annual Ribchester Spring Bank Village Market earlier this year. The event attracted an extra 20 stalls compared to last year and around 1,500 visitors.
Now Andrew, who runs the Wooden Toy Shop and Spotty Green Frog businesses, said he hopes to have similar success in Great Harwood.
He said: “They have been doing it in the last five years. I went to the July market to have a look at it and there was only about eight stalls.
“It was dying and it will die if you don’t have any money in the kitty to keep advertising it. You can’t just rely on word of mouth.”
Andrew said thousands of leaflets will be printed and distributed over the next few months to attract more traders and money left over will go towards local charities.
Louise Gaskell, of Gaskell Motor Bodies, said: “We were struggling time-wise and then at the July market there were six traders who said they couldn’t come in August because of different food festivals on.
“So at the risk of it being a deathly market the decision was made that it would stop. We sent out notification to all the traders to say unfortunately the market is stopping and then Andrew got in contact with us and said he will take it on.”
The next market will take place on Sunday, September 4 from 10am to 2pm and will run on the first Sunday of every month from March to December. Stalls cost £5 and to book call 01254 820678.
