Rugby
The Rugby Teenage Market brought young traders into the heart of the town centre as part of a wider Easter celebration, creating a vibrant platform for youth enterprise, creativity and community connection.
🐣 Easter trading
The Rugby Teenage Market took place on Saturday 4 April 2026 as part of the town’s wider Easter Market celebration, giving young people a free and supportive chance to trade in a prominent town centre location.
Delivered in the heart of Rugby town centre, the event brought together a varied mix of young makers, bakers, crafters and entrepreneurs. From handmade jewellery and personalised gifts to baked goods and other creative products, the stalls highlighted the strength of youth enterprise both in Rugby and across the wider county.
The event was a strong commercial success. Seventeen young traders collectively generated more than £1,800 in sales, selling 620 products between them. More than half of the traders were from Rugby itself, while others travelled in from elsewhere in Warwickshire to take part.
Set within a larger Easter programme featuring free creative workshops, live music, face painting and other family-friendly activities, the Teenage Market helped bring fresh energy into the town centre and attracted a diverse crowd of visitors of all ages.
“I found the application process really easy and intuitive. The actual location was right in the centre of town meaning that there was a high volume of foot traffic. I liked how local it was.”
🌱 First steps
For more than 70% of the young people involved, Rugby was their first ever market. That made the experience all the more important. By offering a free stall within a welcoming and well-organised setting, The Teenage Market removed barriers and gave young traders the confidence to step into a real public trading environment for the first time.
Hosting the Teenage Market alongside a larger Easter event also helped ease some of the pressure that can come with a first trading experience. Clear signage, strong footfall and the supportive atmosphere made it easier for young people to settle in, speak to customers and learn by doing.
The feedback reflected that positive experience. All respondents said that their confidence had improved, all said that their business skills had improved, and all said they would like to take part in another Rugby Teenage Market.
✨ Confidence and connection
For the young people involved, the event was about much more than making sales. It gave them the chance to meet other young creatives, speak directly with customers, build communication skills and experience the pride that comes with running their own stall in a professional setting.
The event also proved particularly valuable for neurodiverse young people. One parent told us that taking part helped Jacob, who has autism, to “come out of himself” and speak to people about his products. This underlines the value of creating accessible, low-pressure opportunities that allow young people to grow at their own pace.
Young traders consistently commented on the friendliness of the event, the professionalism of the organisers and the chance to connect with other people their age who enjoy creating. The overall experience reinforced how important it is to provide visible, local opportunities for young people to test ideas and build confidence in public.
💎 Young trader spotlight
One standout story from the day was Ava Breadmore, the 16-year-old creator behind Skye & Stone. Ava produces unique jewellery using sterling silver, raw gemstones and sea glass, with each piece shaped by the materials she works with.
Ava ended the day having generated £165 in sales, but beyond the financial result, she valued the atmosphere that the event created. Her experience perfectly reflected what The Teenage Market aims to provide: a professional trading environment where young people feel supported, respected and empowered to lead their own businesses.
🤝 Partnership and place
The success of the Rugby Teenage Market was made possible through effective partnership working. Rugby Borough Council’s wider Easter programme created a strong town centre backdrop, while Warwickshire County Council supported the opportunity for young traders to take part free of charge.
The event also benefited from the support of CJ’s Event Management. Although rising wind speeds created some operational challenges on the day, a proactive response from the delivery team ensured that the event remained safe and secure for all involved, with the welfare of young traders placed at the centre of decision-making throughout.
Beyond the direct income earned by the young people, the Teenage Market added significantly to the wider buzz of Rugby’s Easter celebrations. It helped draw visitors into the town centre, encouraged people to stay longer and contributed to a more vibrant and welcoming environment during one of the busiest weekends of the spring season.
🚀 Looking ahead
The positive response to Rugby’s first Teenage Market has created a clear appetite for more. Following the event, we received multiple enquiries from parents asking when the next date would be announced, with many keen to see their children build further on the confidence and courage they gained from taking part.
Rugby showed just how powerful a youth-led market can be when it is embedded within a lively town centre setting. By combining enterprise, creativity and community, the event created meaningful opportunities for young people while also contributing to the vitality and appeal of Rugby town centre.