Margate
Held in partnership with Thanet District Council, The Teenage Market in Margate has celebrated the creativity of young entrepreneurs while strengthening community spirit and supporting the local economy.
With two successful events held in 2024, the Margate Teenage Market has brought a burst of energy and creativity to the coastal town, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit and talent of its young people.
Funded by Thanet’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Teenage Market events have become a cornerstone of youth engagement and community celebration, with 100% of traders reporting improved confidence and 97% stating that they have developed new skills, including money management and marketing.
The first event, which was held in July 2024, featured 13 stallholders aged 10 to 19. Despite challenging weather, the young people who took part showed remarkable resilience, collectively earning £1,000 and leaving with invaluable confidence and life skills.
The second Teenage Market, held as part of the Mayor’s Big Christmas in Margate, built on the initial success. Featuring 47 stallholders, aged 7 to 23, and 9 performers, the festive market created an electric atmosphere in the town centre and drew widespread community support, including an appearance from the Mayor of Margate and Polly Billington MP.
Collectively, the traders achieved over £5,000 in sales, with highlights including Harrison’s 3D Prints, which generated £557 in revenue.
The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the value of the opportunity to gain real-world experience and build confidence. Comments such as, “The experience was excellent, the organisers were super helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” and “The event really helped my confidence in starting my own business. Thank you for this opportunity,” highlight the profound impact the market had on these aspiring entrepreneurs.
The event succeeded in drawing a large number of visitors to the town centre, boosting the local economy as a result. A local coffee shop, Curve, reported increased sales and visitors rated the event very highly, with 2/3 describing their experience as ‘Excellent’ and others calling it ‘Good’.
There was a wave of praise for the young people on the day, with lots of positive comments posted across social media after the event. One parent commented that, “the Teenage Market offered an invaluable opportunity for my kids to develop business skills and gain confidence. They’re now eager to continue building their start-ups.”
The positive feedback from the events have highlights the real importance in making The Teenage Market in Margate a regular event in the town centre calendar. The role it plays in empowering young entrepreneurs, fostering community spirit, and supporting local businesses is clear to see.
The council is now actively looking for sources of funding to be able to continue delivering Teenage Market activity across the district, building on the success of the first two events. These initial events have demonstrated just how talented young people are and how much demand there is for engagement with the initiative, with a massive 400% growth in participation from the first to second market.