Rochdale
Working in partnership with Rochdale Creates, The Teenage Market has supported young people by providing free space in Rochdale Town Hall, engaging traders from across the borough and the wider North West.
The Teenage Market worked with Rochdale Creates, which aims to make Rochdale an exciting, thriving and prosperous place to be through the power of creativity and culture, to run a Teenage Market event in Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday 12th October 2024.
In total, 53 young people took part in the day which included 17 young traders and 36 performers. The event was well attended, with 500+ people coming through the door, spending £1,000 – £1,200 in sales, with two stallholders making between £200 - £400.
Most of those who took part (75%) had never traded at a market before and over 90% mentioned doing another market as a result of having had a positive experience of taking part in this Teenage Market.
Feedback from the young traders who took part was very positive, with numerous stallholders expressing that taking part in the event had made them feel “happy”, “satisfied” and “tired”, but ultimately that it was a “great opportunity”.
Key learnings included developing a better understanding of what products sell well, how to connect with customers and the practicalities of how markets work.
The average age of those that took part was 16, most of the traders were female (83%) with one trader identifying as being ‘non-binary’. In terms of race, 40% of traders were non-white and a third of traders stated that they have a physical or mental health condition expected to last for 12 months or more, or are classed as being neurodivergent.
In terms of perceptions, all young traders either Agreed or Strongly Agreed that the event “enhanced the sense of community in Rochdale”, although responses were more mixed as to it “increasing their pride” in the town.
The event was managed and co-ordinated by organiser Charlie Booth, who shared that, “helping to co-ordinate the delivery of Teenage Market activity in Rochdale has been an absolute joy. The creative talents and passion of the young people involved have truly blown me away.”
Prior to the event, Charlie delivered a workshop for the young traders to meet each face-to-face before the event in order to learn more about what to expect on the day as well have any questions or queries they had answered.
The workshop also provided an opportunity for all of the young people to meet co-founder of The Teenage Market, Joe Barratt, and Event Co-Ordinator, Scarlet Barratt, as well as have their products professionally photographed.
In summary, the first Teenage Market in Rochdale was a big success and helped give young people the chance to sell their products in a supportive environment.
Further opportunities to provide free space to trade are being actively explored in 2025, supported by the team at Rochdale Creates and the Rochdale Development Agency.