IT’S just like the market used to be — that was the comment from a regular shopper when the NMTF’s Making Markets Matter campaign hit Stockport as part of the launch of the market’s 750th anniversary celebrations.
The Stockport MMM was the first in a series being held throughout the summer.
And arguably it was the best since the event was introduced in 2006. It was certainly successful in that the main attractions — prize voucher vault and spin the wheel — were sited away from the market, and youngsters who won prizes enticed their parents to walk with them up the steep hill to the outdoor market and Victorian market hall.
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council put its weight behind the promotion, staging street entertainment throughout the market area, another big draw for the crowds.
Certainly footfall was well up on a normal Saturday — and it’s here that advance publicity is so useful. If people don’t know it’s happening they won’t come.
As Lynda Staples, of the market's events team said: “During the event the market seemed much busier than usual and the feedback we received on the day was extremely positive — the market had a really great atmosphere.”
The MMM bright orange balloons and t-shirts made the market look really colourful, she added, and she thanked the face painters who had done their work on dozens of children throughout the day.
Lynda said she spoke to Geoff Tookey, MMM’s master chef, who had been giving cookery demonstrations inside the market hall, and he said he was pleased with how the event had pulled together.

Making Markets Matter campaign joins in Stockport’s 750th anniversary