WHEN the NMTF first talked to Darlington market officers about staging Making Markets Matter they were really keen.
So much so that in the end the four-day event in August had mushroomed into a Summer Market Spectacular, complete with foreign traders under the banner Flavours of Europe, a pot fair, an eco market, our own Best of British Market, a farmers’ market, craft fair and a variety of street entertainment.
As much as anything the extravaganza was held to mark a new lease of life not only for the market but the town centre as a whole following the completion of a £7 million pedestrianisation scheme.
Many thousands of people visited the town over the weekend, many more than would have been there normally.
As far as Making Markets Matter was concerned the aim was to get shoppers to visit the regular market, in particular the indoor market hall.
And according to greengrocer Robin Blair, who generously provided the fruit prizes for the Shopping Basket Challenge, it was a success.
“It’s a great idea and it’s done a lot to bring people into the market hall,” he said.
Much of the success of the event was down to advance publicity, some of it advertising but a major part full page editorials in the Darlington-based Northern Echo.
The traders who joined the Best of British delegation came away wishing all their market days could be as good.
Allan Draper, Chairman of Darlington branch and the NMTF’s national Treasurer, said: “It has been tremendous. I have never in 25 years seen so many people visiting the town as were here on the first day.”