Bolton Market needs the support of local people

As Independents' Week - a showcase of local businesses - draws to an end, The Bolton News visited Bolton Market, where people have owned their businesses for decades, with their livelihood being their pride and joy.

Charlotte Rae, aged 38, has been at the market for more than 20 years, with her father having run stalls at the market for 47 years.

Charlotte Rae of Charlie's Cheese and Salad Stall has been involved in the Bolton Market for over 20 years

Charlotte runs Charlie’s Cheese and Salad Stall in the fruit and veg hall, which has been there for 15 years.

She spoke about the importance of supporting local businesses.

She said: “Well, it’s very important, we don’t have big corporations backing us, it’s just us, we don’t have bonuses.

“Once communities lose small business, they’re then beholden to large companies who can set whatever prices they want.

“My business supports local farmers, local stalls.”

Charlotte said: “You can come down to the market and get pretty much whatever you need.

Sebastian Coman, pictured here with his girlfriend Isabella Carapetru on the day his shop opened, is a newer addition to the markets

“You don’t get this kind of service in a supermarket.

“People come down to this market solely to chat, that’s why we’re different.”

Another mainstay of the market is Adam, aged 58, of Adam’s Electricals, who has had a stall there for 31 years.

He spoke about the importance of supporting local businesses.

Adam said: “The thing is, they come here for the things they can’t find in a shop.”

Adam highlighted how Covid has sadly impacted his business.

He said: “The people come less, it’s very hard.

“Everyone is struggling at the moment.”

Sebastian Coman, aged 33, is a new addition to the market, with his chip shop Chip N’ Go having opened this year.

Some traders have been at the markets for decades upon decades

Sebastian said: “Supporting local is very important. Buying local helps businesses like myself.

“I’m on my own in the shop at the moment, I have to cook, clean, serve and market the shop myself.

“But at the end I’m sure it will be very rewarding.”

Alam Khan, aged 35, runs Alam’s Electricals and highlighted the impact of the Covid pandemic on his business.

He said: “Covid made a big, big difference – it ruined life, not just the business.

“It used to be very, very busy, now people feel threatened to come out – we used to have a lot of people in the market.”

Priyanka Toth, aged 44, owns Adam & Lianne Bedding, and also found the pandemic had a significant impact.

She said: “I think at the moment, more businesses are going down.

“Business is down compared to before Covid.”

She suggested a way to get people in the door.

“We need to get more people into the market. I think coaches do trips from different towns, that might help," she said.

Independents’ Week is a campaign to support and promote independent retail businesses across the UK.