A MARKET trader is hoping to impress at the National Youth Market this weekend, where she will show off
her wares to a panel of industry experts.
The National Youth Market is an annual competition for market traders aged between 16 to 30.
Sian Fall, 30, who runs the Candy Cottage sweet stall, said this is her
last chance to impress the judges enough to win a trophy at the
competition.
Sian has been selling homemade chocolate bars and luxury sweets for two years, and will set up her stall in Stratford-upon-Avon today and tomorrow where she will be judged by industry experts.
Sian, of Loxdale Gardens, Barnsley, said: “It’s something I wanted to do rather than just stay at home.
“I want to get my name out there, I have only traded around Barnsley and to go to Stratford-upon-Avon  where I have never been is a great opportunity. Hopefully, I can make some contacts and sell down there more often.
“I went to Manchester last year, which was a bit nerve-wracking because I’d never done it before but now because I’ve already done it and have a rough idea of how it works, I am looking forward to getting down there.”
The event is organised by the National Market Traders Federation.
There are five awards up for grabs, with the trader judged to be the best winning £500, a year’s membership to the NMTF and the title of Young Trader of the Year.
Four others will win the Highly Commended award along with £100 and a year’s NMTF membership.
Traders are judged on 21 criteria, including the cleanliness of their stall, pricing and stock levels, engagement with customers and their social media activity. The competition takes place today and tomorrow at the Waterside in Stratford-upon-Avon, with traders working from 10am to 5pm.
