Organizers of the Taunton Independent Market say they want to ‘bring the heart back’ to the city as the event returns this weekend. This Sunday (April 18) marks the welcome return of the event as 50 local merchants head to the city center to sell everything from donuts to dog treats. It’s the first since Christmas and comes just over a year since the event’s launch – and was quickly shut down for several months due to pandemic lockdowns. For organizer Michelle Beck, her return marks a kind of relaunch, albeit with strict Covid restrictions in place. She said: “Taunton is my hometown and it has been a market town with no weekend market for so long that I always dreamed of bringing my heart back to Taunton by creating a monthly destination street market. “We have had an incredible positive response to the market from customers and merchants. Our booth spaces are already full for April, May and June. “I’ve been hosting events for my own event company, By Invitation Events, for the past seven years and have built a reputation for hosting quality events across the South West.” The market was first launched in March 2020 with over 65 stalls. It exceeded all expectations, attracting over 7,500 visitors that day. Local artisan traders come to the market in Taunton, Wellington and the wider Somerset region. Ms Beck said: “Our traders represent the best of handcrafted and independent manufacturing. and small businesses – they’re all committed to delivering great, fresh and fun products. When the market had to close for foreclosure, the market became an online business with a weekly delivery service to Taunton and the surrounding area. and TIM has made over 300 deliveries. It was put on hold when Mrs Beck reopened the “real” market in September, October, and then three Christmas markets in December. She said adaptability has been key over the past year. She said: “It has been very frustrating with the market shutdown / start, especially after such a successful launch, but now we are hoping for some consistency so that we can have a long run without further disruption. Are their main source. These traders have had to adapt in these difficult times. “We are delighted to be back on April 18 and have big plans to develop the market around town once the restrictions are lifted.” We hope use other areas such as The High Street, Hammet Street and Goodlands Gardens. We would love to have a vintage section and expand the range of stands we have and include even more amazing producers and makers of the South West. There will be a limit of 500 people allowed in the market at any time, with a digital click system in and out of all entrances to Castle Green. All visitors will be verbally instructed to wear a mask, stay two meters from anyone who is not in their bubble, respect the “rule of six” and “disinfect your hands at the entrance. For the traders themselves, the stalls have been reduced by a third and will be spread across Castle Green to allow for social distancing.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-13 11:43:36
