A new market in the heart of Beccles is continuing to attract support after completing its sixth week of trading.
The Beccles Sunday Market, launched by local entrepreneur Toby Oddy, takes place every Sunday in the town centre between 9am and 3pm.
Speaking to East Suffolk One, Toby reflected on the market's success so far and the work involved in establishing it from scratch without any existing trader contacts or database.
"The first milestone was I had two months to get traders together with no traders list or any database. Me and my little daughter went around to a lot of events, spoke to a lot of operators and a lot of traders, so the first milestone was get a market full of traders, which we achieved in the first couple of weeks"
He also highlighted the importance of markets to town centres and high streets, particularly in places such as Beccles, where banks and other shops have disappeared over time. Toby said the market provides an opportunity to bring activity into the town centre and support the local high street.
A key part of the market's appeal, he said, is ensuring there is something different for visitors each week. By attracting a variety of traders, shoppers have new stalls and products to explore, giving people a reason to return regularly.
The market has now completed its sixth week and continues to operate each Sunday in the centre of town.
Toby also revealed that further opportunities could potentially be in the pipeline, although no additional details were provided.
The market remains open every Sunday from 9am until 3pm in Beccles town centre.
Listen below to hear the full interview with Toby Oddy
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