The only way is Maesteg Market for crafty Essex couple

Having recently moved from Essex to Wales, Matt and Michelle Hasler are hoping they’ve found a gap in the market for their new business in Maesteg. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Just over a month ago, the couple opened Florrie’s, a new stall at Maesteg Market which sells craft materials that are ideal for making your own greetings cards and scrapbooking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They’ve said goodbye to the frenzy of life on the edge of the M25, and hello to what they hope will be a better lifestyle, and plenty of customers, in the Llynfi Valley. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A wide range of papers, embellishments, toppers, stampers, cutters and other decorative features can all be bought at Florrie’s, which is named after Matt’s Nan Florrie, who sadly passed away last Easter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Matt said: “We’ve been here at the market for just over a month now and are really enjoying it. We moved to Wales for a new start, and we’re really pleased we chose to come here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are both crafters, and we believe there is a demand from other people out there as well who are interested in buying these sorts of products for their own homemade cards and scrapbooks too.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

So what words of advice does Matt have for anyone else thinking of setting up a market stall? ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Research your product and the area, and if you think it fits then go for it!” Matt said. “Have a look at what big stores you have got competition from nearby too. For us, stores such as The Range and Hobbycraft are the main stockists of craft materials, and neither of those stores are found in Maesteg. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“So for us, we’re hoping it will be a good location, with local people no longer having to travel to other towns for these sorts of items.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Maesteg Market is run by Bridgend County Borough Council, and rates in the market hall start from £39 per week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mike Gregory, the council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Welsh-Essex relations have been on a high since Gavin and Stacey, so I wish Matt and Michelle a very warm welcome to the county borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A market stall offers an excellent opportunity to dip your toe into the business world to see if your idea has the potential to be a success. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The run up to Valentine’s Day is a particularly busy time for all of the traders at Maesteg Market, with a selection of excellent gift ideas, flowers, cakes and other treats on sale there, and it’s great to see Florrie’s added to the mix.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you would like to find out more about the possibility of opening a stall or shop at Maesteg Market, please contact Adele Paterson at Bridgend County Borough Council by calling 01656 642700 or emailing adele.paterson@bridgend.gov.uk. You can also get further details at www.maestegmarket.co.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​