FOLLOWING a global pandemic, cost of living crisis, and declining high street trends, it has been tough to work as a market trader over the last few years.
With rising bills, it is understood that people have less money in their pockets and are less likely to spend their income on market products, especially if they are not seen as essential items.
However, speaking to Church Square traders, many are concerned that if footfall continues to decline, they are not going to be able to sustain their business for much longer.
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The traders, who operate on Church Square on Tuesdays and Thursdays, see similar trends in other markets they work from, although some buck the trend by offering a more vibrant selection of traders, they say.
With a new market hall and improved outdoor trading environment proposed in St Helens' regeneration plans, it is hoped that traders can survive the current crisis and grow with the future redevelopment.
What do Church Square traders think
Todd Hodkinson, Mystical Melts
Offering an eclectic mix of bath and shower products, Mystical Melts has been operating in St Helens for the past nine years.
Todd feels that people do love the markets in St Helens, but declining footfall is having a huge impact on his stall and the wider town centre.
Trends toward retail parks have had an impact on high street business, Todd said, and the combination of Brexit, covid, and the cost of living crisis has only accentuated the problems.
Todd said: "I've loved coming to this market over the years but business is down 60% from what it used to be.
"People genuinely want to help the traders here but their disposable income has vanished and we are not offering people essential items.
"We have the odd sporadic day where custom is up, but it's getting really hard at the minute.
"God knows what will happen through the winter with the current crisis, so I'm not even sure I'll be back here next year."
Ray Watt, Top Marks
With his clothes and accessories stall, Ray Watt has been working in the market trade for decades.
He said that while certain markets are booming, such as Great Homer Street in Liverpool, towns like St Helens are suffering as shopping habits have changed and markets are not seen as something to travel to the town centre for.
Ray said: "I've been in St Helens for around three or four years, but spent around 30 or 40 years in the market trade.
"Footfall is not good here because people haven't really got the money to spend on extra products.
"They have other priorities such as buying their essentials, or even alcohol and cigarettes, and just generally don't use the markets to shop.
"The market in Liverpool is good because people travel to get bargains that you can't get anywhere else, but people aren't travelling into towns like St Helens to shop at the markets."
Margaret Taylor, Fairy House Estates
Selling a collection of home accessories and paraphernalia, Margaret gets to the town centre at around 5.30am to set her stall up.
Because of slow trade, however, she said she usually packs up by 2.30pm.
Margaret, from Parr, said: "We haven't been doing too bad on the stall but we do struggle in the other markets we trade at.
"There was a bit of a boost in trade after the pandemic but it is more difficult now, as the cost of our products has gone up and less people are shopping here.
"But the town does seem to get busier when the outdoor markets are here and I think the town does need them."
Margaret suggested that free parking could be one option to incentivise people to come to the town centre to shop.
What St Helens Council has said
A spokesperson for St Helens Borough Council said: “The council is bringing forward major regeneration plans for the borough which will transform St Helens town centre through new offices, commercial, new indoor market, hotel and housing.
"This is aimed at increasing footfall to support both town centre businesses and market traders.
"These plans include a high-quality public realm which will create a better trading environment for outdoor market traders and will complement the stallholders in the new indoor market.
"Design work for a new indoor market hall is currently ongoing and there will be further liaison with market traders as these proposals are developed.
"The council has also been providing support to existing independent town centre businesses through a business advocates scheme and a Shop Local campaign.
"We would also be happy to work with traders to promote local markets further."
The council previously stated that parking charges, which are among the lowest in the region, help them to achieve a balanced budget and protect essential services.
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