Romford Market Stall Project

We launched the Market Stall Sponsorship Project in April 2021, we started with sponsoring a couple of market stalls from mid-April on a Saturday and Sunday.

During 2021 one stall/ pitch was awarded to Courtney Gwatkins of Courtney’s Cakes after entering our "Pitch for your Pitch" competition and the other stall/ pitch was used as our Arts & Culture (A&C) Stall that was run on rotation.

In 2021 on the A&C stall we welcomed:

YAYmates – No Collective (a collection of local artists work)

Dicing with Life (arts, crafts and gaming)

Pink Foodie (Bao Buns and Dumplings)

Jenerous (an ethical clothing company)

Knitted Perfection (selling Wool/ buttons/ ribbon etc.)

Dates & Nuts (selling handmade protein balls)

Lybo Coasters (selling an array of handmade coasters, placemats)

FELIE (selling ceramic vases, artificial plants, pampas grass, prints and picture frames)

The basic gist of the project was to 'liven up' Romford Market at the weekends and help small businesses and local culture at the same time!

We erected x2 Romford BID Branded Market Stalls in the market place every Saturday and Sunday from April until Christmas, the expenses and set up of the stalls were donated by the Romford BID as part of this project.

In 2022 we ran our rota for the Entrepreneurial Stalls slightly differently, we found that those Start-Up Businesses who were interested in trialling the Market couldn’t always commit to every weekend, so we collated a bank of businesses who wanted to trial the Market, a couple who had joined at the end of last year and several new businesses such as:

Yeti’s Kitchen (African Cuisine)

The Wizard Cave (Crystals, Jewellery, Trinket, Tarot Cards and Dream Catchers)

Lil Bit of Joy (Handmade Resin Pots, Cups, Bookmarks, Trinkets & Jewellery)

Tarliah’s Bowtique  (Hair Bows & Head Bands)

Brow Zen (Vegan & Eco-Friendly Eyebrow Cosmetics)

The Craft Mob (Macrame, Wall Hangings, Keyrings, Plant Hangers and Decorative Jars)

Evil Eye Macrame (Handmade Decorative Macrame all sporting the Evil Eye)

On our Arts & Culture stall we welcomed Havering Changing who launched “Music on the Market” which included:

"Bandeoke" - Free live music and karaoke for anyone that wanted to sing live with a 5-piece band.

"Come Back to Music" - Where members of the public were able to try

a variety of instruments that they might have once played, or wanted to play, as well as have a go on music technology such as DJ decks.

Diwali – We hosted this Festival of Light Event on the BID Stalls as we welcomed Diwali back to Romford in partnership with HASWA and Havering Changing.  This colourful event included Diya Painting, Rangoli, Bollywood Dancing and Dhol Drumming!

Halloween – For Halloween this year in partnership with Havering Changing and NO Collective we hosted “Day of the Dead” Celebrations which included craft workshops where families could make a ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ mask, a traditional Cempasuchil Flower, and/ or Decorate munchkin pumpkins and skulls with traditional Mexican patterns.

We’re continuing to work with Havering Changing to celebrate those poignant dates and cultural festivals throughout the year with the “On the Market” project… Watch This Space!

End of 2022 into 2023

Start-Up Business Sponsorship 2023

As of the end of 2022 leading into 2023 we have changed how our sponsorship works, we will be continuing to sponsor and offer x2 pitches over Saturday and Sunday each weekend for up to 6 months (April to October), we will offer support to those who wish to trial the Market and will be asking for commitment of either every weekend over 3 months or a maximum of 12 dates over 6 months.  This is to allow the business to become established on the Market with the aim for the business to eventually become self-sufficient on the Market, and/ or take that next step within their business by expanding and having a regular pitch on Romford Market or maybe a unit within Romford.

Market Trader Support Programme

We have also been working with the Romford Market Management Team and have put together a Support Programme which is also available to support new businesses.  As part of our Sponsorship Process those who we sponsor we now refer them to the Market Trader Support Programme once their sponsorship ends.  The Market Trader Support Programme and Agreement is set up with the Market Management Team and individual to the Trader.  This is to allow the Trader the time to continue to build on their business and reputation within Romford Market with the aim of becoming self-sufficient and to no longer require the MTSP, e.g., the Trader has purchased their own gazebo/ stall equipment and making enough profit to cover their pitch fees.

If you are interested in learning more about our Market Sponsorship and would like to trial your business or product on the Market, then please get in touch by emailing – market@romfordbid.co.uk