Calls for Doncaster Market traders to use social media to boost business

Stallholders at the town’s historic market are being asked to set up Facebook pages in a bid to boost business.

Ryan Davis, of greengrocers K D Davis & Sons, who is president of the Doncaster group of the National Market Traders Federation, has credited his Facebook page with pulling in customers.

He added: “There are a lot of things that we as traders can do ourselves.

“My own business has a very active Facebook page, where I post pictures of the different produce we have coming in.

“I have seen this as the biggest influence for new customers at my stall, so I would like to see every market trader with a Facebook page for their business.

“The markets department are willing to help set up social media pages for traders in our new information point in the Corn Exchange.”

Traders recently complained that footfall was down and figures revealed a third of stalls were standing empty.

Mr Davis added: “Obviously we would love to see occupancy levels at 100 per cent but I do feel this is unrealistic given the size of our market.

“Even in the ’70s and ’80s, when markets up and down the country were booming, there were still empty stalls in Doncaster, so maybe we should look at reducing the actual number of stalls that are available.”

Regular customer Sarah Elizabeth Proctor, from Bawtry, said: “We know Doncaster Market is an under-used facility - yet we also know that it is a greatly-loved facility, which for many locals was part of their childhood, their history and yet looks not be part of their future.

“We would be fools to stand by and let that happen.

“Public opinion needs to change.

“To do this you need a marketing team who can get this wonderful and fragile market into the public eye and on to our screens, into people’s living rooms – those who have forgotten that the market even exists.”