Meet the couple behind four upcoming pop-up markets across Stoke
By Alex Greensmith
18th Apr 2023 | Local News
A couple have opened a temporary shop to sell hundreds of handmade, regional products to the local people.
Stoke born-and-raised Andy and Laura Nixon will be bringing their pop-up shop of local goods to our area next month.
So Nub News went for a preview of what to expect at their current pop-up shop in Macclesfield.
Keep It Local prides itself on stocking handmade independent gifts from small businesses across Staffordshire and neighbouring counties.
They will head to Longton Indoor Market in Stoke-on-Trent on May 10 to May 13, then heading to The Potteries Centre in Hanley from May 16 to May 28.
They will also have two pop-ups in Stoke and Hanley in June and July respectively.
They sell anything from artwork to oven mitts, to help champion smaller traders.
All products are crafted with passion, and are affordable. But there is a greater goal for Andy and Laura than just making a sale
"We're on a mission to change spending habits," said Laura.
"We started just as an Instagram page sharing who we liked to eat, drink and shop around Staffordshire and Cheshire.
"We decided it wasn't enough, after we realised that many of these businesses were really struggling.
"So we launched our own shop selling some of our own products and a few others, selling them in markets.
"We'd stock loads of candles and coasters at markets under the Keep it Local name, and decided to welcome in lots of other traders under our name, bringing their products to a new audience.
"We ran networking events and then from markets graduated to pop-up shops across the shires, like we will in Stoke next month.
A lot of the independent giftmakers that Keep It Local stocks are people who have other full-time jobs, and cannot devote themselves time or the money towards a presence on high streets.
However, Keep It Local's current touring operation has rallied 34 traders from Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire, and will be stocking products for them at the Grosvenor Centre site the end of this week.
Highlights include, unique greetings cards and gorgeous handmade ceramics.
Keep It Local charges their fellow traders a small fee for Andy and Laura to travel around and sell their products for them.
They also take a little commission off each sale, which helps pay for the rent of spaces such as those inside Quadrant Road's The Potteries Shopping Centre.
In return, they reach a new audience and new sales without even lifting a finger.
Keep It Local can even do a bit of social media promotion for them.
"A lot of these makers can't afford to do it full-time and would never be able to step-up into a retail environment", said Andy.
"But we can help bridge that gap by having pop-ups like these for a couple of days."
As well as supporting a local business, Keep It Local also believe you should come and buy a gift here rather than a chain as it is better for the planet.
This is as the amount of carbon footprint has been reduced to get the product to the shelves, with many being made from scratch in the local area.
"We look forward to seeing you down at our Pop Up", added Laura.
"We are glad to raise awareness of the benefits of supporting your local traders."
In addition to making money for other traders and themselves, Keep It Local also raise money for a Stoke-based greyhound charity.
As well as providing a physical premises (albeit temporary) for smaller traders to sell their wares to a new audience, they are also championed online thanks to Keep It Local's 6000+ strong social media following.
The full list of traders at Keep It Local can be found HERE.
READ MORE: Local Financial planner raises huge sum for childhood cancer charity
Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.
Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.
New stoke Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: stoke jobs
Share:
