Ideas and how to set them up
Market stall kit and stock base
Your gazebo, trestle tables, weights, display stands, cloths and stock crates kept in one place, packed and ready for the next market day. Many traders find a 150 sq ft unit holds a full stall plus a few weeks of stock. It also means you can restock mid-week without unpacking the van in your drive.
- Layout
- Stall kit together in one corner nearest the shutter, stock on shelving in labelled crates behind it, and a packing table for building the next day's load. Keep a written list of what goes in the van so nothing is left behind.
- Good to know
- Load the van the night before using your 24-hour access, then you only have to drive and set up in the morning.
Craft fair and makers' market sellers
For makers who sell at craft fairs, Christmas markets and pop-up events: finished stock, display props, card readers and packaging in one tidy stockroom. You can also price, bag and tag stock at a proper table instead of the kitchen. Between fairs, the same space works as a stockroom for online sales.
- Layout
- Finished stock in clear boxes by product line, display props and risers on a separate shelf, and a pricing and packing table under good light. Keep a small grab box of float, bags, tape and spare price labels.
- Good to know
- Take a photo of a well-laid-out stall and stick it on the wall. It makes setting up at the next fair quicker and more consistent.
Antiques and collectables dealer
Furniture, ceramics, prints, militaria, toys and collectables bought at auctions and house sales, cleaned and priced before they go to antiques fairs or online. A two-storey unit lets you keep bulky pieces downstairs and smaller valuable items upstairs. Buyers and other dealers can visit you at the unit by arrangement.
- Layout
- Larger furniture on the ground floor with walkways between pieces, fragile items on deep shelving with padding, and a cleaning and pricing bench. Keep stock you are researching separate from stock that is ready to sell.
- Good to know
- Wrap fragile pieces in paper or blankets, not plastic that traps moisture. Keep a simple stock book with what you paid, where it came from and where it sold.
Seasonal and Christmas market stock
Christmas decorations, gifts, calendars, Halloween stock and summer seaside goods bought in bulk ahead of the season and sold over a few busy weeks. A unit lets you buy early at better prices and store it until it is needed. When the season ends, stock that did not sell can be boxed up for next year.
- Layout
- Stock for the current season at the front, next season's stock boxed and labelled at the back, and shelving high enough to use the full wall. Leave a clear area by the shutter for deliveries arriving.
- Good to know
- Rolling monthly terms mean you can take a bigger unit for the busy months and drop back down afterwards, subject to availability.
House clearance resale
Sorting goods from house clearances into stock for markets, car boot sales and online listings. Clothes, books, homeware and furniture can all be sorted, cleaned and priced in one place. Many clearance traders sell the best pieces online and the rest on markets.
- Layout
- Three clear zones: an intake area by the shutter, a sorting and cleaning table in the middle, and shelving for priced stock. Keep a separate area for items going to charity or the tip so they leave quickly.
- Good to know
- Check what comes in before it goes on the shelves. Fuel cans, paint tins, aerosols in quantity and gas bottles from clearances cannot be stored in the unit.
Gift, jewellery and accessories stall
Small, high-value lines such as costume jewellery, phone accessories, sunglasses, bags and gifts that sell well on markets and at seaside events. The 160 sq ft security-door unit suits stock that is small but worth a lot. Wi-Fi at the unit makes reordering from suppliers quick between market days.
- Layout
- Stock in drawer units or small labelled bins, display cards and stands boxed by stall layout, and a desk for reordering and bookkeeping on the Wi-Fi. Keep the most valuable lines in a lockable cabinet.
- Good to know
- Count small stock in and out each market day. It is the quickest way to spot theft at the stall and to know which lines are worth reordering.
Why our units suit market & fair traders
- Market stock is mostly boxed goods, clothing, homeware, crafts and collectables: dry, low-risk items that sit well on shelving in our units.
- 24-hour access matters when a market sets up at dawn or a fair finishes late, and a roller shutter means the gazebo, weights and crates go in quickly.
- Rolling monthly terms suit a trade that changes with the seasons, and you can swap to a bigger or smaller unit when your stock grows or shrinks, subject to availability. A tidy stockroom means quicker set-ups and less time standing in the cold on market mornings.
- Lighting, standard single-phase electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit (there is no three-phase power), with 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities.
Not allowed in our units
Nothing that melts or heats combustible materials such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, no flammable liquids or gases in bulk, and no car storage. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine. Every business use needs our approval first.
Start-up checklist
- Decide which unit suits your stock, machines and how you will load and unload.
- Message us with what your business does, so we can approve the use before you commit.
- Register your business with HMRC as a sole trader or limited company if you have not already.
- Speak to an insurance broker about public liability, contents and stock cover, and employers' liability if you have staff.
- Ask us whether business rates apply, and check Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
- Plan your layout: shelving up the walls, benches near sockets, and a clear route to the door.
- Arrange one month's rent, the deposit, photo ID and a Direct Debit mandate for move-in day.
Questions
Can I load my van at any time?
Yes. Tenants have 24-hour access, so you can load the night before or come back late after a market. Vehicles cannot be stored inside the units, as car storage is not permitted.
Do I need a licence to trade at markets?
Most markets and fairs handle pitch bookings themselves, and some street trading needs a council licence. Check with the market organiser and Blackpool Council. Our guide to selling at Blackpool markets covers the basics.
Can I store food stock for my stall?
Cooking and hot food are not allowed. Some dry, pre-packed food may be possible, but ask us first, and check the Food Standards Agency guidance on registering a food business with your council.
What is included in the rent?
Lighting, electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Tenants get 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities: a tea and coffee room, toilets and water.
Can I use the address on my Google Business Profile?
Yes. Tenants can use The Old Rock Factory, Keswick Road, Blackpool FY1 5PB as their business address on Google, so customers can find you without you putting your home address online.
Is there three-phase power?
No. Every unit has standard single-phase electricity, the same as a normal plug socket. Choose machines and tools that run on single-phase power.
What can't I do in a unit?
We do not allow anything that melts or heats combustible materials such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, flammable liquids or gases in bulk, or car storage. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine. Every business use needs our approval.
Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Swap to a bigger or smaller unit any time, subject to availability. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or tax advice.
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