Storms devastate small businesses trading at Christmas markets
The weather has taken a turn again! This festive season has been filled with relentless storms, after Storm Bert battered the UK, Storm Conall brought an arctic blast, and now Storm Darragh’s high winds look set to blow many small businesses off track this year.
Around 70% of smaller markets were forced to close in late November. For many small businesses, these markets are lifelines, as weekend trading slots in November and December account for 50-65% of their annual revenue.
Even when markets remain open, challenging weather and economic pressures have dampened consumer spending, leaving traders struggling to make ends meet. The anticipated storm this first weekend of December adds further uncertainty to an already dire situation.
“The weather significantly impacts sales, especially for outdoor traders, and likely affects high street shops as people avoid storms. Many micro-businesses we support rely on this season for a significant chunk of their annual revenue, and recent closures due to extreme weather have been devastating,” says Nicki, founder of Pedddle. “It’s a challenging time for the creative market industry. We’re urging people to shop from small businesses via our directory (https://pedddle.com/stalls/), supporting those who need it most this Christmas and keeping money within the UK.”
For small businesses, the impact is catastrophic. Many rely heavily on festive markets to recover from slower seasons, and the loss of this crucial revenue could lead to widespread closures for businesses in 2025. Without urgent support or relief measures, the creative and artisanal business community faces a tough future.
This crisis highlights the fragility of the creative small businesses in the face of unpredictable weather and economic strain, underscoring the need for resilience and collective action.
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