Giving Retailers A Chance

Since November Caldicot Town Team have been running CORE, its new project which expands on the original concept idea of Caldicot Goes Pop! Retailers, market traders and small home run businesses are able to take a pitch within our premises to sell products, promote services and increase their market share for a greatly reduced rental compared with open market pricing. This is so far proving a success and Caldicot Town Team are looking to the future of this project to ensure sustainability.

The team behind CORE, wanted to create a thriving retail hub within Caldicot Town centre to combat some of the major blocks that market traders, small home run businesses and independents come across in the ever changing retail market town.

The project aims to allow those traders to take a pitch within our premises, for a short period of time (starting from 1 day) to sell products, promote their own services and even collaborate with fellow traders.

In November of 2022, Caldicot Town Team took a lease on one of the largest units within Caldicot Town centre and its team of volunteers are working hard to make the unit a successful hub, filled with various different projects and providing numerous roles for the public’s use.

A small cafe area has been set up thanks to Warm Space Funding from organisations to allow those visiting the town to enjoy a hot coffee or tea, along with some biscuits for free. The Warm Space Scheme also features new groups and clubs as well as games, books and more.

CORE stands for Community, Organisation, Regeneration and Enterprise. These 4 themes are able to provide a wide ranging mix of uses and developments for the premises.

Retail pitches are offered from a single day rate to a month rate, in a variety of sizes and options, from shelve hire to small tables up to large 6m x 3m pitches for bigger businesses. With a rental hire price list that is non comparable in the retail sector anywhere in the UK.

CORE also provides a soft play area for babies and toddlers, which is open and free to use during the week, the soft play has lots of musical toys to play with, a large ball pit and books galore to read and interact with little ones.

The project is working with young people and those in their teens to provide activities and facilities which harvests the enthusiasm and current needs and wants in the community. Providing a safe space is one of the ways we can reduce any anti-social behaviour in the town centre and encourages the younger community to think differently about where they live and the activities and entertainment that is on offer locally.

Being run entirely by volunteers does have its challenges, not least the amount of hours the team put in on a weekly basis, but the job satisfaction and knowing that volunteers are helping to make Caldicot a better place to work, live and play is a huge part of why our volunteers come back week after week with enthusiasm and passion. The team are always looking for more volunteers to be a part of Caldicot Town Team and encourage anyone who is interested to come along for a chat with us in CORE to find out more.

If you are interested in renting a pitch from CORE, in Caldicot Town centre, you can find out more information by clicking the link below.