January is nearly over..

January is nearly over and while I am not one to wish away time it will be good to get it out of the way. It's hard not to become a bit obsessive about every slow minute the daylight expands.

The markets are quiet at this time of year, understandably. It can be a bit bleak but traders still endure so that regular customers know they can drop in, and of course business can't stop just because of the time of year.

The new shed at Fakenham Market is slowly taking shape, and I guess that it will be completed within the next month or so. Certainly in time for Spring. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact the new building will have on the market itself with some of the traders moving about and new type stalls coming into place.

Some people don't like the idea of change but I do. We have to change to evolve. It is sad to have to let go of images and habits of yesteryear but memories never die. Markets need to move with the times to make sure that modern customers are still enticed to use them. Whenever I take a picture of one of the markets the Myriad Life Jewellery stall visits, I think 'that's another one that people will pour over in the future'. People will always be fascinated to see how times changed.

It is important that people realise how important markets are. Not just in big cities but in rural towns too. They are such an vital part of communities, providing not just fresh produce and dry goods to buy but a weekly social event where people can meet up, chew the cud (so to speak) and find out what's happening in their locality.

At a time when people are waking up to the need to support local business, don't forget that includes local markets. Market traders are business people too but don't always seem to get taken as seriously. Markets are the most traditional way to shop, a part of our heritage and hopefully they will continue into the future but not without support.

Unless you are happy for rural towns to become clones just as the High Streets in some places have become, encourage diversity and independent businesses by shopping with them!

It's up to you! Use them or lose them.