Northern Ireland’s independent retail sector received a significant boost following the latest Tedberry Market. Running for the first time over a three-day weekend (Friday – Sunday), a post-event survey has revealed that the event helped the local businesses in attendance to generate an estimated £650,000 in combined sales and attracted more than 9,000 visitors.
Now in its fourth year, Tedberry Market is organised by husband-and-wife team Sarah and Paul Thompson, owners of local embroidery company Ted & Stitch, who have grown the event from a modest community market into one of Northern Ireland’s leading showcases for independent retailers.
Hosting its second market of 2026, Tedberry Market relocated to the prestigious Down Royal Racecourse and ran from Friday 28th – Sunday 30th November. The venue was transformed with purpose-built marquees and bespoke structures, allowing space for 190 traders comprising local makers and small businesses from right across Northern Ireland.
In addition, the three-day market helped deliver a strong economic uplift, not only through direct spend with traders but also through increased business for hospitality, nearby retail and the supply chains supporting makers – including materials, print, packaging and logistics.
In a post event survey, one trader described the weekend as ‘transformational’ with others reporting access to new audiences, surges in social media engagement, strong repeat-sales potential and rising confidence in their business growth. Many highlighted the importance of Tedberry in opening doors for rural and regional small businesses that often struggle to access larger markets.
Sarah Thompson, Co-Founder of Tedberry Market said: “For the first time Tedberry Market ran over three days and attracted over 9,000 people. As small business owners ourselves, Paul and I know first-hand how important opportunities like this are – especially in the run-up to Christmas when every sale matters. So many of our traders operate primarily online and giving them a physical shop front for three days makes a massive difference to their visibility, confidence and growth.
We created Tedberry to champion small businesses, but the scale of support for our recent market shows just how deeply Northern Ireland values its local, independent businesses. The atmosphere, the sales and the community pride exceeded every expectation. It’s a powerful reminder that independent retail here isn’t just surviving – it’s thriving. We were also delighted to raise almost £4,000 for Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, which is a special charity that is very close to our hearts.”