A Kettering market trader is seeking other like-minded entrepreneurs to bring an indoor market to her hometown shopping centre.

Pam Furness already runs town centre stall ‘Odd Arty’ selling tie-dyed clothes and bedding from her pitch in High Street.

But with her 65th birthday looming, she has asked members of the community if they would be interested in stalls in a warm and dry permanent space.

Already ruling out the former M&S building and Bon Marche – a stone’s throw from her stall – she has found a potential space in the Newlands Centre.

Pam Furness is looking for stall holders to get involved in an indoor market in Kettering/Pam Furness

placeholder image — Pam Furness is looking for stall holders to get involved in an indoor market in Kettering/Pam Furness

Pam said: “I’m Kettering born and bred. I want to give the indoor market idea a go for the good of the town. I tried the old M&S building but it seems they would rather leave it empty."

After looking at various properties, Pam is hoping to take over the first floor of the old Poundland store, and formerly part of the TJ Hughes department store.

Pam said: “I’ve looked around the town and found this one above the old pound shop. It’s a blank canvas everything has been ripped out of the unit.

“So, we have a completely bare concrete box. I imagine 50 plus permanent stalls, mainly around the perimeter of the space, with additional space for daily and weekend pop-up stalls for those unable to invest quite so much initially, in the middle.

"I am trying to gather enough different traders to make it interesting for shoppers, and make it viable for traders to stay. I believe that, once established, it will attract more footfall to the entire shopping centre, keeping money in Kettering, instead of it being spent in Rushden lakes, for example.”

Pitches of approximately 3m x 3m will be offered at £65 per week, including lighting and business rates, on a one-year lease. Daily and weekend pop-ups will go for £15 per day.

She said: “The market will be accessed via stairs and two lifts, and I hope to open seven days a week. This is not a solitary venture, there will be at least five of us running it, although it is a community-based venture. There will be street artists covering the worst walls with wall art, and I plan to ask these artists to perhaps offer workshops in the as-yet 'hidden' part of the area.”

Pam is looking into the finances and seeking business start-up initiative funding streams.

Anyone interested can send a text to 07941802537.

She added: “I really hope to inspire people and get this done for Kettering. This will be a labour of love by some lovely people of Kettering, for the other lovely people of Kettering!”