Ballymena owners of Ted & Stitch help NI businesses generate £650k sales at Tedberry Market

Sarah and Paul Thompson, owners of Ballymena-based embroidery business Ted & Stitch, and co-founders of Tedberry Market

Northern Ireland’s independent retail sector has received a significant boost following the latest Tedberry Market, which helped participating businesses generate an estimated £650,000 in combined sales.

Running for the first time over a three-day weekend from Friday to Sunday, the event attracted more than 9,000 visitors, according to a post-event survey of traders.

The expanded format marked a major milestone for the market, now in its fourth year, and underlined the growing appetite for locally made and independently produced goods across the region.

Tedberry Market is organised by husband-and-wife team Sarah and Paul Thompson, owners of Ballymena-based embroidery business Ted & Stitch.

What began as a modest community market has grown into one of Northern Ireland’s leading showcases for independent retailers, offering small businesses a high-profile platform to connect directly with customers.

Hosting its second market of 2026, Tedberry relocated to the prestigious Down Royal Racecourse, running from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th November.

The venue was transformed with purpose-built marquees and bespoke structures, creating space for 190 traders. These included local makers and small businesses from right across Northern Ireland, many of whom rely heavily on online sales for much of the year.

Beyond the direct sales achieved by traders, the three-day market delivered a wider economic uplift. Increased footfall supported nearby hospitality and retail businesses, while the event also generated demand across supply chains, including materials, print, packaging and logistics services used by local makers.

Feedback from traders highlighted the transformative impact of the event.

In a post-event survey, one trader described the weekend as ‘transformational’, while others reported access to new audiences, increased social media engagement, strong repeat-sales potential and renewed confidence in their business growth.

Many also pointed to the importance of Tedberry Market in opening doors for rural and regional small businesses that often struggle to access larger, high-footfall retail opportunities.

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.”

As Tedberry Market continues to grow in scale and ambition, its success reflects both the resilience of Northern Ireland’s small business community and the strong public support for shopping local.

With hundreds of makers benefiting from increased visibility and income, the market has firmly established itself as a key driver of independent retail success in the region.