Background

The Keen Green Market first took to the streets in Autumn 2007, bringing together a unique range of traders and products to provide a truly original themed event for town centres across the UK. The Keen Green Market is operated by Keen Green Events, part of Market Square Group.
We are now looking to build on three successful years with a full program of events for 2010.

Where we have Been and Where we are Going

Successfully established in a number of cities – this is not just a one off – we look to develop the theme over a number of years – you will see that 2010 will be our 4th year in York, 3rd year in Newcastle, and 2nd year in Canterbury, Harrogate and Nottingham. We have a number of new venues already lined up for 2010 including Henley on Thames, Bath, Bournemouth and Exeter.

The Elements that form the Market

Typically this would be a breakdown of the whole:
Trading stalls including ethically traded arts, crafts, clothing, jewellery and home furnishings together with fair trade, organic, free range, traceable foods, local and regional homemade foods and hand crafted goods – council and or local government project promotions – community focused initiatives – music/entertainment – craft demonstrations – workshops.

The Event

Colourful, imaginative, challenging, political to a degree (with a small p), thought provoking, informative and most of all, a highly entertaining experience that will appeal to the senses while focusing on environmentally responsible and ethical business practices.

Keeping it Fresh

The Keen Green Event contains a variety of elements which combine to ensure a vitally, originality and relevance. Although we adhere to a set of criteria, the content of an event is never the same for the following reasons:

 

  • Each event is advertised based on its own individual merits – we do not insist that traders book every event with us – the choice is made freely.
  • Because we are not contractually bound to provide regular work for a team of traders, we are at liberty to pick and choose the stalls that we feel appropriate to each individual event.
  • Our local friendly policy where we actively seek out local businesses and community led initiatives to be part of events means that there is a unique relevance to each venue that we visit.
  • We do not keep the same format for each event, although we have a ‘recipe’ it is readily adapted to regional variations and the ingredients that present themselves.

Focus on Sustainability at Home and Abroad

Most visiting themed markets are an exclusive club in that they come into town with a pre-selected team of traders that is often seen as a bypass to local businesses.  The Keen Green Market on the other hand actively seeks the participation of local businesses – we recognise that each region has something different to offer and we want this to be reflected in our line of stalls – after all, fair trade starts at home, despite the fact that the international focus is on developing countries.

Focus on Local and Regional

Although we bring our own travelling band with ethically traded goods and homemade foods, we look to local fair trade steering groups, local producers and council environment initiatives to make this event of particular relevance to communities in which work. 
Market Square Group offers discounts to local businesses that wish to take part, we can provide stalls and support for local authorities and local community groups who wish to stand with us. 


Focus on the Value of Ethical Trade

We have an ethical trade policy and we like to include products that show how businesses based in the West have developed long term commitments to partners in the developing world.
As a result, you will find hand crafted products from countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, India, and South America.  The colours of the textiles brighten up even the greyest of days while the workmanship that goes into products made from wood, stone and textiles is exceptional. 

The Keen Green and Ethical Trade Market features businesses that fulfil a public demand for original products of good quality. People care increasingly about where their food comes from and the ingredients that are used.  Similarly, original, handmade and or ethically traded arts, crafts, clothing and jewellery are holding their own in these challenging economic times precisely because people are being more careful about how they spend their money – they are looking for original products that offer not only value, but more importantly validity.

 

General Rules

Food

Food must be homemade from fresh ingredients, and we insist on a ‘buy local’ policy with all our hot food stalls. Thus, wherever possible, we expect our stalls to source their ingredients from producers and retailers who live and work within the community that we are visiting.

Free Range, homemade, made from fresh ingredients are required and organic preferred on our events, but in all cases ‘traceable’ is the keyword and menus must state where the main ingredients come from.
Goods

We insist that all stall holders provide information on their products which justify their place within the Keen Green and Ethical Trade Market. Once we are happy to accept a booking, we then expect that this faith will be repaid by stall holders as we ask them to provide clear product information for the visiting public.

The Value and Validity of all products on the Keen Green Event will be clear for all to see.

What does it Look Like

As event operators, we aim to provide town centres with a colourful, intriguing, and visually pleasing event.  We know that content and presentation are vital in attracting our audience and have set standards of presentation that equal those of the best street market operators in the country. 

The content of our Keen Green Market, we suggest, surpasses all expectations.

 

What to expect from the Keen Green and Ethical Trade Market

 

  • A commitment to sustainability within local communities
  • Local and regional eco-friendly initiatives
  • Healthy, informed eating through clearly traceable ingredients
  • A buy local policy – we ask that our hot food stalls buy their ingredients locally
  • Ethical trading policies both at home and abroad
  • Focus on small business at home and among developing nations
  • Eco-friendly practices
  • Recycling
  • Plastic bag free environment
  • Product background information indicating value and validity
  • Promotion of ‘traditional’ arts, crafts, clothing, jewellery, food and drink

Who will the Keen Green Market Appeal to?

Our aim is to provide an event that will be of interest to the whole family, creating a cultural link for the entire community.
TKGM is a celebration of innovation, small industry, local enterprise and ethically conscious trading, in the form of a traditional street market. Food, crafts and clothing feature in the line up of goods together with energy saving inventions and eco-friendly initiatives to provide a highly relevant event with original products of good quality. Our intention is to provide town centres with a colourful, and high energy event that will intrigue and appeal to people from all walks of life. 

Town Centre Managers, Markets Managers and Economic Development Teams

Consider this - The Keen Green and Ethical Trade Market provides an ideal project to launch new local business initiatives and promote your town and city centres.
Where to find more information:
Latest News:   http://www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk/
References:    http://www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk/index.php?id_sec=42&id_lyt=2
Photo Gallery:   http://www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk/index.php?id_sec=50&id_lyt=2
List of Events for 2010: http://www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk/index.php?id_sec=7&id_lyt=2
Typical Stall list:  http://www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk/index.php?id_sec=34&id_lyt=2

Further Information

A list of references and press library together with our policy statement are available on request.  We would also be happy to provide a list of services that we can offer councils for the promotion of local and national projects that are working for a greener environment.

The Keen Green Market
'Promoting sustainable and ethical lifestyles to local communities'