Through the eyes of a market trader

Through the eyes of a market trader

A market is often a place to watch the world go by and to go hunt for a bargain as well as being a setting where you could find many objects that you would not often get elsewhere.  Once beyond the confines of Portobello and Camden, there are bargains to be had and joys to behold.  However, as a part-time market trader, my views on the markets are very different from that of the customer.

Set up early in the morning, long before the sun rises in order to secure a spot.  Get out your stall and watch the mist condense on your goods.  One thing that often worries a trader are their neighbours.  It is the one thing that every trader is wary of early in the morning.  Let us take an ordinary market on the outskirts of West London.  I was joined by an elderly Sikh gentleman who has been trading for many years.  Everything on his stall for a pound and still, people badger him for bargains.  To my right, a quiet man with a scar who sold designer handbags at prices to make your eyes pop out.  

Opposite myself was where the life of the market place was unfolding.  There was a large stall selling men’s fashion, guarded and guided by two elderly Kashmiri gentlemen.  To the left of them was a stall selling Islamic literature and DVD’s.  To wideboys from ‘South of the River’ were selling rap-orientated clothing next to them.

At first, everyone was sizing each other up.  After all, these are potential competitors.  But as the day goes on, and everyone starts trading, we all realise one thing - the customer is fickle and it is them against us.  By the end of the day, as the stalls are packed up and we grumble about our losses, handshakes are exchanged, a few smiles are there on the faces of the lucky ones and everyone leaves as friends.

Until the next market day.