Competition Winner: Freshwater East Artisan Fair

Following our recent competition offering the chance to win 10 TM85 pavement signs, we’re delighted to announce that the lucky winner is Karen Minton of Pembrokeshire.

Hers is a story of resourcefulness in the face of the pandemic, and we couldn’t wait to share it with you. 

The village of Freshwater East has 250 permanent residents, but that number reaches 2,500 in the summer as tourists from around the world descend upon the area. Unfortunately, 2020’s lockdowns and restrictions meant that those figures fell, severely affecting the local economy. 

However, with lots of staycations booked for 2021, the villagers were keen to make the most of the opportunity to recover.

Karen, a dressmaker who runs workshops from home, and her husband, a tattoo artist who works from a garden studio, developed the idea of a pop-up artisan trail on Sundays. Named the Freshwater East Artisan Fair, it would encourage tourists to visit makers and creators at their homes and studios while in the area.

After sharing the idea in the local newsletter, lots of local artisans said they would be interested in joining a trail. Given the enthusiasm, they put together a map of the independent businesses, which could be handed out to tourists. More than 80 visitors stopped by on the first weekend and, thanks to its success, the Fair now runs every Sunday. 

The new pavement signs will support previous marketing activity and promote the pop-ups to even more visitors, helping the local economy to recover. 

Says Karen: “This has really helped our visibility and we have definitely noticed an increase in visitors.”

If you’d like to know more about how pavement signs could help your business or organisation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team on 01603 620780.