Join us

Have you stumbled across this blog and wondered what we are all about?

The Country Markets started life as the WI market and you can read our history here:
A potted history

Our stall has been going for over 45 years now, but sadly our membership has diminished over the years, but we are still a keen, friendly and enthusiastic group of members, enjoying setting up our stall each week and serving Ampthill.

We welcome new members and you can just join us, to sell a few items, or maybe just enjoy 'manning' the stall and having a chat with our customers.

Cook, craft, grow is what the Country Markets is all about, and you can really do as little as you like.

Pop along to the stall any Thursday and meet the members on the rota for the day.

We are on facebook too (all the links are at the top of the page), and we need everyone to spread the word about Ampthill Charter market and especially the Country market stall :)  Every Thursday morning in the Waitrose car park.

We're back...on Ampthill Market

Tissue pouches & lavender bags 

We always close for a few weeks after Christmas, and last week was our first day back.  We will now be on Ampthill market every Thursday until Christmas....yay

We pack up at around 12, as most of our baking has gone by then, would love to know if you think we should stay longer.

Don't forget that we are only a small group of 'producers' and if you think you would like to join us, even if you just want to do sell a small amount and help with the rota to 'man' the stall - here are some details Join us 


I thought I would share some new items in the last few months, lots of matching items - great for Mother's Day - which is only around the corner

Cases in various sizes for glasses, makeup, phones and needlecases & pincushions

Have you thought of joining us

I know I have posted about this before, but thought I would remind you that we would love to welcome new members to join us.  The stall is run as a co-operative and we take 10% (this may change slightly), the rest is yours to keep.

Check out this blog and facebook page to see what we do, and you can also see that what other markets are producing by see our likes on facebook, it might give you some ideas.





Maybe you have recently retired, you have an excess of produce from your allotment or garden, or a craft worker looking for a new outlet.  Or just enjoy baking, making and growing and want to get involved.


Anyone over the age of 16 can join. We can attend other events, not just the Thursday market, and join with other Country Markets for events.



You can advertise and tell all of your friends, relatives and customers that your produce will be on the market every Thursday, and you might get a loyal customer base.  We try to post on facebook, Twitter and on here to let people know what we are up to as well.















So if you are someone that can:

• Cook - such as cakes, pies, preserves, chutneys, savouries
• Raise plants - from bedding plants to shrubs
• Grow fuit or vegetables - seasonal from your garden or allotment
• Crafts - hand make items like knitting, embroidery, watercolours, as long as they are hand crafted and quality finished, they will be considered
• Or if you just want to come along and help for a couple of hours, to see what we do that would be great too

Here is a little bit about the organisation
The Country Markets is a national organisation originally set up by the WI as a trading 'arm' and is now independent, it is basically a co-operative.  The country markets have their on website here:

Country Markets and they have loads of information on there about becoming a member.  We do have to abide by the national rules, and they interpret the national rules and regulations around food hygiene and labelling, as an example there has recently been a big change over allergens in food and labelling required which we have had to include, so all the information has been passed onto us.

The market is run as a co-operative, here are a few of the main points on how it is run:

• there are no minimum quantities
• you do not have to contribute every week
• a commission is taken on sales, presently 10%, which covers the cost of the stall and insurance etc
• you will be paid once a month for your sales
• packaging is available to buy - bags, card and jar lids
• we give advice on Food Hygiene certification is available for cooks, as well as financial contribution (this can be done on line now)
• and advice on how to package and produce labels
• there is a rota to 'man' the stall and you would normally have one 2 hour shift a month, but the members are flexible and if you cannot help then arrangements can be made
• bear in mind the stall is outdoors and whatever products you wish to sell will need to be displayed on a potentially windy and wet market stall!
• Anyone over 16 can be a member and it costs 5p to join.

Scarves

We have a small range of knitted scarves this year, perhaps if you like to knit, sew or crochet you could join us and add your wares to the stall.  It is certainly the weather for a nice snug scarf, what do you think....I hope that you like the model.


 

Country Markets history

The Country Markets organisation has roots going back to 1919, when the Agricultural Organisation Society (now DEFRA) sponsored the setting up of co-operative markets to sell surplus produce.  The first markets were Women's Institute (WI) markets and continued under this name until 2004, when it was decided set up the markets as a standalone concern.

The very first market was in Lewes East Sussex on 14th December 1919, and was a collaborative of several local WIs.  Initially it was for selling the produce of members of the local branches of the Women's Institutes, but soon it expanded to others - small holders, cottagers, ex-service men.  At its height, the market was selling produce from members of 23 different WIs.   Anyone could become a shareholder, small holders, cottagers, ex-service men, etc, and it has remained the same, costing 5p to join.

There are currently over three hundred Country Markets throughout England, Wales and the Channel Islands.  Country Markets baking and preserves can now also be found in a small but increasing number of local community shops and similar outlets.

Country Markets Ltd and all the Country Market Societies are co-operative social enterprises, registered as Industrial & Provident Societies with the Financial Services Authority.  The organisation as a whole has an annual turnover of around £10 million.

In 1932 (National Federation of WI) NFWI decided to expand marketing activity and held a conference on February 4th at Caxton Hall, London. The prime objective of the conference was to investigate possible methods for marketing foodstuffs which are were being wasted when member's gardens are glutted with produce for which no means of marketing exists.  It was attended by 183 representatives from 47 counties.

By the end of 1932 nine counties had set up registered County Marketing Societies.  Individual markets were registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act.

In 1990 NFWI became a Charitable Company limited by Guarantee.  As a result the Charity Commission and the NFWI legal advisers suggested a more 'arms length' relationship.  By 1992 the annual turnover of country Markets was £10million but NFWI was a 'not for profit' organisation.

Finally in 1995 Markets separated from NFWI, adopting a new name 'WI Country Markets Ltd'. It moved into separate offices and became self financing. In 2004 the use of the WI initials was discontinued.
- See more at: The WI

Ampthill Market started in November 1973, and so celebrated its 40th birthday last year. 

And here is another did you know..... some allotment societies will not allow their members to sell their excess produce and there is some interesting reading here: selling allotment produce and also here www.ruleworks.co.uk which gives clarification.

Join us

The Country Markets is a national organisation originally set up by the WI as a trading 'arm' and is now independent, it is basically a co-operative.  The country markets have their on website here:

Country Markets and they have loads of information on there about becoming a member, and we also have information on our website.

Once you have joined the market it will cost you a percentage of your sales (currently 10%) and nothing more.  If you sell nothing it costs you nothing.

Maybe you have recently retired, or looking to earn some money that fits in with a busy family life.  Perhaps you have an excess of produce from your allotment or garden, or a craft worker looking for a new outlet.  Or just enjoy baking, making and growing and want to get involved.  Anyone over the age of 16 can join. We can attend other events, not just the Thursday market, and join with other Country Markets for events.  You can advertise and tell all of your friends, relatives and customers that your produce will be on the market every Thursday, and you might get a loyal customer base.

So if you are someone that can:

• Cook - such as cakes, pies, preserves, chutneys, savouries
• Raise plants - from bedding plants to shrubs
• Grow fuit or vegetables - seasonal from your garden or allotment
• Crafts - hand make items like knitting, embroidery, watercolours, as long as they are hand crafted and quality finished, they will be considered
• Or if you just want to come along and help for a couple of hours, to see what we do that would be great too

How is it run? 

• The market is run as a co-operative, here are a few of the main points on how it is run: 
• there are no minimum quantities
• you do not have to contribute every week
• a commission is taken on sales, presently 10%, which covers the cost of the stall and insurance etc
• you will be paid once a month for your sales
• packaging is available to buy - bags, card and jar lids
• we give advice on Food Hygiene certification is available for cooks, as well as financial contribution (this can be done on line now)
• and advice on how to package and produce labels
• there is a rota to 'man' the stall and you would normally have one 2 hour shift a month, but the members are flexible and if you cannot help then arrangements can be made
• bear in mind the stall is outdoors and whatever products you wish to sell will need to be displayed on a potentially windy and wet market stall!
• Anyone over 16 can be a member and it costs 5p to join.