The Teenage Market transforms the Teanlowe Shopping Centre in Poulton with youth-led creativity and enterprise
17th of February, 2026
The Teanlowe Shopping Centre in Poulton was transformed with the talents of teenagers and young people on Saturday 7 February, when the Teenage Market initiative popped-up to showcase the unique products of young entrepreneurs from the local area.
The event welcomed 22 young traders across 13 stalls, selling handmade products, creative goods and gifts to the local community, with collective income of over £2,000 generated by sales of over 600 products.
Feedback from those taking part in the event was overwhelmingly positive, with 11 year-old Ava describing it as a “great opportunity” and 14 year-old Claudia praising how “friendly and supportive the customers were”. All the young people who took part reported increased confidence and improved business skills, and all stated they would like to take part in another event at the shopping centre again.
Speaking about the success of the event, Andrea George, Chair of Place For Youth CIC which delivers The Teenage Market initiative, said, “The success of the Teenage Market in Poulton shows what’s possible when young people are given the right space and support to shine. Seeing young people take real ownership of their ideas, build confidence, and make meaningful income from their creativity is exactly the kind of opportunity we exist to deliver at Place For Youth.”
A particular standout moment from the day was the launch of a new candle business by students from Blackpool Sixth Form College. The students were inspired to start their own business, having previously taken part in previous events as volunteers, and received a £150 small business grant from Place For Youth to help cover the cost of raw materials. The group completely sold out on the day, making over £300, which they now plan to reinvest to expand their product range.
Commenting on the support provided, 17 year-old Shrika Waghilkar said, “The small business grant we received from Place For Youth removed a major cost barrier for us at the start of our business journey and gave us the confidence to properly develop our candle products. It helped us improve the quality of what we were making, experiment with different designs and scents, and make the most of trading at The Teenage Market in Poulton, where we made over £300. We’re now reinvesting that money to expand our range and continue growing our business.”
The event also welcomed a group of Year 7 students from Montgomery Academy, attending as part of their Passion Project programme. Their visit underlined the real value of Teenage Market events as confidence-building experiences for younger pupils.
“The Teenage Market was an amazing experience for our Year 7 students. It wasn’t just about making sales; it was about learning how to run a business in a supportive environment. The day was brilliantly run and gave the students a massive confidence boost. Watching them transition from the initial product design phase to active negotiation and sales with real customers was impressive to see. We would definitely like to participate in more of these events.” - Faye Burrows, Montgomery Academy
The impact of the event extended beyond the young traders themselves, with positive feedback from customers, shoppers and businesses within the centre. Many visitors commented on the energy and vibrancy the young people brought to the space.
The Teenage Market in Poulton was delivered by Place For Youth CIC in partnership with Wyre Council, Booths Supermarket, and Teanlowe Shopping Centre, as part of ongoing efforts to support young people while animating local high streets.
The event was made possible thanks to support from national government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Councillor Peter Le-Marinel, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Economic Development, said:
“Seeing so many talented young people take the leap into trading at the Poulton Teenage Market has been fantastic. Events like this are incredibly important for nurturing confidence, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, giving young traders the chance to test their ideas, meet customers and build real‑world experience in a supportive environment. After such a successful day in Poulton, we’re already looking forward to the next Teenage Market in Garstang and to celebrating even more of Wyre’s young entrepreneurs.”
Nic Karran, Chief Commercial Officer at Booths, said:
“Booths were proud to support The Teenage Market by giving young entrepreneurs from the area an opportunity to trade in the Teanlowe Shopping Centre. It was fantastic to see such a vibrant, successful event and wish all the entrepreneurs the best of luck in the future.”
The organisers are building on the success of this event with the next Teenage Market taking place in Garstang on Saturday 21 February and have plans to deliver further youth-led activity in Poulton and across the Wyre area in the near future.
Poulton market