Christmas market trade down on two years ago

Lower footfall and sales at the Genuine Jersey Christmas Market are being put down to poor weather and the cost-of-living crisis.

John Garton, who runs the market, said trade was down due to "two very wet days" and "people feeling the pinch" in 2025.

He said traders had told him the footfall was "on par with last year", which he said "wasn't great" as there had been two named storms and stay at home warnings while the market was on in 2024.

However, for some traders at the market - which is focussed on local products and producers - it has been successful.

Sarah Matlock, from La Robeline Cider Farm, said: "I mean genuinely we have nothing now going on January, February, March apart from making the cider… and it is a long winter so it's really important that we can come here and that we can trade."

Neil Cotillard, from The Little Jersey Biltong Company, said he underestimated how much stock he would sell.

He said: "It's our first year this year, and I must say it's been a shock, we prepared what we thought we might sell over the four-week process, and we sold all of that on our first week."

Mr Cotillard said he was working outside of his hours at the market to replenish his stock to keep up with demand.

Chocolatier Evelyn Day, who runs Chocadyllic, said: "Every year I think, right, I'm going to get ahead of myself and I'll make sure that I've got enough. And every year I have to make (chocolate) in between… I am exhausted - It's a nice exhaustion."

St Helier Town Centre Manager Connor Burgher wants to encourage islanders to shop local: "It's stuff you can't get anywhere else because its all made locally."

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