The Role of Markets, Makers and Micro-Businesses in the Coast Economy

It is easy to romanticise a weekend market and miss the working economy underneath. The stallholders behind those trestle tables are running real businesses, often as a step toward something larger.

Our Business coverage will treat markets and micro-businesses as part of the main story rather than a colour piece on the side. We want to write about pricing, packaging, wholesale relationships and the moment when a side hustle starts to look like a job.

We are also interested in the infrastructure around makers: shared kitchens, studio spaces, mentoring programs and the local councils, libraries and community groups that quietly support them.

Expect profiles, explainers and the occasional data-led piece on how the maker economy is changing across the region. The goal is for stallholders themselves to recognise their world in our coverage.

If you are running a small operation worth knowing about, the TSCB Desk would like to hear from you, even if you are not sure your story is big enough yet.