AHmm, roughly I'd say from the heywood area to Wilmslow area. Actually going as far down as Wilmslow may take more than an hour. That just based on where I usually travel I don't know if those areas are 'technically' Manchester though I think they are.

I feel like I'm taking a geography exam haha my geography is hopeless! I would be lost without my satnav - literally!

Ok so I'm pretty sure I've proved my point, although any extra answers are appreciated!

So no one has given me an answer that has larger than a 15 mile radius of the centre point, even the whole of Manchester is only 28 miles top to bottom.

Basically over a month ago I tried to get involved in a local monthly market (by local I mean I could walk my goods to it!) but I got a response saying 'We're sorry this month is full and we can't guarantee you a space at the next market as it is not first come first served, it is calculated choices to allow for the best choice of businesses' Fine right? Well I went to the last market under the guise that I couldn't be there because there were 'too many people doing what I do' only to find no one doing exactly what I do, and the main bakery 'competitor' being a traditional bakery based 75 miles from the market itself.

Now under the idea of having the best products and best choice I would say 'Hey they got there first and the do a good product' however the website for this particular market has the word local on the site no less than 11 times, and also mentions aiming to reduce food miles, and many of the markets supporters are frequently seen saying things followed by #buylocal, my issue with this is to me 75 miles away isn't local, and especially when there is a list of truly local suppliers (including myself obviously) who are wanting to get involved and not being able to because they are keeping their loyalties with a business based so far away.

I have already e-mailed them saying I was looking to be reconsidered as I have seen the line-up for the next market I have been rejected from and once again there is 2 pitches allocated to this business, another pitch for a truly local traditional bakery and 1 to a vegan cake maker, but no modern baked goods like the kind I do, and I feel they have misunderstood what I do, but I added that I was disappointed to see that a business so far away was still being prioritised by a market claiming to champion local products and produce and wanted to make sure it wasn't just my group of friends that thought local didn't mean 75 miles or a 1.5 hr drive away!

A75 miles away is absolutely not local natt! Think about deliveries for example, I know someone whi's a takeaway delivery driver, it's free local delivery, however, the small print says within a 2 (or 3 maybe) mile radius. A piece of furniture or a carpet might be 20miles or so? 75 can't be local by anyone's definition. Have they replied to your email? Don't let it drop natt. Blimey, thinking about it, that's like saying I'm more local to said market than you are! And! I couldn't see for the life of me why my stepson and his wife to be had to go "all the way" to Swansea for a cake! Nothing wrong with Swansea mind just there are more "local" bakers they could have gone to.

A75 miles is definitely not local natt. I travelled to uni roughly that distance from home (in the final year we commuted) and it was definitely not a local uni. Keep at them and see if they let you in because if they truly are championing local produce then they're just being hypocritical by using a baker that far away.

75 miles is not local.  Its about 25-30 miles to London from me and I don't think I am local to London at all. So that's 50 miles more and defo not local.  I would say this company pay a premium for the stall so they get a guaranteed spot.  Either that or they are related to or sleeping with the organiser.

75 miles away- how ridiculous! Local for me would be my area- Wilmslow and the surrounding towns. I'd say local to me is within a 15min drive. Anything beyond that is just 'near'. 

Go for it Natt- get your pitch!

What?!  75 miles south from me and I would be in the English Channel!  They're having a laugh!  Loving my new location.....Esse--x

AOoh cakejeanie are you in Wilmslow? I'm not on my own up here then :)

If they need any persuasion that you're local to them natt feel free to point them in the direction of this thread I'm sure we could all persuade them hehe

AHello ladies I'm back from class, oh you all stop talking so much, look how much I've got to catch up on? Joking obviously!

Well no class for 2 weeks, whoo hoo. I've finished my cake and I dont know if its because the cake is just for me but the finish isn't great, but as long as I get a certificate then guess its OK.

What you all been up to then?

A[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3217681/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

A[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3217682/width/200/height/400[/IMG] and these are the shoes I've been working on the last few weeks, bloody awful things, not my cup of tea.

ANanny that's really cute I love the bunny. I can't wait to make an easter cake. I have no one to make one for but I'm sure someone will eat it!

AOh I didn't see the shoes nanny they look good too :)

AThank Sugarluva, the one we made in class I didn't like so made one yesterday and put him on instead.

AThe shoes, omg, very fiddly, took weeks.

All who responded re: distance of local - I'm so glad you all think its ridiculous!! I'm gonna copy all your comments (if that's ok?) into a work doc for use in the future if necessary!

Nanny - I love your bunny rabbit, he's cute!! And the shoes are really well made! sugar craft shoes aren't my cup of tea either but I do appreciate they are fiddly and you've done a great job!

AThanks natt, It flaming well took me an hr just to put the beads on, grrr.

Love the shoes Nanny, they are very pretty.  I also think your easter bunny cake is lovely, you bunny is very cute.

I have two weeks out of class but I think I am going to be busier now than when I am in.  Spent all day doing the paperwork assessment and making the cake to practice with tomorrow and then this evening I have been making pastillage playing cards to turn into the card soldiers from alice in wonderland.

AThose shoes areso good nanny, I wouldn't even attempt them! I love, love, love your bunny rabbit! He looks like a cuddly toy, what did your tutor say?

Shurrup Nannycook (I say that in a nice way!) - that cake finish is excellent and the shoes are lovely. I made some gumpaste shoes a few months ago. The shoes were ok. The handbag that matched it, however, was a PITA. I was very happy with how the handbag looked, but my goodness I hope no one orders a ruffle bag in the near future! Talk about fiddly!!!

Sugarluva, you're based in south manchester then? Great to know there is someone here who is almost my neighbor! You've given me an idea- I may make an easter cake just to have an excuse to make and decorate one!

I want to go to classes but can't afford them! I make do with youtube :)

Good luck Natt!

A[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3217699/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

I need to paint them when they have gone solid and put the heads and arms and legs on. Think I may make the arms and legs out of modelling paste instead of pastillage, might give me a slightly longer window before it starts to setz

ABarbara, you Easter bunny is sooo cute!!!! And the shoes are really pretty. Love making shoes and handbags but those cutter, I hate them.. Sorry!!! If you want to see almost real shoes, check Crafty Confection on FB.:smile:

AYes she gave me nice comments Maisie.

Cakejeanie, now your shoe is what I call I proper shoe, love it.

Thanks siany.

God we are a busy bunch aren't we?

ACakejeanie, I love YouTube too!!! I cannot afford to go to classes. I only been to few flower making classes by Alan Dunn. After that, books and you tube for me!!!:grin:

ABashini, I felt they looked scruffy, not nice to make, even the heels took 2 attempts, as you know me by now, I like neat, and these are far away from neat. I'm not sure I'll go back in September, but for now at least after the hols, we're having a go at brush embroidery, love this look on a cake, have you ever done this?

AThese classes I go to are free thankfully, I wouldn't be able to go otherwise

ABarbara, they look very neat to me though!!! Brush embroidery is something that I haven't tried yet, but like you I love the look of it.

AWow I wish I could afford to go to an Alan Dunn class, he is one stupidly talented guy but his classes are so expensive. I think I'll have to be extra good and hope that Santa might love me.

I'll jut have to make do with Paul Hollywood for now. Going to see his how next month. Looking forward to that :)

AThe classes we have around here are not free but not sure how much they are either. I am a bit closer to Squires Kitchen, but I don't like to drive on motorway and they are expensive anyway!!!