THE family of a teenager who was a popular trader at Tir Prince Market in Towyn have continued to run her stall in her memory following her death.
Jessica McIvor, who was from Powys but used to sell handmade wax melts, candles and fragrances in Towyn each weekend under the name “Imagine Aromas”, died aged 18 on August 23.
Thanks to her father, Ross, and one of her siblings, Imagine Aromas resumed trading for the first time since her death last weekend, when they set up shop at the Llanidloes Charter Market on November 25.
Ross, who spent many happy weekends trading with Jessica in Towyn, plans to bring the stall back to Tir Prince Market next year.
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He said: "Bits of Saturday were quite emotional. I wanted to do it the way Jessica did it; it’s still her market. She was very popular around there – even a ‘sorry’ brings back a tear.
“I laid the wax melts out how she liked it – she liked to build pyramids out of them, because that way, she would always know if something went missing.
“We’re doing it slowly and steadily, step by step. It was -5°C when we got to the Llanidloes market at 5am, but my little girl was with me, suited and booted!”
Ross, who home-schooled Jessica and some of her siblings, plans to bring the stall to Llandrindod Wells this weekend.
Jessica had sadly stopped trading at the Towyn market in her last weeks due to struggles with her mental health.
A fundraiser page, set up by family friend Tracey Evans to assist with the costs of Jessica’s funeral, raised more than £4,000, meanwhile.
He added: “She used to sit there with her notepad counting how many wax melts we’d sold, and always used to tell me how many I needed to sell to make a profit.
“She used to love making our targets, and when we did, we used to treat ourselves to a kebab in Towyn, and have a nice, happy time in the evenings together.
“We’re planning on coming back to Towyn next year, right from the start of the new trading season.”
*The South Wales Central Coroner's Service confirmed an inquest into Jessica’s death was opened on September 5.
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