Traders in Tamworth have welcomed a surge in footfall and increase in business thanks to the success of the town’s social media sensation and jacket potato seller Spudman.
Whilst Ben Newman, aka Spudman, has amassed millions of followers and become famous all over the world, his success is also benefitting other traders.
A free giveaway he did last month got so much interested from people from outside the town that Ben took to TikTok to give hotel recommendations.
Fans queued from 7am on the day of the giveaway with the line snaking around the town and many people waiting hours to get their hands on one of his jacket potatoes.
Earlier this month, pop superstar Tom Walker performed an impromptu gig outside Spudman’s trailer.
And in a TikTok video released yesterday (12th) morning, Ben, who can serve over 1,500 potatoes a day, announced that he had another record-breaking day on Saturday.
He said: “Saturday we had our best-ever day. We were a man down, Chelsea wasn’t in on Saturday, and we still had record takings. Thank you everybody who came down – it was insane again.
“I think what it is, I think we’re getting more used to serving that amount of people and we’re getting better and quicker at it.”
Independent traders are enjoying custom from people coming into the town centre for jacket potatoes and hope they will return and carry on shopping in the town.
Sarah Gill, manager of Christopher’s & The Peel Aldergate, a restaurant and guesthouse recommended by Spudman, said: “Ben has got people coming back into the old town centre – it’s absolutely super.
“People are really happy and jolly in the town because of him and that is a really good thing, especially in the current climate.
“We were really busy when Ben held the free day. We had guests staying with us who were helping him out and who had travelled to see him.”
Another family-run business, Roasters, has also seen an increase in trade as Ben’s popularity has risen.
Samantha Panton, one of the owners of the George Street restaurant, said: “There has definitely been an increased in footfall in the town centre.
“Although we are an eatery, our business has got busier too. Some people don’t want to wait hours for a jacket potato so they have been coming to see Spudman or whoever he has brought into the town and then coming to us.”
Narinder Gohil, one of the owners and founders of The Wardrobe clothes shop on Church Street, said: “Every business in the town centre is using Spudman to try to get a few more followers on social media and people through the door.
“Anything that brings more people into the town and past our window increases the chances of them finding something they like.
“In the long run, I hope it will help to put Tamworth on the map.”
She added: “The queue for the free giveaway went right past my shop. The atmosphere on the day was fantastic.
“I wish it could be like that with that many people in the town centre every Saturday.
“Spudman has done an amazing job. He has been on that pitch for many years and has gone through ups and downs like all of us. He has worked really hard and deserves a following.”
