Tropic Skincare Founder Celebrates Next Generation of Talent at Greenwich Market

Greenwich Market is delighted to announce the winners of its Young Market Entrepreneur Competition 2025, launched in celebration of 40 years of arts and crafts at the historic London market.

Following the public vote, The Cake Creamery was crowned the Young Market Entrepreneur Winner and scooped the prize of trading at Greenwich Market for four weekends for free. The runner-up, Pointers Plants and Petals will receive two weekends of trading.

The competition saw applications from young traders and entrepreneurs aged 16-30, showcasing products that ranged from delicious street food, handmade jewellery to ethical homeware.

At the end of August, ten shortlisted entrants traded at the Market, receiving expert mentoring from experienced traders and guidance on developing their businesses. From there, four finalists were invited back to trade on 6 September, where the public voted for their winner.

The founder and CEO of leading skincare brand, Tropic, Susie Ma, started her career in 2004 at Greenwich Market selling her handmade body scrubs and commented “Greenwich Market will always hold a special place in my heart – it’s where the Tropic journey truly began. With nothing but a few homemade body scrubs, a tiny stall, and a big dream, I discovered the power of sharing something you love with others. To the young traders starting out here today: embrace every challenge as an opportunity to learn, connect with your community, and never underestimate the magic of persistence. Every business, no matter how big, starts small – what matters most is your belief in your vision and your courage to keep going.” Tropic Skincare is one Britain’s largest privately owned companies that sells 7 million products annually and has 1.3 million customers. Susie Ma has full ownership of the company with a team of over 250 people in the Tropic Beauty Kitchen in Surrey where formulas are made fresh every day, as well as over 20,000 ambassadors in the UK.

Jade, aged 21, the owner of The Cake Creamery tells us what it means to win this. ‘It is such a great opportunity to bring my business to Greenwich Market. It’s my local community, so winning this competition means a lot to me. I started the business at the beginning of 2025, when I saw a gap in the market. I make artisan desserts, cakes, puddings, ice cream — everything sweet. I make absolutely everything from scratch, which can be stressful, but it’s all worth it when I see happy customers! I think my idea is quite unique. I have a glass kitchen concept, so I decorate and ice each cake in front of the customer. I can’t wait to trade on the four weekends and bring my desserts to the market. My menu changes every week, so for menu updates follow me on TikTok @thecakecreamery.’’

“The level of talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit we witnessed has been truly inspiring. This competition has reinforced our mission to support the next generation of makers, giving them a platform to grow and thrive,” said Rachid Ghailane, Operations Manager at Greenwich Market.

Jackie, the owner of Pointers Plants and Petals is the runner-up and tells us what it means to her. ‘’I grew up in Greenwich and regularly come to the Market and am looking forward to meeting new creatives in a great space. Everyone loves plants and artificial plants, but I wanted a way to ditch the plastic and create something that makes an impact and look as interesting and decorative. I can’t wait to meet new customers and bring my items to a new audience.

Both the winner and runner-up will now join the vibrant Greenwich Market community of traders, gaining invaluable real-world experience while sharing their creations with thousands of visitors. Keep an eye out on the Greenwich Market website for information on when Pointers Plants and Petals and The Cake Creamery will be at the Market.

When visiting the Market to see the Young Market Traders, make sure you also take part in the Greenwich Market Scavenger Hunt to look for the five missing hearts. Don’t forget to share on social with the hashtag #GMScavengerHunt

For more information about the Young Market Entrepreneur competition and to discover upcoming Market events, visit:
👉 greenwichmarket.london