Posted on Wednesday 9th June 2021
Newcastle-under-Lyme Market is the latest Staffordshire market to be awarded Real Deal status.
Working with Newcastle Borough Council and partners, Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service supported the market to get the accreditation.
Signing up to the Real Deal charter, run by the National Markets Group for IP Protection (NMG) helps protect local shoppers and genuine traders by ensuring rogue traders are not selling counterfeit and illegal goods.
Staffordshire County Council’s communities leader, Cllr Victoria Wilson, said: “No one wants to see counterfeit goods on sale in our communities. It’s bad for our local economy, the goods can be unsafe and legitimate local traders can be driven out of business.
“It’s wonderful news that Newcastle Outdoor Market has signed up to the Real Deal charter, which will give customers real peace of mind and legitimate businesses the chance to compete on a level playing field.
“The Real Deal campaign has already been a huge success in Staffordshire. It gives us all the opportunity to work together to combat the sale of illicit, counterfeit goods.”
Cllr. Stephen Sweeney, Cabinet member for finance, town centres and growth, said: “Markets are a valuable part of our local communities and make a vital contribution to the consumer experience. We’re putting a great deal of time and effort into making our historic market more vibrant and attractive. This is paying off in dividends with greater choice at our general, farmers’ and antique/collectibles markets which run alongside our popular themed events – such as Castle Artisan Market and the Record Fair – as well as visiting markets.
“As we welcome more and more traders to Newcastle town centre, and with restrictions easing, signing up to this national charter feels like a natural progression. We’re really proud of our market’s reputation and want to reassure residents, visitors and businesses that we’re committed to maintaining a safe and fair environment in which to shop and trade.”
The NMG is a partnership of law enforcement, government and industry stakeholders, supported by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA).
Graham Mogg, Chair of the NMG and ACG Intelligence Co-ordinator, said: “Counterfeit products bring a host of problems: consumers are ripped off; untested products are potentially unsafe; legitimate businesses lose sales; revenue is lost from the economy to the black market; and often the trade is linked to organised crime. Most people involved in market shopping or trading would be horrified to think that they may, unwittingly, be funding organised crime. We are grateful to Newcastle-under-Lyme Market and Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards for working together on the Real Deal programme. They are sending out a strong message that fakes are not welcome at this market.”
Gavin Terry, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Lead Officer for Intellectual Property (IP), added: “The trade in fake goods presents real threats to consumer safety and to businesses that play by the rules. Initiatives like the Real Deal foster a co-ordinated approach between trading standards, marketplaces and IP rights owners. As council resources become increasingly stretched, this type of partnership helps to support the work of trading standards in ensuring that communities benefit from safe, fair trading practices.”