Real Deal Campaign
Bury's Award winning Market and Bury Trading Standards praised for keeping Bury shoppers safe from counterfeits
- National Markets Group (NMG) Real Deal 'Fake Free Markets' campaign reaches 10-year anniversary.
- More than 500 markets have voluntarily signed the 'Real Deal' charter through Trading Standards.
- The campaign protects shoppers, genuine traders and local businesses from impact of counterfeit crime.
Bury Markets Management and Bury Trading Standards service have been praised for being one of the first and recently more than 500 similar partnerships across the UK to have signed up voluntarily to a nationwide consumer-friendly 'Fake-Free Markets' charter. Through this initiative, they are working closely together to protect local shoppers and legitimate businesses by helping to stamp out rogue traders and counterfeit products.
An initiative in the National Markets Group for IP Protection (NMG) 'Real Deal Campaign', the charter sees its 10th anniversary this week. It reassures consumers that they can expect to buy only genuine brands and quality goods when they shop at local markets, car boot sales or selling groups bearing the 'Real Deal' logo. The NMG is made up of a partnership of law enforcement, government and industry stakeholders, supported by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA).
Patricia Lennon, National Coordinator of the 'Real Deal' Campaign for the NMG, said: "The Real Deal and 'Fake Free Markets' Charter has proved to be a huge reassurance for shoppers. We cannot praise highly enough the commitment we have seen from markets and Trading Standards services who have jointly signed up to the charter to protect their customers from buying untested, poor quality, potentially unsafe counterfeit products.
"In displaying the 'Real Deal' logo, a market gives reassurance to shoppers that it is a safe place to buy and sell. It also sends a strong 'keep out' message to any would-be traders in counterfeits who have no scruples when it comes to selling sub-standard products."
Angela Lomax Head of trading standards & licensing for Bury Council , said: "Counterfeit products are not only bad news for consumers, but also for legitimate, hard-working local business owners who risk losing sales.
"When counterfeits find their way into a market environment, the revenue goes to the black market rather than the economy. The trade in fakes is frequently found to be linked to organised crime - something that would horrify most shoppers or traders if they knew." She added "Bury Trading standards team. 10 years on , still continue to work to rid the market place of fakes and are proud to work in partnership with our Markets to ensure everyone shopping in Bury enjoys their visit and the purchases they've bought".
Although a large number of outlets have signed up to the scheme, the NMG is using this 10th anniversary milestone to urge more markets to join the initiative. More information on the Real Deal campaign and its 10th anniversary celebrations can be found at Real deal markets.