Sealing the Real Deal 21 April 2010 MARKET traders have signed a pledge to provide quality goods and top-notch service. Historic Lockmeadow Market in Maidstone is the latest to join the Real Deal campaign, an initiative by Kent Trading Standards to promote safe and fair trading. Market manager Robert Holmes (pictured right, with Graeme Preston of KCC Trading Standards, left, and market trader Hartegh Bhopal) said: “By signing up to the Real Deal we are demonstrating our commitment to ensure Maidstone market remains a safe and fair venue for people to shop and trade in confidence.”

Real Deal: Notes for editors

The Real Deal national charter is designed to keep traders in counterfeit goods out of UK markets. It was launched at the Trading Standards Institute Annual Conference in Brighton on 30 June 2009. Initiated by the Industry Trust for Intellectual Property Awareness, the Real Deal campaign is supported by the UK-IPO; the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS); the Local Government Association (LGA); the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA); the Trading Standards Institute (TSI); the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA); the Retail Markets Alliance (RMA); the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and the Alliance Against IP Theft. In effect, all the key organisations, with an interest in this issue in England and Wales, have joined forces under the Real Deal campaign banner to tackle the problem. For more information, go to www.realdealmarkets.co.uk

Media Contact

Real Deal Campaign Coordinator
Patricia Lennon, tel: 01943 816292.
email: patricialennon@greatnorthernbooks.co.uk