All smiles as Jonathan Goold, commercial director of HPower Group (left), and Councillor David Cannon, the RBW&M cabinet member for public protection, sign the Real Deal Charter at Windsor Guildhall in advance of this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Visitors to the Royal Windsor Horse Show can be assured they are getting a fair deal at its shopping stands thanks to a partnership between the council’s Trading Standards service and event organisers.
They have secured Real Deal accreditation for the show’s shopping stands, signing a charter demonstrating a commitment to providing a safe and fair shopping experience by preventing counterfeit or illicit goods being sold and maintaining the very highest standards with the retail offerings.
It was signed on Thursday 3 March at Windsor Guildhall in advance of this year’s show, to be held from 12 to 15 May in the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
“As a council we are committed to investing in prevention and support measures that enable early intervention to address problems before they escalate.” Cllr David Cannon
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is the UK’s largest outdoor horse show, regularly featuring around 200 shopping stands and attended by 55,000 people from across the world. A further 18,500 people will be coming to watch the Platinum Jubilee Celebration this year. Traders are already carefully vetted by organisers, with support from Trading Standards, who ensure they are legitimate businesses. They check what they are selling and where their products are made, that they display prices and give the highest level of customer service and provide their contact details so customers can contact them if necessary.
The Real Deal accreditation will strengthen this partnership working. At the heart of the campaign is a national markets’ charter, which sets out key principles for market operators, local authority Trading Standards services and industry and trademark representatives to sign up to and abide by.
Councillor David Cannon, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “As a council we are committed to investing in prevention and support measures that enable early intervention to address problems before they escalate.
“I’m delighted to see the hard work our Trading Standards team already does with the show formalised with the signing of this charter. Not only does this provide greater confidence for consumers, ensuring they can enjoy the shopping experience with peace of mind, it supports the legitimate businesses who attend and prevents them from being potentially undercut by others who may be attempting to sell counterfeit goods.
“Visitors will be able to confidently shop at this event, buying only safe, legal products and properly labelled goods which are accurately described, clearly priced, and from retailers they can identify and get back to in the unlikely event there are any issues with their purchase.”
Pam Swift, of organiser HPower Group and Royal Windsor Horse Show’s Retail & Exhibition Manager, said: “We are delighted to have secured Real Deal accreditation for Royal Windsor Horse Show. Visitors to our show always expect the highest level of customer service and this accreditation means that they will be reassured before arrival.
“The shopping is an integral part of this five star event, we know that our visitors enjoy the whole shopping experience, and this accreditation will provide them with an even higher level of confidence that they are purchasing legitimate products from well-run companies.”
Graham Mogg, Chair of the National Markets Group for IP Protection, said: “It is wonderful that such a prestigious event as the Royal Windsor Horse Show is joining the Real Deal scheme. It goes to show that organisers of any event, whatever its scale or nature, can take a stand against the dishonest trade in fake goods which causes so much harm to consumers, law-abiding businesses, the national economy and local communities.”
Patricia Lennon, Campaign Manager of the Real Deal, said: “We would like to thank the show’s organisers HPower Group Ltd and Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Trading Standards service for working together to spread the Real Deal message.”
The Real Deal logo will be displayed at this year’s show by retailers.
Anyone concerned about the sale of counterfeit products should report this to Trading Standards at trading.standards@rbwm.gov.uk or via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
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