camden-news-lock

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by SUNITA RAPPAI
Published: 19 July 2007

Andrew Boxer, Robin Waters and Luke Owens, who run Lock One in Camden Lock Market

‘Lock market destroying its quality shops’

Stallholders forced to shut up shop claim iconic crafts sales centre is losing its character

CHEAP second-rate imports and get-rich quick merchants are destroying the eclectic charm of one of Camden’s most famous markets, it was claimed this week.
Andrew Boxer, who ran Lock One, a Batik stall in Camden Lock Market for 17 years, said he was forced to close his stall earlier this year because poor-quality products were driving away customers.
Mr Boxer was responding to comments made by Chalk Farm trader Sandra Gee in the New Journal last week. She claimed the soul had been ripped out of Camden’s markets which now only attracted the poor-spending “rucksack and plimsoll brigade”.
Mr Boxer said: “When Camden Lock Market first started it was very much craft-centred and there was a very high quality of hand-made crafts. But standards started to drop after the new development 16 years ago.
“Frankly, the quality of customer has dropped. They are buying cheap fashion, essentially, and cheap jewellery. They don’t want to spend money on high-quality items. It’s a sad loss because it’s the kind of shops that created the place that have been destroyed by it.”
Robin Waters, who co-owned Lock One with Mr Boxer, added: “The whole ethos changed. We were paying West End prices but attracting the dregs. There is a lack of quality control by the people who run the place.”
But site manager Will Fulford, of Northside Developments, which owns Camden Lock Market, denied the claims. He said bosses prioritise stallholders “who make or design their own products and produce ethical or fairtrade labels”. He added: “We have a conversation with all our stallholders to make sure they are not doing anything that can be bought on the high street. We look at their stock and if it’s not suitable we ask them not to come back.”
He added: “We are 100 per cent let and we have lots of quality businesses here who all work very hard to keep their finger on the pulse.”
Specialist tea-shop owners Sean Attwood and Trinh Hoang, who run Yum Chaa in Camden Lock, agreed with Mr Fulford.
Ms Hoang said: “It’s not really fair to say you should only be attracting people with money. The great thing about Camden’s markets is that there’s something for everyone, regardless of your budget”

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: