One thing that has been very common on the streets of Britain this year has been the pop-up shop. This style of shop works in a number of ways and during the festive period, it is likely that the vast majority of towns and cities across the United Kingdom will see pop up shops opening up for the festive period. These can offer consumers the chance to try new products or try something different but it should always be remembered that not everything new is brilliant and that not every shop you see lives up to the same standards.
This is the message being shared by the Trading Standards team at Norfolk County Council as they are experiencing a number of pop-up shops opening up in the build-up to the festive period. There has been an increase in the number of stores offering a seasonal experience for customers. There were Halloween themed stores offering costumes and candy and at around the same time, there were stores offering rockets. These stores were happy to set up in empty buildings and shops, sell all of their related stock in a short period of time and move out. It provides rental income for the property owner, it allows entrepreneurs to make money in a short period of time and it allows consumers to get a lot of things in one place. You can see why the concept of pop-up stores is very popular but it may be that the store isn’t quite up to standard and there is also the concern that the store may not be fully legitimate.
These Stores can Move in and Move Out Quickly
After all, if you were looking to sell some illicit or low-quality goods, wouldn’t you rather do it an environment that enabled you to move on very quickly. This isn’t the thinking behind the vast majority of pop-up shops in a local community but there has to be some concern that one or two fraudsters will be looking to make money in this manner.
The Norfolk Trading Standards officers have confiscated a wide selection of toys and products from one store. An investigation is ongoing, so they are not looking to announce what store is being looked or its location but they have announced that they have removed toys that are suspected of being unsafe and a range of laundry products, cosmetic products and clothes.
While many stores come to the attention of Trading Standards teams due to customer tip-offs, when there are so many pop-up shops appearing, there is a great deal to be said for these professionals being proactive and checking out what is on offer. There is nothing to suggest whether the owners and their products are of a good standard or not, which means that there is a need to see what is being sold and what is on offer.
Pop-up Stores can Boost a Local Economy
While the Trading Standards teams are urging people to be cautious about using a store that they had never seen before, there is no doubt that this style of store can have a hugely positive impact on the local economy. Anything which helps to generate jobs and bring in an income in an area is generally a positive thing. If the store is able to do something different and provide products or services that wouldn’t be available anywhere else, there is also a great deal to be said for the stores arrival in a local area.
However, there is never any excuse or justification for unsafe products and just because a pop-up store is only going to be around for a limited period of time doesn’t mean that it can ignore the rules that all other stores must adhere to. This is often an area of concern for Trading Standards teams. Some people may think that a pop-up store represents the chance to get in and out while making a lot of money without worrying too much about the standard, quality or safety of the product.
With these stores becoming a more common feature on the High Street, it is likely that experienced defence solicitors will need to brush up on their understanding of this area of law. The vast majority of pop-up shops will meet with regulations but there may be one or two that decide to play fast and loose with regulations.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professionally for 9 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn’t sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.
