Markets - An unfair press

Browsing through the magazines during a recent hospital visit I came across a copy of Which Magazine. I flicked through the pages picking up some (what I thought might be useful tips) when I came across a small article about buying batteries.

Apparently a Which magazine researcher had bought a packet of batteries for a pound from a market stall in North London only to find that they didn't last as long as a leading brand of batteries. So the researcher came to the conclusion that people should never buy batteries from markets because they don't last long.

Market stalls and their traders often get a bad portrait painted of them by the media in general. "You're not up to much, you're only a market trader." Comments like this are often to be heard on popular soaps such as Eastenders.

This is so unfair. All sectors of business have good and bad traders, be it shops, service industries, manufacturers and so on. Markets provide great value shopping, the majority of traders are good, honest, hardworking people who offer friendly personal service through all weathers, all year round.

To damn markets and their traders with such irresponsible articles and scriptwriting is unfair and wrong. Don't be put off by what you read because it isn't always true. Visit a market near you and find out for yourself.