1) How has the deteriation in Portobello Road’s Antique section, affected your business?
2) Which direction do you see the Portobello Road taking over the coming months and years?
3) Would you kindly offer a brief summary on how Portobello Road’s Antique section has played a part in your
career?
Thank you for your time.
PB Trader
August 5, 2011
I go to the market to buy and sell early in the morning. Its hardly worth it now as stands are not allowed to set up along the frontage of parts of westbourne grove, and arcades have been given over to new goods. Unsure how it can turn round from where it is now and if it carries on the way its going, there is potential for it to go the same way as Camden Passage did which has hardly any antique shops these days. That used to be the Wednesday morning buying place but not anymore. I’ll go in the morning as it’s a habit, not a prticularly profitable one in recent times.
Thimble society
August 6, 2011
Well done for opening a blog, it is important to stay in touch with the new developements over the 7 days trade issue. After closing, I visited some of the clothes boutiques in Westbourne Grove. They are struggling, the only day when they do any business is Saturday, thanks to the antiques market attracting so many to the area. They confirmed they did very little trade during the week. Ironically, because their rates and rents are so high, and business so difficult, some have sold more from taking stalls in the Portobello market.
http://www.thimblesociety.com
Dolly Diamond
August 6, 2011
I have had my shop in Notting Hill for twenty years and have never experienced such a downturn in trade until now. Saturday used to be my best day, I now struggle to make the overheads, in spite of the thousands of people passing the door. I now rely solely on my reputation and find my customers come to shop during the week, however as a specialised industry there are not enough of them although I am determined not to give in.
The reputation of Portobello Road is being spoilt by shops and stalls selling low quality and reproduction goods. I feel the Landlords of these shops and stalls should consider the long term effect renting the shops to these type of traders has on the authentic and original shops. We work very hard to keep the atmosphere of Portobello alive and if we cannot survive no one will, we need the support of the Landlords and the local council to keep the heritage we have before its too late.
Dolly Diamond Vintage Fashion
http://www.dollydiamond.com