The Trafford Centre’s pioneering Fair Trading Zone was developed in 1998 in partnership with the Trading Standards department of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council and the Office of Fair Trading. It aims to protect the consumer and raise standards of customer service in the Centre and, at the same time, act as a benchmark for the shopping centre industry as a whole.
The Centre’s ground-breaking Fair Trading Zone has gained high profile recognition after the Government signaled its commitment to the Code of Practice in its White Paper ‘Modern Markets: Confident Consumers’ published in Summer 1999.
The Fair Trading Zone exceeded first year expectations by attracting 100% membership and commitment to the initiative’s code of practice across the Centre’s 230 stores, as well as restaurants and leisure outlets within The Orient. This standard has been maintained through to the current year.
In its first year 542 employees completed the basic training package covering aspects of consumer law. In addition, 182 managers and supervisors completed the advanced training package dealing with complaints, pricing regulation and age restricted sales.
The Fair Trading Zone has been a huge success and it is here to stay. We are sure that it provides consumers with the supreme service they deserve and protects and encourages honest and ethical trading, which ultimately provides economic and social stability in the local economy. The Fair Trading Zone is still the only scheme of its kind in the United Kingdom.