Despite the Stow Bazaar being open for over three months, many of the stall owners say that there needs to be more advertisements to attract new customers

Reporting by Holly Kintuka, and Marco Marcelline

Traders at an indoor retail market housed in the former Wilko on Walthamstow High Street are hoping for more customers amid slow sales and lack of footfall. 

The Stow Bazaar, which opened to customers on 1st June, is home to 48 retail unit spaces, with a number of units still available to let. 

The bazaar’s website describes itself as “more than a market” – and a “celebration of culture, a gathering of community, and a destination for those who seek something special”. 

But when this newspaper visited the market on a Monday lunchtime, we spotted just two customers browsing the vacant aisles in the 40 minutes that we were there.  

Princess Caulker was the first trader to set up in the market. She opened her boutique GlitzGlamBoutiqu3, on 1st May, selling clothing, jewellery, and wigs.

Despite the Stow Bazaar being open for over three months, many of the stall owners say that there needs to be more advertisements to attract new customers.

Princess said: “So far it’s been good but we need more adverts because many people in the local area do not know it’s open. They still think it is Wilko, but Wilko is long gone.”

Traders are remaining in high spirits that Stow Bazaar will soon become busier and see an increase in customers; Princess hopes “it will become like Stratford’s Westfield”. 

Luxmist Perfume, run by Haris Ahmed, has been open for two months but struggled in the beginning as his unit was broken into by a thief. 

He said: “In the first week, someone broke in, and I lost £35,000 worth of perfume. It is a struggle at the moment and there are not a lot of customers. However, there has been loads of local support.”

A majority of the stalls, including GlitzGlamBoutiqu3 and Luxmist Perfume, have sales going on in an attempt to draw customers into the troubled market; Luximist is generously offering up to 75% off on selected perfumes.

Arthur’s New Style, which sells natural hair and skin products and offers hair services such as braiding and locs, is another unit that has been open from the beginning.

The owner of the store described the state of business in the market as “not great” but was also hopeful of the future.

He said: “We’re looking at the opportunity for more people to come and more advertisements, but it’s a development and a process.”

The market’s management was contacted by the Echo for comment.

Stow Bazaar is located closer to the St James Street end of Walthamstow Market, an area with significantly less footfall than the main section of the market near Walthamstow Central.

High Street traders have spoken of the declining footfall and revenue they have been battling in the aftermath of the pandemic and its impact on people’s shopping habits. 

Others have told the Echo that the August 2023 expansion of ULEZ into outer London has meant they’ve had to sell vans and cars they relied on to transport goods to Walthamstow and fork out on expensive ULEZ-compliant vehicles as replacements. 

They say these factors, combined with an increased number of controlled parking zones around the market and the cost-of-living crisis, has meant the cost of running their stalls has gotten higher while footfall has diminished. 

The council, which runs the market, says there is much to still smile about however. Speaking previously to the Echo, council deputy leader Clyde Loakes said: “There is no doubt that the market was hit post-Covid as people changed their shopping habits, but we believe we are turning a corner and are seeing interest from people who want to open new stalls.”

Cllr Loakes added: “We have dedicated market bays provided for vendors, and they can apply for special parking permits at a significant discount. The most expensive traders permit is currently £560 per year, and the cheapest is £185, depending on vehicle. Businesses can access a scrappage fund provided by the Mayor of London, to help clean up their vehicles.”

Find out more about Stow Bazaar here

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