Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘If I can’t advertise in street I’ll have to close my shop’
‘I asked to promote my products on nonmarket days so there is no conflict’
An independent city centre shopkeeper says he will be forced out of business unless the council allows him to better promote his store.
Rajnish Jain, who runs Raj’s 59 in St George’s Street, wants to be able to advertise outside in the street on days when the market is not operating.
The 44-year-old says the two weekly market days – Wednesday and Friday – affect his trade because stallholders are able to sell the same products for less because of their lower overheads.
Raj’s 59 has been open for twoand-a-half years and specialises in vape products, mobile phone accessories and smoking equipment.
“The traders can sell the same products as me, but for half the price as they have far lower overheads,” Mr Jain said.
“My business really struggles on market days and if this continues for another couple of months, I will have to close the shop and make my staff redundant.”
Raj’s 59 has four full-time members of staff and two part-time employees.
Mr Jain has applied to Canterbury City Council for permission to trade and promote his shop in the street on non-market days.
He added: “There is no other shop selling vape products on this street and a licence should be granted to us to sell and promote our business.
“I have specifically said to the council I would like to be able to promote my products on nonmarket days so there is no conflict.
“The other businesses in the street are big brand companies who may well be unaffected by the market, but it affects our small business very badly and makes it difficult for us to survive.”
Mr Jain says he was also hit by a change in the law which limited the size of vape liquid containers, leaving him with £70,000 of stock he is unable to sell.
An earlier effort to promote his shop in the street was met with a firm line by the council, which told him to stop.
Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “We are currently in the middle of discussions with Mr Jain regarding his application for a street trader’s licence. All applications go through a statutory process that is set out nationally.
“He has applied once and was refused permission because there are already too many similar products on sale in the area and the appearance of his unit would not have provided value to St George’s Street.
“We want vibrant street trading that provides a diverse offer to the public. Mr Jain was advised to resubmit his application, amending it in such a way that resolves these issues.
“We have now received an amended application, which is under consideration and will be decided in the near future.”