Budwals

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Budwals is a small chain of designer fashion stores founded in the London Borough of Croydon in 1970. The stores are owned by Croydon businessman, Bakhtawar Budwal who had been trading a single unit in the town for more than 27 years. The first of his stores was opened on Keeley Road, Central Croydon.

The owner has said that opening a single store in the heart of Croydon was a risk due to all of the chain shops such as Mango and H&M making it an increasingly competitive market, but he still remains passionate for the work. In an interview with the Croydon Guardian he said that "Business has been going a little bit quiet recently so when a unit in Centrale became available I thought I would give my expansion plan a try."

The second of the Budwals stores was opened in the Centrale shopping centre close-by, this opened when the Timberland store previously occupying the unit left due to declining sales. The 64-year old, who owns both of these stores, said:

“

I am really excited about the new store, I think I will be more excited when I see the money side picking up because this is a risk but I want to keep my customers happy. Depending on how it goes I will either keep one or both of the stores open, but hopefully both. My business is a family business and youhave to work hard when you are working for yourself. But it is definitely worth it.

”

Mr Budwall said some of the changes which have taken place in Croydon have made it hard for him to stay afloat:

“

Parking in Croydon today is so expensive and there are too many yellow lines. Traffic wardens are so quick to give people tickets when in the past there was a lot more leeway which means we have lost a lot of our passing trade.

”

Mr.Budwall has said that in the 27 years he has spent running the shop he has seen the pedestrisation of North End, the introduction of trams and the end of the Drummond Centre to make way for Centrale.

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