Talking the Talk

In a store that appears to measure less than 30 square feet, its hard to hear above the buzz of the packed-in customers and the Bollywood-style music coming from the television screen in the corner.

At the counter at the back of the store, a woman dressed in a sari successfully serves five customers at once, while other staff members weave their way around prams and small children.

Evidently what this independent store in east Londons Upton Park lacks in size, it more than makes up for in character. Not to mention customer relations none of the staff wears a name badge, yet the customers know them well enough to call them by their first names.

Despite the store looking as if it will burst at the seams at any moment, for proprietor Dipak Vora, manager Kris Solanki and their team of six staff, this is a quiet day.

You should see what its like on Fridays and Saturdays, Solanki says. Were here until 7.30pm most nights and some nights we are here until 10pm. But you dont notice how long the day is because of how busy you are.

Its reputation for reliability in mobile phone repairs, its success at handset unlocking plus standard phone and accessory sales not to mention its prime location across from Upton Park tube station has seen Walk and Talk Mobile become a local favourite.

On top of that, Vora says he has customers travel from the other side of London because they have heard of how reliable the service is. Not bad for a man who opened the store 15 years ago on the suggestion of a friend who had just lost his job, and suggested that Vora, then a convenience store owner, should open a mobile phone shop, and he would manage it for him.

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