Release Date: 17/07/2012

Business start-ups offered pop up shop in Richmond

Six online retailers will get the chance to sell their wares at a new temporary ‘pop-up’ shop in Richmond thanks to the StartUp Britain campaign.

The national campaign has confirmed this week that a temporary shop in Richmond will be occupied by Britain’s most promising small enterprises for two weeks on a rolling basis for three months.

The six start-up retailers already run online businesses, but none of them have the financial backing to take on a shop single-handed. The businesses include:

• Chase and Wonder
• Elephant Branded
• Jonny’s Sister
• Maria Allen Jewellery
• Morrows Outfitters
• Vulpine.

Cllr Pamela Fleming, Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Communities, Business and Culture, said:

"This is a great opportunity for small businesses to showcase their products and get a taste of retailing on the high street. Although we don't have as many empty shops as other boroughs, this is a challenging time for the retail sector and schemes like this help to rejuvenate our shopping areas and will give six small businesses access to a low cost venue. I hope it will encourage other landlords and commercial agents to look at the benefits of pop up shops"

Emma Jones, co-founder of the national Start-Up campaign, said:

“StartUp High Street gives small start-up businesses a fantastic opportunity to scale their businesses and become a part of their high street. We’re seeing record numbers of people setting up businesses, and this new wave of entrepreneurs are starting out small and online. This initiative offers them a chance to test out new markets as well as get their products in front of big names like John Lewis. By giving start-ups access to empty shops across Britain, we hope that as StartUp High Street evolves, it will help provide a much-needed adrenalin shot to the local British shopping experience.”

Philip Morrow, from Morrow’s Outfitters, added:

“While I started my business online, nothing really beats the opportunity to get out there in front of new customers.

Taking on a shop lease would be far too expensive for my business, but the idea of sharing a space that would otherwise be empty with other start-up brands very appealing. I am hoping to learn from the experience and establish whether or not it is financial viable for me to continue in the future. I’m really delighted I could get on board.”

The pop up shop will open on the 23 July 2012 at the Old John D Wood premises, 2 Kew Road in Richmond - diagonally opposite Richmond Station.

For more information, go to: www.startupbritain.org

View the full press release