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Are you Retail Ready?

Being retail ready is not always the first thing people think of when they first embark on their new business. This could be because their adventure all starts out as a hobby or passion and the fact that they could possibly make money from this passion often comes as a pleasant surprise.

With the ever growing, and welcomed, popularity of people taking the initiative and starting their own businesses, advice on being retail ready is being sought on a more frequent basis.

The idea of the start up business is nothing new but with the Pop Up revolution in the forefront of many people’s minds, starting your own business is easier and closer than you think.

Opening your own shop no longer needs to be a distant dream for people wanting to make something of themselves, and it’s not only for those who are already business savvy. With Pop Up businesses this is even more important because the common ethos is to stay in control, stay independent and not be tied down to one location. Pop Up has also become a huge learning community not to be reckoned with, producing more and more retail experts and entrepreneurs.

There are many agencies out there, several articles and books you can read on helping you to get started. In particular the pro active Retail Ready People who are an excellent resource and invaluable network of people made up of experienced retailers and those still learning – all sharing their experiences.

They promote the same important message that anyone can do this. Anyone with a passion can make themselves retail ready. It is clear that the future of our high streets is in our hands and we can all make a difference. So if you are planning your own Pop Up why not check out our website and register your interest and take the first steps to starting your own business.

Sarah James, Popupspace

Pop Up Insurance – Help is at Hand

Insurance in general is often seen as a rather expensive necessary evil, whether that be car, home or standard retail insurance. But you never know what’s around the corner. When it comes to Pop Up Insurance you need something a little bit different than the standard policies on the market.

Standard retail insurance has many similarities to Pop Up insurance and offers a comprehensive package but generally on a long term basis. This insurance covers things like business contents, including accidental damage and theft, and also public and employer’s liability; which means the wellbeing of your staff and customers will be covered.

The difference between mobile phone insurance for example and Pop Up retail insurance is that it is a legal requirement. When small business start ups or organisations are starting out they may not necessarily know all there is to know about the world of Pop Ups. Letting Popupspace help you with this aspect of your new adventure means you don’t have to worry.

With our Pop Up insurance service you can expect terms tailored to your needs from periods as short as one month. This means you won’t have to pay for more than you actually need. We offer public and employer’s liability as well as products liability which covers any injury or damage to property caused by the goods that you sell in your shop.

Pop Up insurance also includes accidental damage, business interruption and loss of profits. So if the worse was to happen and something went wrong in your shop, you could feel safe in the knowledge that you are covered.

So if you are in the planning stages of your pop up shop or you would like to know more about how it all works head over to our Pop Up insurance page and apply for a personally tailored insurance quote.

Sarah James, Popupspace

Digital photography pop up shop

A photo studio with a twist is being planned by youngsters on the Retail Ready People programme after their intensive three-day residential course.

During the course the volunteers, aged 16 – 25, heard from retail and pop up experts about developing business plans. They brainstormed ideas for a pop up shop, which will open for the month of May 2013 in Rochdale. Author of ‘Pop Up Business for Dummies’, Dan Thompson, was among the experts on hand to speak to the volunteers.

The volunteers believe that the digital photography studio will inject some fun into Rochdale’s high street, with visitors encouraged to dress up in a range of fancy dress and historic costumes (all provided). The photos will then be available as framed prints, T-shirts or mugs.

Retail Ready People is run by vInspired and the Retail Trust, with support from the Empty Shops Network.

Love of travel inspires pop up shop

Wendy Smith from Winchester has turned her love of travel into a business venture by opening a pop up shop in Stockbridge Road.

With a launch party at Kathmandu and TV travel presenter Charlie Ottley cutting the ribbon, the shop is sure to be a success.

Wendy said: “I’m selling goods from places like Nepal, India and Morocco. I travel extensively and have found my own sources - families I have got to know since travelling. It started when I would bring things back and friends said they liked them.”

Pop in and take a look if you’re in the Winchester area.

Cocomaya pops up at Heathrow

Chocolatier and artisan baker Cocomaya is opening a pop up shop in time for Easter at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5. The shop will sell a range of delicious morsels such as cakes, pastries, sandwiches, chocolate bars and truffles alongside hot and cold drinks.

The pop up space within the terminal is designed to bring small artisan brands into the airport. Cocomaya is the first retailer to launch int he space and will be open until the summer.

Pop up boutique in Potters Bar

Two pubs have raised £1,500 with a pop up boutique at The Brookmans Pub in Potters Bar by selling donated items from staff and customers of The White Horse in Hatching Green in aid of The Willow Foundation.

Lauren Bailey, who organised the sale, said: “The community were so supportive of the event and I’d like to thank everyone who played a part. The Willow Foundation is an amazing local charity which does so much to support young adults living with life-threatening illnesses.”

1D World pop up shop

World famous pop group One Direction have announced that their fans will soon get the chance to enter their very own ‘1D World’ in their brand new pop up shop – the first to open in the UK. The 5,000 sq ft store is in Leeds and will open on 23rd March, selling exclusive merchandise.

There will be special offers and competitions run in branch and the shop is expecting fans to arrive from all over the country.

The machine that is the 1D World brand has already seen thousands of fans pass though its stores in worldwide locations and this shop in Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre is sure to appeal to the loyal British fan base.

Emergency measures to reverse the decline of London’s high streets?

London Assembly’s Economy Committee has suggested a number ideas to reverse the decline in London’s high streets, including renegotiating rents and slowing the spread of pawnbrokers and betting shops.

The Assembly said that in 2000, a third of retail spending took place in out of town centres or on the Internet. By 2011 this had increased to 42% – and the number of empty shops in London has increased in the last two years by 5% to 3,400. The report also warns the vacancy increase is contributing to the decline, discouraging shoppers and leading to the closure of other retailers who might otherwise have survived.

The Committee has called for London-wide support to renegotiate rents, a new register of owners of vacant shops so landlords can be easily traced and pop up and interim uses for empty shops.

Andrew Dismore, Chair of the Economy Committee, said: “Our traditionally diverse and interesting high streets are blighted by the number of empty shops which are a deterrent to customers, discourage further investment, and create an air of decline.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said more than £250m was being invested to help bring vacant properties back into use, revitalise shop fronts and to support trade and generate jobs.

“The Mayor welcomes this report and will continue to work with the boroughs, government and business groups to help unlock the economic potential of London’s high streets,” added the spokesperson.

Donations at an all time high for charity pop up

Charity workers have been amazed at the level of donations for a new pop up charity shop. The Opportunity Box - located in St John’s Street, Coleford - is supporting the work of the Children’s Opportunity Centre.

The shop’s organizer, Georgina Ford, said: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed at the support we’ve had. There has been so many donations – anything you could imagine someone wanting to donate, we’ve got it.”

The shop has been donated for free for the month by a generous local landlord.

If you are in the area, pop in and take a look.

Made in Northamptonshire still going strong

Trading for just over three months, the Made in Northamptonshire pop up store in St Giles Street, Northampton is still going strong. Helen Senogles, who oversees the project, explained: “We opened two weeks before Christmas and we have the lease for nine months. It is a showcase for all local artists, designers and crafts people.”

a\The project has been supported by a range of groups which includes Creative Northants, the University of Northampton, the Business Improvement district and the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership

Helen said: “Creative Northants put out an advert two weeks before Christmas and we have had more than 200 artists and designers already. We took that down to 40 for the first month and since then we have taken on more artists from across the county – Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby – and they have all sorts of skills, from contemporary to traditional. There are so many different artists and so many different people producing things in the county.”

She added: “We had an amazing Christmas and smashed every target and, now we are growing to accommodate different targets, we are holding drop-in sessions with Creative Northants. We have until August and then we will have to see how the project develops from there.”