In the past year or so, there has been a lot of talk regarding steps retailers and the government can take to save the high street. With internet becoming more and more popular, however, the question has largely focused on how consumers can be tempted to leave the comfort of their own homes in a bid to save small retail businesses in the local area.
Pop up shops can help to lower vacancy rates
In a bid to revive the retail landscape in Didcot, Oxfordshire, two popular local online entrepreneurs have agreed to trial a commercial property based business share on the premise of the “pop up shop” concept.
This concept was promoted by Mary Portas. She believes that, as well as showing local consumers that high quality goods do not necessarily need to be purchased online, empty properties on high streets could be turned into pop up shops as a way of lowering vacancy rates and making the high street a more attractive environment for consumers to spend time in.
South Oxfordshire District Council have made an empty store in Broadway available for the use of Jeanette Starts and Pippa Smith, two e-tailers from the local area who have found success with their ventures online. Ms Starts owns Kuda, which sells items such as handbags, scarves and jewellery, while Ms Smith started Pip & Pantalaimon as a means of selling her handmade lingerie, aprons, cushions and bunting.
Ms Smith says; “This is the first time for both of us.
“We both sell online but we thought we would give this a go to test it out and promote ourselves.
“We’ve had a really good reaction from this so far and one or both of us might open up a permanent shop early next year.”
In using this method to promote the high street’s rejuvenation, town planners may truly be on to something. Not only does a pop up shop require no long term commitment from tenants, but by encouraging e-tailers to share premises and potentially continue their tenancy long term both benefit from a shared utilities and business rates bill as well as having the opportunity to attract a higher number of customers through passing trade.
Do you think that local councils should examine their options when it comes to pop up shops in vacant commercial properties and potentially offer space to successful local e-tailers as a means of boosting high street trade?
Previous Post
Home Retail Group posts Rise in Sales
