MORE than ten small retail businesses are to be given a massive boost after being selected to take on empty space at The Shires Shopping Centre in Trowbridge.
The new microshops have been allowed to occupy empty commercial units opposite Boswell’s Café and the Trowbridge Museum entrance in the former Julian House charity shop on the ground floor.
Four small retailers will open their doors on Thursday, July 7 and could soon be joined by a further seven small microshops being opened in the shopping centre, which attracts hundreds of visitors every week.
The local entrepreneurs are getting ready to launch their businesses as part of a new retail concept in The Shires Shopping Centre.
Microshops is aimed at fledgling independent retailers who want to rent a high-quality retail “pod” on a flexible and affordable basis and who do not want to commit thousands of pounds on a shop unit.
So far nine out of the available 11 pods have been leased by local traders and will comprise: an artisan bakery; wax melts, candles and aromatherapy stall; a seller of bath and body lotions, bath bombs and soaps; a collectibles, figures and hobby unit; computer and mobile phone repairs and accessories; ladies’ fashion and bags; gifts, wedding gifts and personalised goods; garden ornaments and gifts; and a bubble tea and coffee lounge.
There are a further two pods available at a fully inclusive rent of £80 per week and Evolve Estates, which owns and manages The Shires, said they were suitable for craftspeople, artists and designers, as well as retailers.
Natalie Cotton, head of special projects at Evolve Estates, part of MCore, said: “As a group, we’ve launched six Microshops up and down the country, helping to springboard many local businesses into permanent shops, because they’ve quickly realised they have a local demand for their products.
“Opening a retail pod also gives them the confidence they need to build a business and grow a community before moving to a bricks and mortar space.
“The beauty of microshops is that the licences are flexible, so tenants sign up for six months, but can terminate their licence after three, and give us just a month’s notice. We were keen to bring it to the The Shires and can hardly wait for it to launch.”
Trowbridge Town Council leader Cllr Stewart Palmen said: “I’m so pleased about this space being used in The Shires for micro-shops.
“The Weavers Market organisers group were thinking of doing a similar thing with one of the empty shops in town but could not get the project off the ground due to the administrative work required.
“So we are really happy to see The Shires offering this enabling small businesses to check out how retail can work for them before committing to taking on their own leases of a larger property.
“The unit in The Shires is excellent for these micro-shops and from what I have heard there are a fantastic range of traders lined up and I wish them all the success they deserve for their businesses.”
Seven other small shops will soon open in the shopping centre to broaden its retail appeal to thousands of residents and visitors.
The centre added: “Parking is cheaper than some other large local towns, and is in fact free for the first hour.
“Please use them or lose them and show your support.”
For details about the available pods, contact Andy Burnett on 07454 123931 and Jordan Burnett on 07590 219887.
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