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Background
Tendring District Council developed this project after receiving
funding from the Government to help town centres through the
recession. £22,000 was earmarked for this scheme in which an empty
shop unit in Dovercourt was rented by Tendring Regeneration Ltd
which allowed us to offer five people eight weeks each in the shop
to give their business a try in a high street environment rent and
rates FREE (the only cost to the 5 successful applicants was a
small weekly contribution to the utility bills).
This project was ideal for people who had a small business at
home or were making their own jewellery, ceramics or crafting wood
or running a shop on ebay selling collectables, clothing or CD's,
or those who wanted to trial a new product.
The Town Centre Coordinator and a number of business support
agencies including Business Link and the Federation of Small
Businesses provided support and mentoring while the tenants were in
the shop to help them make the most out of the opportunity as well
as helping them develop their business after their time in the
Pop-Up shop.
The Dovercourt Pop-Up shop closed on Monday 8th August.
However, due
to the success of the Dovercourt shop, Tendring District Council
opened a second Pop Up Shop in
Clacton on Sea, which opened with its first business on Friday
4th November. (For further information, see Clacton on
Sea Pop Up Shop)
Previous Tenants
Our final tenant was Merritt Short trading as 'Vintage
Fresh' who traded in Chameleon between 16th May and 8th
August.
She sold 'shabby chic', refurbished furniture and vintage china
and glass, as well as hiring out vintage tea sets for functions and
special occasions.
Merritt can also be commissioned to refresh any old pieces of
furniture or to source a specific piece to provide the finishing
touch to your home.
We're delighted to announce that Merritt will also continue to
trade through a shop in Kingsway, Dovercourt after agreeing terms
with Crowning Glory hairdressers to use some extra space in their
shop.
Visit
www.vintagefresh.co.uk
for more information.
Katrina Olive trading as 'Home Grown Crafts'
traded in Chameleon between 11th February and 28th April.
She sold a large range of homemade cards, scrap book and paper
craft products as well as equipment for those people who are keen
to make their own cards.
We are delighted to announce that Katrina opened her own shop in
Kingsway, Dovercourt on 30th April and will expand her current
product range and offer workshops and taster sessions for various
crafts including card making and jewellery making.
Katrina is also 'paying it forward' and offering other budding
retailers the chance to rent space from her to sell their goods in
her shop.
Visit
www.homegrowncrafts.biz
for more information.
Stephanie de Beaufort, trading as
'Stephanie Rose Jewellery' traded in Chameleon between
11th December - 7th February.
Stephanie sold bespoke items such as necklaces, bracelets,
earrings, tiaras, bookmarks, head bands and Christmas decorations,
attractively priced between £5 to £20.
Following a successful period in Chameleon, Stephanie is
pursuing concession opportunities to continue to sell her products
on the high street. She will also continue to sell her jewellery
and speciality prom tiaras direct from her own website,
http://www.stephanierosejewellery.co.uk/.
Alex Greene, trading as 'Babycakes by
Alex' traded in Chameleon between 4th October and 25th
November.
She makes gifts for mums and babies crafted to look like cakes
and cup cakes, containing nappies, babygrows, mitts, hats, socks,
vests and a range of other baby goodies.
Alex found her experience in Chameleon very useful and continues
to make her 'Babycakes' from home.
Darren Giles, trading as 'DG
Tackle' was the first tenant in the Pop-Up Shop.
He sold fishing rods, clothing, bait and other fishing
accessories - specialising in carp, coarse and sea fishing
equipment.
Unfortunately, due to a family bereavement, Darrens tenancy was
cut short. However, the trial was successful in that it showed a
good level of demand for this type of shop in Dovercourt and we
hope that this success will inspire Darren or another retailer to
fulfil this demand in the longer term.
Should you require further information please contact
Rachel Fryer on 01255 686149,
rfryer@tendringdc.gov.uk |