New Pop up Shop initiative is set to open in Horsham

Pop Up Horsham, an exciting new retail outlet to find a fresh and changing mix of young independent local businesses opens to customers at 12noon on Tuesday 2 November at 7 West Street, Horsham.

The Covid-19 pandemic affected a wide range of businesses but one positive trend from the crisis was a surge in new business start-ups. Pop Up Horsham creates an ideal opportunity to support those who have been made redundant and started a new business within the past eighteen months.

The initiative has been developed and is managed and run by Horsham District Council as part of its post COVID Economic Recovery Strategy.

The Council has seen many entrepreneurs starting and growing businesses across the District throughout the pandemic, many of them trading online. Pop Up Horsham enables a wide range of business types to gain their first experience of trading on the high street, adding to their business skills in the process.

In addition participants can also take part in various business training programmes at the Pop Up outlet from a range of experienced training partners.

The Council aims for Pop Up Horsham to become a high street-based hub for access to business skills development through hosted training sessions instore and signposting to partner support programmes.

Commenting on the initiative, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy Cllr Chris Brown said:

I am really excited that our Pop Up shop outlet is now set to open, offering so many new entrepreneurs from different sectors the opportunity to build their retailing skills in such an attractive environment.

The initiative very much builds on our ongoing ‘Buy Local’ campaign to boost sales for local independent businesses which are so key to our local economy at this crucial trading time. But it is not just about businesses, as the hub is also supporting entrepreneurs wanting to use the high street space for activities such as yoga and fitness classes, and Sussex Green Living will also be on site to educate and inform customers about helping the environment.

I would urge as many of you as possible to come along for the opening and see for yourselves all the great new products, services and activities on offer.

Pop Up Horsham Founder and Project Manager, Charley Crocker believes the combination of providing shop floor retail opportunities, creating a supportive network of likeminded start-ups and businesses, coupled with one-to-one personal mentoring provides a strong platform. She commented:

It can be extremely daunting for businesses to take the leap to running a shop, dealing with staffing, merchandising, finances etc. Pop Up Horsham provides a welcoming, affordable and supportive environment to test the water.