Merseyway to host pop-up opportunities for budding retailers

Stockport’s Merseyway shopping centre is set to offer opportunities for small businesses to test the high street with a new pop-up retail space.

This winter, retail consultancy Barker Proudlove will open a new pop-up initiative in the precinct, allowing small businesses to sell from a Merseyway shop front for up to 6 weeks. The pop-up will give budding retailers the opportunity to build a customer base, create brand awareness and promote shopping locally in Stockport.

The pop-up will occupy the Covered Mall, near Waterstones, and can be rented at an all-inclusive weekly cost, including fit-out, bills and rate, with the first retailer able to move in from the 15th November 2021.

The unit has been designed with local businesses in mind, and can be adapted to showcase a diverse range of different product types. The initiative also aims to help promote to Stockport shoppers the unique experience of buying locally.

Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said:

“This is a great way for local, independent businesses to have a presence in the town centre and to reap the benefits from the thousands of shoppers who visit Stockport every week. We’re always looking at new ways to diversify our offer here in Stockport and this fits the bill perfectly.”            

Jess Swain, from Barker Proudlove, specialises in working with Landlords to create these
unique opportunities, and said:

“We are over the moon to bring our pop up shop initiative to Stockport. There is a great range of local businesses located here and we look forward to welcoming a number of these to Stockport’s high street just in time for Christmas.”

Victoria Nichol, Centre Manager of Merseyway Shopping Centre added:

“We are thrilled to be opening a pop up shop in the Merseyway Shopping Centre, this will be a great addition to the centre and we are excited to see which businesses will be joining the centre on a temporary basis.”

Businesses interested in retailing at the pop-up should contact Barker Proudlove for more information, or visit the store’s Instagram page. The initiative has been partly funded by the Government’s Welcome Back Fund which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.