Test Valley Borough Council have announced Andover’s first pop-up shop, to be opened at 4 Bridge Street on Monday 7th October.
The shop was recently rented by Andover Gold Buyers from March to September but is currently empty.
Three local, independent businesses will benefit from the opportunity to trade in the town, with the first occupier being Phil Evans Photography. This will be followed by The Travelling Cupcake and Wow! Cosmetics.
Each business will occupy the pop-up shop for three weeks, while the unit continues to be marketed for permanent use. This gives local businesses an opportunity to try town centre retail and gain new customers.
TVBC have been liaising with letting agents Stratfords Commercial, sign producer Prosigns UK and the three initial businesses to get the project underway.
Councillor Ian Carr, Leader of the Council, said: “I am grateful to all of them for supporting us and seeing the positive benefits of this initiative to business and Andover. I wish the three newcomers to the town the best of luck with this opportunity.”
Phil Evans of Phil Evans Photography, said: “Although I have been a photographer in Andover for over 25 years, this is a fantastic opportunity for me to trade in the heart of town in its first pop-up shop. I am looking forward to showing the full variety of photography I can offer and opening up my business to a whole new range of customers.”
“Andover has much to offer to businesses like mine. I am grateful to the Borough Council for their hard work in making the pop-up shop possible and to the Stratfords Commercial for making their premises available.”
If the pop-up shop proves successful, the Council will be keen to work in partnership with letting agents, private landlords other local independent businesses to facilitate another pop-up shop in the town centre using a vacant retail unit.
This is a good idea and should this prove successful, it would be a good way of filling up the empty retail units in the shopping centre which are currently an eyesore. It will also benefit any independent businesses wishing to set up and see if their services are what the town needs and wants on its high street and hopefully make Andover a place that its residents can be proud of once more.