Pop up shop booked out during run-up to Christmas
HIGH Streets throughout the Highlands could be saved by a pop up revolution with entrepreneurs leasing out shops on a short-term basis.
The Thurso Pop Up Shop, the first of its kind in the Highlands, has reported its premises are fully booked 10 weeks in the run-up to Christmas Eve.
Its success is now being highlighted as an example of how to solve the problem of boarded-up businesses in town centres across the Highlands.
Proprietor Scotty Youngson came up with the idea after he grew increasingly dismayed at the number of businesses closing down throughout the north of Scotland.
Since opening the shop in June, the premises have been rented to eight different entrepreneurs and companies.
"The level of interest in people renting the pop up shop has been building greatly," he said.
"This idea has already taken off in Canada and when I looked at the popularity of car boots sales, it was something I was keen to look in to.
"This gives entrepreneurs the chance to find what it is like to run their own business in the town centre.
"If it encourages them to take the chance of going it alone and taking on their own shop, then pop up shops like these can help breathe new life into the town centre."
The Pop up Shop is available to rent from a day to a month.
Mackays of Dingwall were the first occupants of the Pop Up Shop when in only a few days, they sold three cars and a van.
Shop manageress Bev Durrand said most enquiries are from Caithness and said she has been inundated with queries from the public.
"On average, we would receive between 10 to 15 queries about the shop a day," she said.
"The feedback on our Facebook site has been tremendous with people saying how they have been able to market their products in a way they could never do before."
Top stories
"It has given people the confidence and experience to go into business."
Helen MacGregor, who rented the shop with three other women to sell a range of arts and crafts as well as cupcakes, said the Pop Up Shop had a positive impact on selling their items.
"None of us have run a shop, but this is a convenient way of selling our products with little hassle," she said.
"It’s great that there is something like this available in Thurso to give traders a place where they can sell their items – I think it is the way forward."
Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart is also sold on the idea. As he is looking to move offices in Inverness, he is all too aware of the problem of empty shops in town centres.
He plans to discuss the success of the Thurso Pop Up Shop with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Chamber of Commerce network to see if the ideas could be supported and expanded.
"This is an initiative which could be easily rolled out throughout the Highlands," he said.
"The recession has hit the High Street and rates for leasing shops in the town centre can be quite expensive.
"Most small-scale businesses only employ up to five employees and pop up shops like this would be ideal to give entrepreneurs the opportunity and the encouragement to possibly eventually take on their own premises.
"Providing short-term accommodation for small businesses is the way forward for the high street."
More information about the Thurso Pop Up Shop can be found at its Facebook site.