The Brighton Pop-Up shop may be over, but we're just getting started
After four fantastic weeks, our Powering Local Businesses Pop-Up Shop in Brighton's Duke's Lane has officially come to an end.
And what a four weeks it's been.
From local influencer visits and a Fatboy Slim takeover in Duke's Lane. To free ice creams from Boho Gelato and a launch event packed with local food, drink and inspiring speakers, the shop quickly became a hub for Brighton's small business community.
Why did we do it?
At EDF, we're passionate about helping small businesses grow. That's why, alongside our partnership with Enterprise Nation, we run a range of initiatives designed to support entrepreneurs and business owners.
The pop-up shop was created to give small businesses the opportunity to test their products in a physical retail environment without the usual barriers of cost, administration and finding the right contacts. We offered a prime retail space in Brighton's Duke's Lane completely free of charge, allowing businesses to focus on what they do best.
Seeing the response from both the public and participating businesses has been incredibly rewarding. We've received feedback such as:
"It's great to see Enterprise Nation and EDF reviving the local high street."
And hearing how much businesses learned from the experience has made the project even more worthwhile.
Meet the businesses
Over the four weeks, we were proud to showcase a brilliant mix of innovative small businesses:
Elwin - A luxury sustainable womenswear brand made in England, creating modern, versatile clothing and knitwear designed to last using natural fabrics.
Feel good about where you buy your clothes and look even better with Elwin.
Onyx Studio - handmade contemporary concrete homeware, designed and crafted in Brighton by founder Erin.
Give your home a touch of contemporary with Onyx Studio.
Àníké - handcrafted in London, Àníké creates beautifully considered home fragrance and lifestyle products designed to bring calm to everyday spaces.
Bring calm to your spacw with Àníké.
Wild Wipe - an innovative hygiene device invented by a woman, for women, helping tackle an everyday problem through practical design.
Natrie - a cleaning brand built on the belief that powerful cleaning doesn't require harsh chemicals, using safe, effective ingredients that work across multiple uses.
What did businesses gain?
The pop-up gave participants the chance to:
- See how their products perform in a physical retail environment
- Speak directly with customers and better understand their needs
- Test pricing, merchandising and product messaging
- Build local brand awareness
- Trial promotions to drive footfall
- Create social content and grow their networks
And judging by the crowds, Brighton certainly embraced the concept.
What's next?
While this Brighton pop-up may have come to an end, our support for small businesses continues.
We've recently launched our grant scheme, and in early September we'll be opening applications for a two-week London pop-up in a prime location from 30 November - 13 December, giving small businesses another opportunity to showcase their products and boost Christmas sales.
Find out more about our partnership with Enterprise Nation and upcoming opportunities here.
We're proud to play a small part in helping ambitious businesses grow, and we can't wait to see where this next chapter takes them.
