Falkirk 2015

Shopping Centre Pop-ups

The organisers of TestTown Falkirk decided to use a vacant shop in their local shopping centre, the Howgate for their event. The space was shared by the five finalists with each given a stall to brand and trade from. This use of pop-up space in shopping centres is one which has been utilised by a number of our TestTown hosts including Coleraine and Perth. It allows the participants access to the existing shopping centre visitors but also offers a different kind of shopping experience which draws new visitors in.

“It allows the participants access to the existing shopping centre visitors but also offers a different kind of shopping experience which draws new visitors in.”

The Howgate Centre itself is very proactive in terms of supporting independent small retail businesses through their unique shopping space INDY ( www.howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk/indy ) on level 3. This is a space which offers affordable and flexible spaces to smaller traders within the shopping centre. The winner of TestTown Falkirk was Karen Templeton with her business Karen’s Cakes ( www.facebook.com/www.karenscakes ).

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Words of Advice

  • Eight businesses plus a unit run by school pupils breathed new life into vacant properties in the Bruce Street area for six weeks leading up to Christmas, and graduates from that programme have gone on to set up businesses.

  • The animation of the town centre through pop-ups and performances created a wonderful atmosphere for new and returning shoppers.

    TestTown 2015 Host

  • Life changing/ life affirming experience –finalists really went on a life journey’

    TestTown 2013 Host

Highlights from the recent years

Five Ways To Supercharge Your TestTown

We believe there are five things which would Supercharge your TestTown:

  1. Every town should create a clear, supported pathway into trading and opening up a shop  for new town centre entrepreneurs.
  2. Every town should have a permanent pop-up facility in a viable trading space which offers flexible lease arrangements up to a year for new town centre entrepreneurs to learn.
  3. Every town should work, within their means, to reduce financial barriers in reduced rates and rents for new traders during their first year of business.
  4. Every town should carry out a regular (every five years) entrepreneur-led consultation which would feed into a business-led strategy for town centre development and business support.
  5. Every town should develop a hyperlocal cross-sector partnership to lead local innovation, ensuring that agencies, businesses, and residents are all powerful in leading local development.