Amazon, Enterprise Nation, Direct Line for Business and Square are partnering to open 10 'Clicks and Mortar' pop-up shops in cities across the UK, with the first shop opening on St Mary's Gate in central Manchester today.
This will be followed by the opening of Clicks and Mortar pop-up shops in Wales, Scotland, the Midlands, Yorkshire and across the South East.
The Clicks and Mortar pop-up shops will provide customers with the opportunity to discover and buy directly from over 100 small businesses – everything from homeware and health and beauty products to food and drink and electronics.
The programme will:
> enable more than 100 small online businesses to sell on the high street for the first time in 10 Clicks and Mortar shops across the UK. The year-long pilot programme will explore a new model to help up-and-coming online brands grow their high street presence. Independent research on the success of the pilot will be submitted to the Government, following the call for new ideas to develop the Future High Streets strategy;
> help small businesses upskill their workforce through a new £1m fund to train over 150 full-time apprentices to help SMEs increase their productivity and boost their online sales; and
> provide free digital training at Amazon Academy events across the UK to help small businesses succeed online, in particular by boosting export sales.
The year-long pilot programme will explore a new model to help online businesses experience the high street, as well as highlighting the benefits of combining in-store and online retail. An independent research consultant has been commissioned to produce a detailed analysis of the impact of the pilot, and will submit its findings to the Government following the call for new ideas to inform the Future High Streets strategy.
“UK shoppers like to shop both online and in high street stores, and our intention is to help small businesses succeed by combining the best elements of online and high street retail,” said Emma Jones MBE, Founder of Enterprise Nation, which supports over 90,000 of Britain's small businesses. “This new concept will provide small businesses with the space, technology and support to experience physical retail for the first time, while enabling customers to discover new brands on their local high streets.”
“Small businesses are one of our most important customer groups, and we’re thrilled to work with Enterprise Nation to design a comprehensive package to help entrepreneurs across the UK grow their businesses, both in-store and online,” said Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon. “From giving up-and-coming online British brands the chance to experience physical retail, to funding the training of full-time apprenticeships and helping to increase SME exports, Amazon is committed to supporting the growth of small businesses - helping them boost the economy and create jobs across the UK.”