Amazon and Enterprise Nation help online brands get physical at St David's, Cardiff
The St David’s Partnership, owners of St David’s in Cardiff, one of the UK’s premier retail and leisure destinations, has today announced the signing of Clicks and Mortar, the Amazon and Enterprise Nation supported scheme, providing a physical retail space for small online-only retailers.
The pop-up shop initiative will be located adjacent to Lovisa and opposite MG Cars, launching on July 22. Open for six weeks, Clicks and Mortar will offer more than 30 local and national ecommerce businesses the opportunity to explore customer facing trade for the first time. Amazon and Enterprise Nation have selected St David’s for the second ever UK site for the concept, following the successful inaugural store in Manchester.
Speaking on behalf of the St David’s Partnership, a joint venture between Landsec and intu, Russell Loveland, Senior Portfolio Director for Landsec, said: “This exciting project, brought to Cardiff by Amazon and Enterprise Nation, is a fantastic example of how online retailers and brands are able to unlock new value through the use of physical retail. Following success in Manchester, this concept will provide online businesses with a tangible platform to trade in a high impact retail area, alongside St David’s national and international retailers and restaurants.”
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “The launch of our first store in Manchester has demonstrated there is an appetite amongst online-only brands to test out physical retail, and that shoppers like to buy from small firms and meet them face-to-face. We’ve already got a number of online retailers interested in trading during our six weeks in Cardiff, and we expect to hear from many more. Sellers can simply move in and start making sales. They are provided with a shop, payment solution, furnishings and advice on topics from visual merchandising to social media. We are trying to reduce the friction of small businesses selling on the High Street and we’re delighted to be bringing the concept to Cardiff.”
Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager at Amazon, added: “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. 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.”
Local businesses that wish to apply to take part in Clicks and Mortar can find out more information here.
This signing follows the news that luxury chocolatier and cocoa grower, Hotel Chocolat, has signed for a 1,874 sq ft store on St David’s Way. ECCO also invested in an upsizing at St David’s earlier in the year, launching on the Upper Grand Arcade.
The St David’s Partnership dealt directly with Enterprise Nation.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Nick Thornton at Aver on 07808 940208, or via email at nickthornton@averpr.com
Amy Cassidy at Aver on 07495 461547, or via email at amycassidy@averpr.com
About St David’s Cardiff
St David’s shopping centre provides over 1.4 million sq ft of retail and leisure space and over 180 stores. Since opening its doors in 2009, it has put Cardiff firmly on the map as one of the UK’s best shopping cities.
St David’s has secured a continuous stream of high calibre retailer and restaurant openings over the past five years, including many brands that have made their debut or introduced new concept stores into Wales such as Superdry opening its first dedicated Superdry Sports entrance in the UK. Recent brands also include Bershka, Slim Chickens and Daniel Wellington.
St David’s is anchored by Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and the largest John Lewis outside of London. The centre is also home to a mix of national and international retailers, such as Primark and River Island, in addition to premium brands and independents. These include Hugo Boss, Radley, Vivienne Westwood and Jo Malone. The dining offer at St David’s is equally impressive, with brands such as Wahaca and wagamama.
About intu
intu owns and manages some of the best shopping centres, in some of the strongest locations, in the UK and Spain.
Our UK portfolio is made up of 17 centres, including eight of the top-20, and in Spain we own three of the country's top-10 centres.
We are passionate about creating compelling experiences, in centre and online, that make our customers smile and help our retailers flourish.
We attract over 400 million customer visits and over 25 million website visits a year offering a multichannel approach that truly supports retail strategies. In 2017, we launched the UK's first tailor-made promotional services model to help brands as they look to optimise their portfolio or expand their UK coverage.
Our strategic focus on prime, high-footfall flagship destinations, combined with the strength and popularity of our brand, means that intu offers enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty. This helps our retailers flourish, driving occupancy and income growth.
We are committed to our local communities, with our centres supporting over 120,000 jobs (representing about 3 per cent of the total UK retail workforce), and to operating with environmental responsibility. We have already met or exceeded a significant number of our 2020 environmental targets.
intugroup.co.uk
@intugroup
About Landsec
At Landsec, we believe great places are for people to experience and are made with the experience of great people.
As one of the largest real estate companies in Europe, our £13.8 billion portfolio spans 24 million sq ft of well-connected, experience-led retail, leisure, workspace and residential hubs, with a growing focus on London. From the iconic Piccadilly Lights in the West End and the regeneration of London’s Victoria, to the creation of retail destinations at Westgate Oxford and Trinity Leeds, we own and manage some of the most successful and memorable real estate in the UK.
We aim to lead our industry in critical long-term issues – from diversity and community employment, to carbon reduction and climate resilience. We deliver value for our shareholders, great experiences for our customers and positive change for our communities. At Landsec, everything is experience.