Entrepreneurs across Norfolk are being invited to pitch for the chance to open their own shop at Chantry Place, rent-free.
The shopping centre has unveiled The Chantry Place Launchpad, a competition to discover and support the next generation of local independent businesses.
The winning entrant will run a retail unit at Chantry Place for six months, without paying any rent – the first time the centre has run such a potentially life-changing initiative.
Open to start-ups and small businesses that have never operated a retail unit before, the venture will help one lucky local entrepreneur to take their first step onto the high street.
Applicants are welcome from a wide range of sectors, from retail and craft businesses to services such as wellbeing or lifestyle. Chantry Place is encouraging anyone with a young business who is ready to take the next step and open a premises, to apply.
The final six applicants will have to explain why they should win the space in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch in front of a judging panel including representatives from Chantry Place’s management, marketing agency, OneAgency, and commercial property specialists, Savills.
Two finalists will be shortlisted and invited to trade from a stall within the centre for two days, giving them the opportunity to showcase their products or services directly to thousands of visitors.
Shoppers will then get the chance to vote for their favourite in the ‘Launchpad final’, with the public vote helping to decide which business will go on to win the six-month retail space.
Launchpad timeline:
19th March: Applications open
9th April: Applications close
15th April: Shortlist announced
22nd April: Pitches to panel
2nd-4th May: Finalists have pop-ups in centre, voting begins
8th May: Winner is announced
9th May – 30th June: Shop refit in preparation for store opening
1st July: Official store opening
Jo Bates, General Manager at Chantry Place, said: “What does the winner look like? We’d love to find something a bit different for the centre, someone who has poured their passion into their business – and it shows. We really are keeping an open mind as to what it might be, and we are so excited to see who applies.”
Key points
- Never-before run competition offering one local business a rent-free retail unit within Chantry Place, for six months
- Applicants can’t already have a retail unit, and must be Norfolk-based
- Applications will be shortlisted to six, when they will be asked to present their business to a panel of judges
- Two finalists will have pop-ups within the centre for a weekend to allow for a public vote.
Applications for the competition are now open. Full details at chantryplace.co.uk/launchpad
