Enterprise Nation and Amazon Clicks and Mortar pop-up shops

In a new Clicks and Mortar program, more than 100 small online brands are being given the opportunity to reach customers on the high street for the first time in Clicks and Mortar pop-up shops, in partnership between small business support group Enterprise Nation, Amazon, Direct Line for Business and Square.

Enterprise Nation and Amazon’s new programme aims to help small businesses grow, both in-store and online and 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.

“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. 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.”
– Emma Jones MBE, Founder, Enterprise Nation

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.

Along with the Clicks and Mortar programme, Amazon are putting in place help for small businesses to upskill their workforce through a new £1m fund to train over 150 full-time apprentices to assist SMEs to increase their productivity and boost their online sales. Amazon will also provide free digital training at Amazon Academy events across the UK to help small businesses succeed online, in particular by boosting export sales.

“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.”
– Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon

First Clicks and Mortar pop-up shop opens in Manchester today

Amazon, Enterprise Nation, Direct Line for Business and Square are partnering to open the 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 up-and-coming brands have all built successful online businesses and now want to explore physical retail for the first time. They include:

• Swifty Scooters

  Co-founder Camilla Iftakhar and her Manchester-based team design and manufacture their own brand of high quality foldable kick-scooter for adults.

  “We’ve always focused on our online business, but a pop-up is an ideal way for customers to try our scooters out for themselves – once you take a Swifty for a spin, that’s the moment you fall in love with it!”

• Torro Cases

  Co-founders William Johnson and Michael Farnsworth produce their own range of quality leather cases for electronic devices and employ 15 staff.

  “Clicks and Mortar feels like a fresh route for hungry new entrepreneurs to reach a wider audience by combining the power of online shopping whilst enabling customers to touch and feel our products”

• Altr for Men

  CEO Alex Doyle founded his own brand of men’s skincare products in 2017 and has built his business purely online:

  “This gives us the first step in bringing the brand to life, letting customers be more interactive and giving them an opportunity to try and feel the product in the flesh.”

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.