Local Community Pop Up Shop!

As I've mentioned on previous blog posts it's an exciting time behind the scenes at Laura Felicity Design.  One project I can now reveal and spread the word about today!

A few months ago I saw a Facebook Page post from one of the local community pages I follow Love Barnet, who were promoting a Pop Up Shop they are working on based locally to me as part of a scheme to help rejuvenate our High Street.

Like many high streets in small towns based around the UK, Barnet used to be a brilliant place to go and spend money.  It's near very affluent areas, it had some fabulous shops; both independent and large chain names, and has had a lot of money invested into it over it's time.

However over the last few years it really has gone down hill due to the Recession.  We have a lot of unused properties now, which is to do with the extortionate rent companies have to pay; local businesses try to stay afloat, and if they can't they have to leave, even big names including Monsoon have had to up and leave due to the bills! It's awful and really unfair.
 ...so naturally in it's place Barnet's high street is dotted with cheap shops who rent the spaces for 6 months at a time, with tat to sell...it amazes me people go into these places and buy from!
We also have sooooo many Estate Agents, Opticians, Hairdressers, Card Shops, it really does get boring to see!

Anyway, back to the Pop Up Shop...the Facebook post I saw was seeking local creatives who may be able to help and be involved within this rejuvenating project.  Naturally I wanted to find out more, so I went along to promote the Laura Felicity Design business, and to see if I could get involved at all - even if it was simply to host a few workshops.

After going along to their first initial meeting I came away feeling really excited about this project, and as far as I'm aware it's the first of many to boost our local high street.  It really is what Barnet needs!

The shop itself used to be a Greggs, which now has relocated to a different part of the high street.  Being a bakers, the organisers really did have a lot on their plate trying to transform this store into a shop front people would want to walk into and buy a range of lifestyle products from.

 

With help from the local college (Barnet College) and volunteers, the shop has been stripped, gutted, a false chimney and brick wall put up and everywhere has had a new lick of paint.

...and here's the best part, areas of the shop have also been decorated with my wallpapers - both Dotty Bird and Pretty Flower are making an appearance.  This addition to the shop really has made a different to shop's transformation (I'm not being biased at all!).
What once was coloured in a bright blue and orange palette, is now starting to look like an uber chic lifestyle boutique.

 

 The Pop Up Shop still has a couple weeks before it's due to open.  The shop will feature local designers and creatives who are involved in homewares, wallpaper, furniture, upholstery, clothing, jewellery and cards, plus has the idea to involve workshops for the local community to get involved in.

I really am happy I took the initiative to be involved in this project.  I feel very strongly about how the high streets of the UK are not getting any better.  Seeing the development of this particular shop over the past couple of months has shown me it really is the community and their dedication who need to pitch in and make the change, otherwise it won't happen and no one will do it for us!

 

It's also great for the Laura Felicity Design business to get to know other local businesses and people - it's a great form of Networking, as now I am being advertised around my local high street as a local designer...People feel more of a connection to that, plus everyone gets to see my work up on the walls as they walk passed the shop...a perfect selling aspect.

So, stay tuned for the next stage of this great Pop Up Shop venture...and who knows where it will lead...a Laura Felicity Design shop perhaps ;-) we'll see!!

Best Wishes,

L x
Laura Felicity Design