Hat trick of local brands welcomed to intu Derby following national retail competition

Three new brands are hatching at popular Midlands shopping destination intu Derby, following a national retail competition.

‘Hatch’ is an initiative launched by Revo, the professional body and membership organisation serving the retail property and placemaking industry.  Revo offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to set up their own shops in popular retail destinations, with rent, service charges and business rates covered for the first six weeks.

intu’s support of Hatch follows a track record of successful initiatives to foster retail innovations and helping fledgling businesses thrive. This includes a competition held in conjunction with Virgin Start Up, ‘Foodpreneur’ to find the next big thing in food, and intu Accelerate, a 10-week incubation programme for retail and leisure start-ups.

Winners will receive a unit at intu Derby, benefiting from the centre’s footfall of over 22 million visitors a year, as well as access to business and marketing support from the British Independent Retailers Association, and a year’s free BIRA membership, including insurance and free legal advice.

Derby-based loaded doughnuts maker, Project D and Burton-on-Trent’s Solesmith, who design personalised socks that have featured on This Morning and EastEnders, will both be opening their first retail stores in intu Derby this summer.

Design 44, who curate a range of quirky UK and Scandinavian gifts and homeware, will be opening its second shop in Derby as part of the scheme.

Nick Round, regional managing director for intu, said: “intu Derby is a premium shopping destination with a great mix of national and independent retailers all under one roof, and welcoming some of the region’s rising entrepreneurs and business owners will enhance this mix. For aspirational brands with an ambition for growth, the opportunity at intu Derby is sensational, and we’re confident that Project D, Design 44 and Solesmith will be a huge hit once they open their doors to the public later this summer.

“Hatch gives local brands the chance to trade in a shopping centre for the first time and for two of the winners it will be their first step into a physical store. The winners gain access to intu Derby’s 2.3 million catchment and a risk-free way to test customer demand for their products. They’ll all benefit from the strength of the intu brand, and will be supported by the intu team to make their stay a successful one.”

Samantha Sen, head of policy and campaigns at Revo, said: “We started Hatch to link budding businesses with established retail owners, such as intu. It was wonderful to see the calibre and diversity of the local businesses that were a part of the campaign.

“We’d like to wish a huge congratulations to Project D, Design 44 and Solesmith. intu Derby was a hugely popular centre amongst applicants, and it will be the perfect incubating space for them to allow them to take their brands to the next level.”