Bobbi Trehan-Young, founder of a start-up brand Bobbi | London™, will be one of a curated cohort of online retailers to take part in a brand-new pop-up on London’s Oxford Street to help enliven our high streets.
Hello, World, is a comprehensive package of retail support from the UK’s fastest-growing small business network and business support provider, Enterprise Nation, and SumUp, the leading mobile point of sale company in Europe, which will give more than 45 UK retailers the chance to pick-up new skills to help transform the post-pandemic high street.
Bobbi’s start-up was created to empower & amplify women in the workplace. Bobbi’s corporate background spans across two decades as a Subject Matter Expert & Architect, specilising in one of Microsoft’s technologies. As a Woman in Tech herself she has found a gap in the market for products that were fucntional, lightweight and travel-ready with aesthics designed with a woman in mind.
Bobbi’s brand will benefit from support to master cutting edge, experiential retail and help to build an effective hybrid approach to selling both on and offline.
Bobbi said: “This is a super initiative to get online product-based start-ups like myself to the high street. Where better to begin than Europe’s busiest shopping destination Oxford Street.
“Both Enterprise Nation, and SumUp have been fantastic at helping me transition from an online business model to the high street.”
“I’m looking forward to showcasing my debut Tech Products Collection offering my customers the luxury shopping experience I’ve worked hard to create online, in person. I will also be sharing details, (which I would not be able to do online), of my upcoming collections of stylish leather Corporate Bags & Travel Accessories launching later in the year.”
Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “There is no doubt this is an extraordinary moment for British high streets. To say they have changed beyond recognition would be an understatement.
“It’s clear what happens next will be crucial in shaping their future. While our high streets might look bleak right now with an exodus of large retailers, small businesses are preparing to return.
“This initiative is designed specifically to give UK brands a good grounding to help small firms re-take the high street.”
Alex Von Schirmeister, Executive Vice President for Europe at SumUp, said: “Helping small businesses to find new ways to connect with their customers is even more relevant as we move out of this pandemic.
“Shopping behaviours will be different and transactions will evolve as people focus on hygiene. This initiative will help firms unravel what has happened, process what works, and build a new hybrid solution to the way we all operate.
“We’re determined to support and empower small businesses as they move towards what will become the next new normal.”
Figures from retail data company Springboard show “pent up demand from shoppers for bricks and mortar stores” which supports its forecast for “a significant uplift in footfall” now retail is open. Footfall is expected to boom by up to 50%. Meanwhile, it is estimated 10,000 shops have closed since the start of the pandemic.
The Oxford Street shop is in collaboration with retail pop-up specialist Sook. Sook founder John Hoyle said: “We need to re-think the way the high street operates and give start-ups and new businesses short-term, frictionless access for brand-building and experiential opportunities without the need for long-term financial commitment.”
The news follows research from Enterprise Nation that almost three-quarters of small firms (68%) are already making firm plans to return to physical selling.
