People wanting to set up temporary or pop-up shops in vacant retail units and retail spaces across the city centre will be able to rent equipment for free.
The Shopfit Library will have various items available for people to use for three months including counters, shelving, displays, tables, chairs, and projectors so upfront costs for the shop owner are reduced while they test customer demand for their store.
The Aberdeen City Council scheme will support ongoing efforts to reduce unused empty shop space across the city, complementing existing support such as the Union Street Empty Shops Action Plan, Grant Scheme, and Business Toolkit.
Aberdeen City Council city development and regeneration chief officer Julie Wood said: “The Shopfit Library came about after feedback from local stakeholders suggested many businesses struggle to transition and grow from being online-only or home-based to taking on physical premise due to lengthy and expensive leases and renovation projects.
“The scheme will enable people to trial out having a shop without having upfront costs of buying equipment. This will give people greater confidence in opening a store which in turn will improve the vibrancy of the city centre with a greater variety of shops for people to choose from.”
This proposal offers a route for businesses to trial a physical shop without risking cash flow or longer-term financial sustainability of their business.
The scheme will also support business growth through enabling pilot and trial of ‘bricks and mortar’ retail spaces, support city centre events and markets, and promote circular economy through reuse of Shopfit Library equipment.
The kit will be designed primarily around what is required for retail fit-outs, but some items could be flexibly incorporated in other uses such as hospitality or services. The design of the purchased kit would be versatile, making it useful in various situations, from retail units to pop-up stores and markets, both indoor and outdoor, maximising its potential use across the city.
The capital purchase of reusable kit would enable multiple pop-ups or markets over a five-plus year period, aligning with the Empty Shops Action Plan and masterplan investment. The project aims to encourage and enable further diversification of businesses throughout the city, with the goal of creating a pipeline of potential tenants for longer-term lets across Aberdeen.
More information and how to apply for the Shopfit Library is at Shop Fit Kit Scheme