Collaborative Retail Project Secures Three-Year Lease Extension

The collaborative retail initiative, Unity, has secured a new three-year lease, prompting “ecstatic” reactions from the traders who share its space. Established by the charity Up The Garden Bath, Unity commenced operations at Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough on 16 November 2023. Its primary objective is to assist numerous independent and small businesses in selling their products, and it has since generated over £365,000 for local enterprises, according to Dave Poulton, co-founder of Up the Garden Bath. Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Mr. Poulton highlighted that individual business owners participating in Unity would not be able to afford their own retail premises, but have achieved success through this shared model. He also noted the positive reception from shoppers in Peterborough. Queensgate Shopping Centre facilitated Unity’s three-year lease extension, citing that the project “brought such a unique and inspiring presence to our space.” Alaina Davies, representing Alaina Creates, reported cultivating a new base of regular customers through her involvement with the retail project. Ms. Davies stated, “Selling my products in the Unity store this past year has been monumental to the growth of my small business,” adding, “I’m absolutely ecstatic to find out that the Unity store will remain for three more years.” Mr. Poulton announced that Up The Garden Bath, Unity’s parent organization, intends to raise £250,000 via crowdfunding to support other community initiatives. Mr. Poulton, who co-founded the not-for-profit community organization with Kez Hayes-Palmer in 2020, expressed his hope that this fundraising effort would enable them to execute large-scale city projects. Ms. Hayes-Palmer commented: “Being able to continue with our special collaborative community project until 2027 is a dream come true. “Not only is it an incredible business opportunity but it also helps to gain so much exposure for the incredible creators we have on our doorstep.“We’ve realised now is the right time, following the autumn budget, to appeal to the amazing people of Peterborough to get behind us and help us to cement our projects we have planned.”