A pop up digital photography studio coming to town in May

A digital photography studio with a twist is the pop up shop planned by young volunteers on the Retail Ready People programme after an intensive three-day residential.

Volunteers aged 16-25 came together to hear from retail and pop up shop experts brainstorm ideas and develop business plans for the shop, which they will open in May 2013. The pop up shop will be open for one month.

The idea for the shop was dreamt up during a series of workshops, inspired by hearing from Hotel Chocolat’s Head of Retail Darren Williams, the author of Pop Up Business For Dummies Dan Thompson, and retail expert Peter Suchet.

The volunteers believe Rochdale’s digital photography studio pop up shop will bring some fun back to Rochdale’s high street. Visitors will be encouraged to dress up, with a range of fancy dress and historic costumes provided, and the photographs will be available as framed prints, T-shirts or on novelty items such as mugs.

Retail Ready People is a free 14-week programme for 16-25 year olds, which gives them the chance to set up and run a high street shop. During the programme, young people are given a three-day residential training course, two days a week of training workshops tailored to their needs, support from experienced professionals and mentors and all the resources needed to open a pop up shop – including a space on the high street.

Retail Ready People is run by vInspired and the Retail Trust, with support from the Empty Shops Network.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news/77252/good-news-for-rochdale-retail-ready-people-is-coming-to-town