ENTREPRENEURS who trialled their businesses in an empty Wantage shop unit have taken it over.

Upvamped, Shabby Style and Cushion Solutions tested out their wares on shoppers from a vacant unit in the Arbery Arcade for three months.

Now they have agreed a six-month let with the owner to open their own shop – Arbery Emporium.

It is the second success for the Portas-funded Wantage Town Team of Iain Nicholson and Mim Norvell, who organised the temporary shop let.

Their first project, the Wantage Flashop on Mill Street, has now been taken over on a permanent basis by two women who tried out their retail businesses there.

Gail Crowther, of Cushion Solutions, said: “Without all the help and support from the Flashop team we would not have had the confidence to do this.

“Hopefully we will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Commercial agent Neil Wild, who led the Flashop project on behalf of Wantage Town Team, said: “It’s testimony to both the vitality of the town and the Flashop model that the three businesses have, together, committed to a longer lease on the shop.

“I am really pleased this initiative is creating the right conditions for business growth and confidence.”

 

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