STAMFORD QUARTER POP UP SHOP CELEBRATES SUCCESS AS FIRST RETAILER MAKES PERMANENT MOVE TO THE HIGH STREET 

• Bruntwood Works’ pop up shop gives 24 indie businesses the chance to sell on the high street 
• Former pop up Shop resident Kokoa to open first bricks and mortar store on George Street 
• Bringing independent vegan beauty to the high street. 

The Stamford Quarter’s Pop Up Shop is celebrating success as one of its first residents is now making the move to a permanent shop on the high street, just a few doors down from where they started out in the pop up. Kokoa Eco Beauty shop is set to open on George Street in the heart of Altrincham.

Kokoa, the UK’s first 100% vegan beauty store, was one of the first brands to take up residence at the pop up shop in May 2021, and has now taken on a permanent retail space on George Street.

The pop up shop, an initiative delivered by Bruntwood Works in association with property agents Barker Proudlove, gives local, independent brands the opportunity to host a specially created ‘blank canvas’ retail space on the high street for between one and six weeks. The scheme is designed to give small and independent enterprises the opportunity to trial a bricks and mortar concept with minimum risk and maximum flexibility.  It’s a chance to test the waters, and build up a loyal customer base in a high footfall destination. Ultimately, the pop up shop was created with the aim of bringing more  independent brands to the high street, an ambition that has been realised as Kokoa takes the plunge.

The independent, Altrincham-based cult vegan beauty brand, stocks a huge selection of British vegan beauty brands from skincare and soaps to wipes and candles to create an unparalleled eco-friendly and cruelty-free beauty experience in Altrincham.

Akosua Catherine Akobeng, Founder of Kokoa Eco Beauty, commented:

“I am thrilled to be opening my own permanent store on the high street! The pop up shop was a brilliant ‘test pilot’ for the brand – it allowed us to get a taste for life on George Street and it went really well for us! It was brilliant to be part of the buzz of the centre.  We love the idea of the high street being filled with exciting independent businesses and so we’re really pleased that we’ve been able to collaborate with Bruntwood Works on this journey who share that vision. The pop up shop gave us the ‘leg up’ we needed and we cannot wait to share our brilliant, cruelty free products with Altrincham”

Kokoa’s success comes on the back of a number of successes at the pop up shop since it opened in May 2021 with the average footfall reaching 5,800 people per month from October – December.  In total 24 businesses have made use of the facilities so far with nine returning businesses and three of those returning more than once.

James Tootle, Head of Retail at Bruntwood Works commented:
“The pop up shop has been a great success, not only driving additional footfall to the high street by creating a new experience for customers, but also in terms of helping independent businesses to grow, experiment and start an exciting new chapter. Kokoa is our first to make the move to a permanent unit and we couldn’t be happier for Akosua and the team – they are vegan beauty brand leaders and it’s a brilliant, Altrincham-born concept for the high street.”

The pop up shop has recently welcomed sustainable fashion retailer Both Barrels, which will be followed by second hand clothing swap shop Second Hand Styling UK.

Bruntwood Works  unveiled their masterplan for the Stamford Quarter in partnership with Trafford Council. The new vision for the Stamford Quarter is to transform the area into a mixed-use destination that makes Altrincham an even better place to live, work and play for local families and the wider community.  Plans for the transformation of the former Rackhams building were recently granted planning permission as the building is set to be reimagined as Foundation housing a blend of workspace, retail and hospitality.