“Shopjacket” shows empty property's potential (From York Press)
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“Shopjacket” shows empty property's potential
9:17am Friday 1st February 2013 in Business news
A DELI for window shoppers has appeared in North Street in Ripon in a shop that has been empty for three years.
The shop illusion will not trade, but will show the property’s potential to future tenants in an initiative funded by Harrogate Borough Council through its Working for Your Business campaign.
The “Shopjacket”, as they have called the initiative, also advertises free business advice which is available from the council’s economic development team.
Ripon has the highest shop vacancy rate in the district at 10.08 per cent in December 2012, down from 12.4 per cent in the same quarter in 2009.
Coun Alan Skidmore, the borough council’s cabinet member for planning, transport and economic development,said: “This is an excellent new product which aims to assist with the marketing of empty units while making them look as attractive as possible. Our Economic Development Team was very keen to trial Shopjackets as a pilot in one of the district’s vacant units.
“If this pilot proves successful we anticipate undertaking more Shopjackets in the Harrogate district.”
