A DUNDEE man has put plans in motion to revitalise one of the city’s prominent shopping streets.
After seeing the amount of empty shops along the length of Reform Street, Scott Cooper has started formulating a new initiative which will see the commercial thoroughfare transform into a haven for independent retailers.
His idea, Pop-Up Dundee, is to set up spaces on Reform Street where several retailers can sell their wares — effectively creating a bustling market atmosphere.
It comes as the Tele launches a week-long series looking at the plight of Reform Street and how it might be brought back to its former glory.
Scott said: “The project’s aim is to inspire small businesses to come up with new ways of marketing their business and, at the same time, bringing a new lease of life to streets usually full of empty shops.
“I have seen Reform Street gradually deteriorate in recent times and thought an idea which gives small business owners a chance to sell from a prominent location in the city centre would give the street a new lease of life.
“I think the reason the street is so empty is because a lot of small businesses don’t have the confidence to open a city centre shop — the rates to rent the spaces out is a big reason for this.
“With rents costing up to £150 a day, it is a big initial cost for independent retailers to cover before they even start.
“The street is also seen as dirty which is more than likely due to the lack of attention it has been getting in recent times.”
The 27-year-old, who earns a living building websites for retailers, saw his idea as a way for Dundee’s city centre streets to compete with the ever-growing
popularity with online shopping.
And, along with playing host to pop-up shops, the city centre resident has proposed community organisation and “creatives” to use the space alongside the traders.
The work has already begun with a meeting between current traders and members of the action group to be scheduled within the next month.
He said: “The project is in its infant stages at the moment, but I have already gained support from certain retailers on the street, the city centre manager, Sarah Craig, and 30 small businesses who are keen on having a platform to sell their goods in city centre premises.
“The idea is also a strategy to attract more people to shop in our city centre rather than revert to online shopping.
“The whole concept emulates an online shopping experience on a city street, as the pop-up shops will see a number of retailers selling
different varieties of quality goods in the same space.
“It would hopefully bring more of an attractiveness to the area.
“The whole project will hopefully inspire more independent retailers as well as creatives and community groups to create different ways to enliven city spaces.
“The problem Reform Street has right now is not permanent — it’s a temporary one. It only needs a bit of community attention and TLC to get it back to what the street once was.
“Reform Street is in a prime location in the city — it’s between two of the city’s major landmarks with The McManus on one side and the Caird Hall on the other.
“The street needs to be an attraction in itself and I hope the idea of introducing several retailers to do business there will develop into something which will see the area prosper in the future.”
The project now requires further consultation with the first meeting to be held at the Old Bank Bar within the next few weeks.