Handpicked Hall entrepreneur aims to support 300 businesses

HUNDREDS of jobs will soon be supported by a Yorkshire-based initiative which is helping small retailers to win customers by giving them a high street presence.

By the summer, entrepreneur Anthony Blackburn hopes to be supporting 300 small businesses after opening retail centres in Ripon, Leeds and Skipton.

According to Mr Blackburn, the scheme will take inspiration from the success of Handpicked Hall in Ripon, an indoor market which has already attracted dozens of businesses.

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Handpicked Hall was born out of the demise of Philip Hall, a small department store, which had served local people for half a century.

Last year its owner, Mr Blackburn, realised that the traditional high street retail model was failing.

When trading became difficult, he closed the store, with the loss of around 12 jobs.

Instead of letting the building to a national chain, Mr Blackburn decided that he would use it to provide a boost for local traders.

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He wanted to give independent retailers a chance to establish themselves, at a time when a number of major retail chains were closing stores or going into administration.

Figures released by the British Retail Consortium in late 2012 indicated that one in 10 shops on UK high streets and in shopping centres was empty, with the North and Yorkshire among those with the highest vacancy rates.

Mr Blackburn has turned the old Philip Hall store into Handpicked Hall, which gives traders a chance to hire a pitch and sell their goods.

Mr Blackburn was inspired by Mary Portas’s 2011 review of high streets. Ms Portas said would-be retailers, or people who have something to sell, should be using indoor and outdoor markets to help them get off the ground in town centres.

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Mr Blackburn said yesterday: “The old department store format was struggling more and more.

“Sales had declined and the unseasonal weather in spring was the final nail in the coffin.

“I wanted to keep the freehold for the property and needed to come up with alternative ideas for the business.

“I’ve got 5,000 sq ft and I wondered what I might achieve by offering small businesses a presence on the high street.”

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Mr Blackburn said the closure of Philip Hall last summer had been traumatic for everybody.

According to Mr Blackburn, it’s hard for traditional department stores to be champions of all categories, particularly with the growth of online businesses.

He added: “The lingerie business was the only area that remained profitable.

“It was bought out of the liquidation and is now branded as Philippa Hall.

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“Philippa Hall trades in Handpicked Hall and has had such a great start that the business is now seeking its own premises.

“Handpicked Hall has 32 businesses, and by March this number will have risen to 36.

“There has been so much demand that lots of people are on a waiting list.

“The businesses range from food and drink companies to a vintage tea salon, offering blended teas and home baking.”

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Mr Blackburn said that Christmas trading had been strong, because people liked having so much choice under one roof.

He added: “Behind every 
great product, there’s a great person – it’s got such a friendly 
buzz.”

Following the success of Handpicked Hall, Mr Blackburn decided to expand the concept around Yorkshire.

He has gone into partnership with Chris Ure of ATC Properties and set up Handpicked Hall LLP.Another Handpicked Hall will open in Skipton in early March.

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The Handpicked Arcade will be based in the old Co-op store, on Canal Walk, in Keighley Road, Skipton.

Mr Blackburn added: “We are recruiting local businesses who want to be part of this concept, and have the space to give up to 60 the chance to trade every day of the week.

“ATC properties has bought the building and will divide it into units.

“We also plan to open a Handpicked Hall in the Grand Arcade in Leeds.

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“We already have had lots of interest and are keen to talk to more local businesses – it’s an easy way to trade in a quality location. Space can be rented from as 
little as £10 a day. Some firms in Ripon stay with us five days a week.

“So far 115 small businesses do business with us, so we are supporting at least 100 jobs.

“Between the three locations, we will have a portfolio of more than 300 local businesses prepared to trade on the high street.”

Further information about Handpicked Hall can be found at www.handpickedhall.co.uk

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