Mayor and Wayne Hemingway launch 'pop-up shop'

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson yesterday joined designer and founder of Red or Dead, Wayne Hemingway, to launch an innovative pop-up shop offering rent-free retail space for budding creative entrepreneurs in central London over the next two months.

The ‘KiosKiosK’ - created by HemingwayDesign – is providing rent-free space for people with creative products to sell, helping new businesses with great ideas to get a step-up on the ladder to success in tough economic times. Dozens of fledging creative businesses will sell their wares over the coming weeks which will include ceramics, clothes, jewellery, bag and furniture designers. The KiosKiosK will also be solar-powered providing free eco-electricity to power lights, a laptop computer and a sewing machine.

It is hoped that low cost 'pop up' shops of this kind will provide a template for London, and towns and cities across the UK, by offering a helping hand for businesses that may be priced out of high cost, high street and prime retail locations. This will also help to support the growth of smaller, independent shops increasing consumer choices. Trading and shopping locally also helps to cut the pollution and carbon emissions coming from the transportation of goods.
Gerardine Hemingway MBE and Wayne Hemingway MBE started the iconic Red or Dead brand from low cost 'easy in, easy out' starter units at Camden and Kensington Markets and Affleck’s Palace in Manchester, but believe it has now become increasingly difficult for start up creative businesses to find affordable retail space. For the first hour of KiosKiosk’s trading, the Hemingway’s recreated these early days by selling clothes from their personal vintage clothes collection.

Wayne Hemingway, said: ‘We believe that the KiosKiosk concept is a simple and cost effective way to spice up our towns and cities. This architecturally interesting, easy to construct retail space, gives entrepreneurs and creative minds a chance to have a go and put their ideas in front of the public to encourage an enterprise culture. This also adds excitement to our streets. We've been overwhelmed by the phenomenal response to our call for KiosKiosk occupants proving through this experiment, that the demand and talent is out there.’

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: ‘Creative industries not only play a significant role in London’s diverse economy, but also make a massive contribution to the cultural vibrancy of our wonderful city. It is vital we nurture our fledging creative talent in these tough times and this cracking pop-up shop is a simple but effective way to do so. I urge people to come on down to the first ever eco-powered KiosKiosk to see what is on offer and help brand new businesses to emerge at the same time.’

The project is supported by the London Sustainable Development Commission, which has appointed Wayne as one of its 16 'London Leaders'. The London Leaders programme brings together inspirational people to create projects that deliver improvements to people's quality of life and the environment whilst inspiring others to do the same. The Commission advises the Mayor of London on sustainable development.