An Aldershot woman who launched her business at Wellington Centre Microshops, which is aimed at traders who want to try their first bricks and mortar space, is celebrating after moving into her first shop.

Juliette Amanis, who owns Mylook Myway, has vacated her three retail pods and moved into a shop at the Wellington Centre after a year of success.

She has signed a five-year lease for unit 3, Lower Walk, a 951 sq ft shop that sells a range of baby and children’s items, including prams and pushchairs, as well children’s and women’s clothing and accessories.

“I was getting lots of requests for different items that I knew I could source and stock, if I had more room, so decided to get a shop unit,” said Juliette, who opened her Microshop in September last year after spending ten years in the British Army, where she worked as a supplier specialist in the Royal Logistics Corps.

“By moving into a single shop, I’ve been able to increase my stock by about 20%, which is great. Opening a Microshop helped me to build up a loyal customer base, so I’m really pleased to have opened my own store at the Wellington Centre, where it all began. It’s a dream come true.”

All the retail pods, which are customisable to the tenants’ own brands, are available on an affordable, all-inclusive, flexible monthly contract, and are also suitable for artists, craftspeople and designers.

Tony Wilkes, manager of The Wellington Centre, which is owned and managed by national commercial property and investment company LCP, part of M Core, said: “Seeing a local business owner enjoy success at Microshops, prompting them to get a shop, is exactly why we launched them.

“It’s about enabling businesses to set up without having to commit to a bricks and mortar shop and providing pods on an affordable, all-inclusive, flexible monthly contract. It minimises the risk and helps tenants to try out running their own business. We’re thrilled that Juliette has been able to move up to a shop.”

The Wellington Centre Microshops has 31 pods, located in units in Low Walk and in the former Superdrug store on Lower Walk, with local entrepreneurs selling goods including art and vintage clothing.

The shopping centre itself has more than 50 retailers and a fully let seven-floor office block.  It also benefits from a 470-space multi storey car park. Tenants include Lidl, New Look, Boots, Peacocks, Specsavers and JD Sports.

There are Microshops in seven other towns where it owns and manages retail centres: Margate, Aldershot, Thornaby-on-Tees, Govan Cross, Airdrie, Penicuik and Ipswich.

Anyone signing up for a retail pod will pay an affordable weekly rent that is inclusive of utilities. To find out more about Microshops, visit: www.microshops.co.uk.

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