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The Maker Space POP UP COMMERCE
Published on 30 July 2018
Spain
País Vasco
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Retail has been always a key sector for many local economies. Today retailers face new challenges and need to innovate and to update their skills to adapt to consumer trends that are changing dramatically to offer clients an enhanced shopping experience.
PUC programme aims to test and accelerate innovation in design industry and retail. Retail entrepreneurs go through an 8-week hands-on programme (it runs twice a year, for 8 weeks, with 8 participants per round). Participants go through a tailored training programme and coaching to develop their project from idea to prototype. The collaborative space allows collaborative making from 2 perspectives:
• Sharing the same physical space helps the creation of synergies among the entrepreneurs, in terms of exchange of ideas and mutual learning .
• Providing entrepreneur the possibility to show their products and ideas and interact with public, so they can get feedback from the public to improve their business idea or new products.
The main beneficiaries are young entrepreneurs wishing to develop new retail strategies, models and approaches on the local market. In fact, the programme is working in close cooperation with the main retail shops and tourism associations of the city: SShops Donostia, the Local Commerce Platform of San Sebastián, and the Hotel Association of Gipuzkoa.
PUC also involves citizens, who are invited to test the retail models, services and products that the participants are developing.
PUC programme aims to test and accelerate innovation in design industry and retail. Retail entrepreneurs go through an 8-week hands-on programme (it runs twice a year, for 8 weeks, with 8 participants per round). Participants go through a tailored training programme and coaching to develop their project from idea to prototype. The collaborative space allows collaborative making from 2 perspectives:
• Sharing the same physical space helps the creation of synergies among the entrepreneurs, in terms of exchange of ideas and mutual learning .
• Providing entrepreneur the possibility to show their products and ideas and interact with public, so they can get feedback from the public to improve their business idea or new products.
The main beneficiaries are young entrepreneurs wishing to develop new retail strategies, models and approaches on the local market. In fact, the programme is working in close cooperation with the main retail shops and tourism associations of the city: SShops Donostia, the Local Commerce Platform of San Sebastián, and the Hotel Association of Gipuzkoa.
PUC also involves citizens, who are invited to test the retail models, services and products that the participants are developing.
Resources needed
PUC has100% public funding. It is funded by the Donostia-San Sebastián Municipality and has an annual running cost of 80.000€ per year.
Evidence of success
According to the feedback provided by the local Retail Associations, the size of the programme meets the local demand. PUC has supported 48 retail entrepreneurs. Most of the beneficiaries were unemployed and have become self-employed thanks to their participation in the PUC. Also, each project led to the production of a prototype, such as:
- Printed and on-line Donostia tourist guide.
- App and web of personalized workouts.
- Sustainable fashion and local design products.
- Printed and on-line Donostia tourist guide.
- App and web of personalized workouts.
- Sustainable fashion and local design products.
Potential for learning or transfer
This programme has a high potential for transfer, since the financial resources (80.000 €/year) needed for its implementation are easily affordable for a Local/Regional Authority, considering the impact achieved on employment and growth. In any case, scalability would depend on demand and on resources. So far, the size of the programme meets the local demand, and resources fit the current size of the programme.
The programme could be implemented in any other city. However, it would probably need:
- a large retail sector based on small shops, preferably family owned (or with a strong involvement of the owner in running the shop).
- a shopping destination, with somehow large and educated demand, less price-sensitive than quality driven.
- Some awareness about the new trends in retail among the entrepreneurs and the retail sector (the connection with retail associations is very important)
The programme could be implemented in any other city. However, it would probably need:
- a large retail sector based on small shops, preferably family owned (or with a strong involvement of the owner in running the shop).
- a shopping destination, with somehow large and educated demand, less price-sensitive than quality driven.
- Some awareness about the new trends in retail among the entrepreneurs and the retail sector (the connection with retail associations is very important)
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Fomento San Sebastian
Spain
País Vasco
Contact
Project Manager