What's on - Make Your Mark In Retail Returns

20 January, 2010

On 4 January 2010 The Mall Luton launched its hunt once again to find the retailers of the future as part of nationwide competition, Make Your Mark in Retail.

This year, in an unprecedented move, The Mall's 19 centres are not the only ones looking for the next big thing in retail, as the UK's leading operator of community shopping centres teams up with other major national landlords including Capital Shopping Centres to extend the competition to nearly 30 UK shopping centres.

Seeking entrants with a unique retail concept, the competition offers regional winners the chance to trade in leading shopping centres such as The Mall Luton. Then on the basis of their success over two weeks, one national winner is awarded a start-up package that includes six months rent-free trade, allowing them to get their business off the ground with virtually no outgoings.

Last year's winners, Terry and Janis Loran, from Toddington noticed a gap in the market for personalised merchandise for special occasions. Aged 59, Terry was made redundant and decided to enter and set up "Initially Yours" and his victory serves as evidence that it is never too late to start your own business.

His wife Janis explains: "The competition was definitely well worth entering. Provided you adopt the right attitude and are prepared to put in the effort, Make Your Mark in Retail may just make a real difference to your business and your life."

Brian McFarland, General Manager of The Mall Luton adds: "There really is no other competition of this sort available to budding retail entrepreneurs. With retail going through a phase of major change and unemployment at its highest for a generation, now is the perfect time to turn an idea into a career. The competition has been a great success over the past two years and is just getting better and better. All you need is that unique idea and the determination to build a dream, so we encourage the people of Luton to come down to The Mall to enter - this year could just be Luton's year."

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The competition enables entrants the opportunity to test their business on a Retail Merchandising Unit (RMU) and the outstanding candidate is rewarded a 'retail start up package' that includes:

• Six months rent free trading on an RMU
• Hands on support from The Mall
• A business mentor from The Royal Bank of Scotland
• A place at the British Shops & Stores Association Summer School at Keble College Oxford
• A place at the National Skills Academy Retail Masterclass

The Mall is the leading owner and operator of community shopping centres in the UK. The Mall currently owns 19 shopping malls throughout the UK and sees around 4 million shopping visits a week. The Mall Fund is a specialist property fund managed by Capital & Regional. Aviva Investors is Fund Manager.

The image shows last year's winners Terry and Janis Loran, from Toddington, Bedfordshire.

Visit www.themall.co.uk - Shopping as it should be

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