01 January, 2008
What's on - Your Big Break
Press release 20 December 2007
The Mall launches search for local talent
• Budding entrepreneurs can realise their business ambitions with no risk
• Chance to win free retail space in local Mall
• Local winners compete for a national business start-up prize
The Mall Romford and Make Your Mark, the national campaign to promote enterprise, have joined forces to launch a unique business competition. Together they are looking for the next hot independent retailer of Havering, and will help them realise their dreams and work for themselves.
'Make your Mark with The Mall', will encourage those people who have got a wacky new product or an exciting store concept to turn it into a reality and trade for free in the Mall Romford.
Peter Callagher General Manager of The Mall Romford explains: "Make Your Mark with The Mall is about nurturing local new business talent, we have a great opportunity as a community mall to help local people realise their dreams to start their own business and become an independent retailer in their Mall. The competition will give a leg up onto the business ladder without the usual financial risks people associate with starting a new business- namely paying rent. By offering the chance to trade from a Retail Merchandising Unit for two weeks for free, we hope to encourage those people with a business dream to come forward and have a go."
Entrants can apply online at www.themall.co.uk/business/mym.aspx or by picking up an entry form at the Ask Me Point at The Mall Romford now. The competition closes on 27th January 2008.
Entering couldn't simpler; to take part in the competition entrants will be asked:
• to describe their product
• how they will sell it
• why it fits well in the local market.
Each entry will then be judged by an independent panel on its uniqueness, commerciality, and innovativeness. Finalists will be asked to trade in The Mall Romford for two weeks to experience life as a trader and see if their business idea really is a winning one.
Following the 'local trading period' the best entrepreneur from each of The Mall's 23 shopping centres across the UK will be judged by a national panel, including an established high street retailer and successful entrepreneur, who will choose the person they feel has successfully 'made their mark in their mall'.
The national winner will then have the chance to trade for free for 6 months in their mall and will not only benefit from help and advice of the Mall but will also gain a place at the respected Oxford University Retail Summer which is one of the 'jewels in the crown' of UK retailing. Run 'by the trade for the trade' it allows junior managers from across the spectrum of UK retailers to further develop their retailing skills in one of the finest seats of learning in the world, Keble College, Oxford University.
Vanessa Johnson from Make Your Mark comments: "Every area has a wealth of hidden talent and I'm sure RomfordXXXTOWN does too. We're expecting to find new products and services many of which are currently being made or sold at a small scale but have the potential to make it big."
Peter Callagher General Manager concludes: "This really is a unique experience, to be able to try out your business idea for free is a fantastic opportunity for those people out there who might be considering starting a business to dip their toe into being their own boss without having to take on any financial risk, indeed the national prize is worth well over £10,000 which is a strong incentive for anyone who is thinking of having a go!!"
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