‘HATCH’ AT DERBION! DERBION OFFERS LOCAL BUSINESSES THE CHANCE TO WIN A RENT-FREE STORE
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 6 February 2024
Derbion has revealed that its popular retail initiative that provides small businesses the opportunity to win free retail space, Hatch, has returned.
Following another successful year in 2023, budding entrepreneurs in the East Midlands can once again enter Derbion’s Hatch competition to win the chance to take their business to the next level and open a rent-free store at the centre for six weeks.
Interested businesses have until Sunday 17 March to submit their applications via the Derbion website - https://www.derbion.com/hatch-competition-2024/. Following a pitch process, the winner will be selected in April and the winning business will open the doors to its rent-free space at Derbion in the months following.
This is the fifth year that Derbion has ran its Hatch competition, following its initial launch in 2019. The initiative has had huge success, with one of the winning businesses – Design 44 – still open at the centre to-date.
The competition has also provided Hatch finalists and local brands including 1NE., Project D and The Hair Repair Club with the chance to have their first physical presence in a busy shopping centre, alongside offering finalists including Katie Astle and Spirit Crystals the opportunity to open pop-up stores over the festive period and beyond.
2023 saw local entrepeneurs Alex Mcleod and Daniel Bennett winning the intiative with their unique clothing business, 1NE. After enjoying a successful six weeks rent-free in the centre, 1NE. chose to extend their stay at Derbion to benefit from the store’s high-footfall location in-centre.
In addition to free retail space in a prime location, the winning business will also receive free marketing support from Derbion to help boost brand awareness and grow their brand.
The winner will join new arrivals including world-famous bakery, Cinnabon, global beauty retailer, Rituals, and international lifestyle brand, MINISO, which have all recently opened at Derbion.
Beth McDonald, Managing Director at Derbion, commented:
“Since 2019, our Hatch competition has provided small businesses across the region with a fantastic chance to expand and grow, so we’re delighted to be running the initiative for the fifth time.
“Our Hatch annual competition offers independent retailers and entrepreneurs the opportunity to secure their own retail space with rent, service charges and business rates covered for the first six weeks. Hatch has proven to deliver a significant positive impact for participating businesses to grow their brands, with a number going on to secure permanent retail space.
“So, whether you know a small business who would benefit from the chance to win rent-free retail space, are a Midlands-based entrepreneur who dreams of the opportunity to join a busy city shopping destination, or even an online retailer who wants to take the step into a physical store, we'd love to hear from you!”
Entries for the Hatch competition close on Sunday 17 March at 11pm, with the winner announced in April. For more information and to apply, please visit www.derbion.com/hatch-competition-2024/.
