Community retail project 'proud' to generate £1m

15 hours ago

Shariqua AhmedPeterborough

The success of the project demonstrates that when businesses put people at their core, they can truly flourish, say Unity co-founders Dave Poulton and Kez Hayes-Palmer

Up The Garden Bath Dave Poulton and Kez Hayes-Palmer are stood outside the Unity store in Queensgate. Inside looks busy and has lots of different independent businesses/ stalls inside. Dave is tall and wears a black hoodie with Up the Garden Bath branding. He has brown hair and some facial hair. Kez has long blonde hair, pink lipstick and a silver nose ring. Her nails are painted pink and she is holding up a blue sign for Up the Garden Bath. — The success of the project demonstrates that when businesses put people at their core, they can truly flourish, say Unity co-founders Dave Poulton and Kez Hayes-Palmer

A community retail project has generated £1m in sales to help more than 50 small independent businesses.

Up The Garden Bath, a community interest organisation that upcycles discarded bath tubs, set up the Unity project at Peterborough's Queensgate Shopping Centre in 2023, to help independent and small businesses sell their products.

The project secured a three-year extension to its lease at the shopping centre in 2024.

Founder Dave Poulton said the team feels "proud" of the landmark achievement. "It isn't just a number but represents thousands of moments when people chose local," he said.

"It is a ground-breaking moment in community enterprise, built from the ground up through sheer determination, resilience, and an unwavering belief in people."

The store was first setup in Queensgate Shopping Centre in 2023

Dave Poulton Exterior of the Unity store - with a purple and green frontage. — The store was first setup in Queensgate Shopping Centre in 2023

Over the past three years, educational workshops held at the Queensgate store welcomed more than 30,000 families, Poulton said.

In May, the organisation launched Goal2Grow, a project that sells second-hand football kits to help low-income families. The initiative is being supported by former England footballer David James.

The organisation faced financial setbacks last year, including a £20,000 business rates bill, but Poulton launched a fundraiser to help secure its future.

He said the impact of the Unity Store has been "profound" and that they are "genuinely grateful" to all those who support it.

"Unity has positively changed the lives of thousands of people, supporting local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to earn, grow, and be seen", he said.

"For many, this has meant the difference between surviving and thriving."

Poulton said the team intends to "build on the energy and create more opportunities for people to learn, earn and be part of something bigger."

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