Bluewater hosts retail masterclass
Bluewater has hosted a bricks and mortar retailing master class for six companies that are supported by TrueStart, the retail and consumer innovation hub.
Backed by Land Securities and sector specialist investors, True Capital, Truestart’s ‘The Collection Summer 2015’ is a six-month programme providing start-ups with specialist support to help accelerate growth.
Start-ups benefiting from the master class included birch water brand Sibberi, supplements business VITL, clothing exchange platform Clotho, technology businesses Hoxton Analytics and Photospire, and Supa Academy which helps 16-24 year olds to learn about commerce and put their learnings into action by becoming weekend shopkeepers.
The start-ups visited Bluewater to gain first hand insight of how the retail and leisure destination drives retailer performance. The companies received a series of presentations on different aspects of Bluewater, from the significance of the brand on creating engagement with consumers, to learning about a number of successful pop-ups.
With the event hosted by Craig O’Donnell, head of information systems at Land Securities, and Robert Goodman, Bluewater’s general manager, the six companies also toured a range of statement stores and learned about other innovations that contribute to Bluewater’s success.
Goodman said: “TrueStart’s Collection programme is great initiative, nurturing entrepreneurs in the retail sector, and we were delighted to host such a forward thinking group of new businesses. The master class was a great forum for an exchange of ideas and experiences that has been very useful for Bluewater and the TrueStart cohorts alike.”
Baz Saidieh, chief executive of TrueStart, added: “The TrueStart Collection has been a very successful initiative, and we have just opened the application process for The Collection Autumn Winter 15. Taking our first cohorts to a master class at Bluewater was therefore very well timed and highly informative. Combined with the support the cohorts receive at our hub, Bluewater has helped to inspire and advise six very exciting young companies.”
Applications for Truestart’s ‘The Collection Autumn Winter 15’ will remain open until 20 September.
