WATCH: Love Portsmouth celebrates official opening in Gunwharf Quays as local suppliers get exposure
A pop-up shop showcasing local Portsmouth products has celebrated its official opening in Gunwharf.
The Love Portsmouth shop opened on The Canalside of the shopping centre on January 18. However, its official opening took place on Friday, January 24, with all the suppliers in attendance. The shop is seen as a fantastic opportunity for independent businesses to sell their goods in a popular shopping centre and in doing so reach a wider customer base.
The venture is a partnership between Portsmouth City Council and Lulu Whitmore, founder of Love Southsea, with the shop opening between 10am and 6pm until the end of March.
Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of the council with responsibility for economic development, was delighted to be at the opening. He said: “It’s brilliant to be here today at the Love Portsmouth pop-up shop. We love Portsmouth and we are here celebrating the fact that Lulu, from Love Southsea, has got together with Yvonne Clay and the Gunwharf Quays team, as well as Portsmouth City Council, to open this brilliant pop-up shop.
“It gives us a huge opportunity to showcase great local businesses based in Portsmouth so they can get a footprint on the high street and test their wares.”
One such independent business owner, Rachel Caparco, of Little Loves Apparel, was thrilled to be able to sell her homemade children’s clothing in Gunwharf. She said: “It is an amazing opportunity, it is so nice to have a space that we can show what we make and create.
“We are used to being out and about at markets so it’s really nice to have a retail spot where people can come and see what we have.”
Watch the video embedded in this article to have a look inside the Love Portsmouth pop-up shop.