December 4, 2014
Winnipeg's Third Pop Up Shop Gives More Options for Holiday Shopping Downtown
– – –Pop Up Shops Creating Jobs, Access to Made-in-Manitoba Goods: Minister Chief
Winnipeggers and visitors to the city can now shop at the newest pop up shop located downtown offering a wide selection of made-in-Manitoba products such as art, vintage clothing, jewelry and pottery, Jobs and the Economy Minister Kevin Chief, minister responsible for the City of Winnipeg, said today.
The new shop, called FLASH Boutique, is located at 438 Graham Ave.
“FLASH Boutique offers the 100,000 Winnipeggers who come downtown every day for work, education and world-class entertainment another reason to stay and shop,” said Minister Chief. “When you're Christmas shopping this year, FLASH Boutique has the one-of-a-kind, made-in-Manitoba gift that a special someone will always remember.”
“FLASH has been a success so far and we’re really looking forward to all of the holiday customers,” said Katerina Pappas, project manager, FLASH Boutique, the third pop up shop. “This pop up has given the opportunity to more than 45 artisans to test out the Winnipeg market and we’re exploring the possibility of securing a more permanent storefront. This wouldn’t have been possible without CentreVenture and its PUSH program. I am thankful to have had this opportunity to promote real local people in our shop.”
The other two pop up shops were also located in downtown Winnipeg. All three were part of the Pop Up Shop Hop (PUSH) pilot project that was launched in Aprilwith support and assistance from the Manitoba government and CentreVenture Development Corporation. The program was established to promote new retail and reactivate vacant storefronts in downtown Winnipeg.
PUSH is designed to activate current vacant storefronts, provide landlords with interim tenants and provide retailers with an opportunity to sell their products in the downtown Winnipeg marketplace.
“PUSH is bringing life to vacant storefronts along downtown Winnipeg’s sidewalks and streets, engaging pedestrians while encouraging entrepreneurship,” said Ross McGowan, president and CEO, CentreVenture Development Corporation. “In the new year, CentreVenture will look to seek out opportunities to connect property owners of vacant storefronts with local entrepreneurs.”
“As chair of the city’s Downtown Committee, I am delighted to see the Manitoba government and CentreVenture support new business opportunities in downtown Winnipeg,” said Brian Mayes, city councillor, St. Vital. “It’s not just people who live downtown, but people from other parts of the city who are taking note of the progress being made to promote business downtown.”
Through the Winnipeg Regeneration Strategy, the Manitoba government has invested $120,000 in this pilot project, which has seen success to date, the minister noted. The owners of the first shop, Exchange Uporium, are keeping their shop open until the end of December to capture and serve the holiday market, and will be reviewing their business model hoping to be a permanent retailer in the downtown.
“If it wasn’t for the PUSH program we wouldn’t be where we are today, so we’re so thankful for this support and opportunity,” said Patti Henderson and Eve Wowchuk from Exchange Uporium. “We’ve been able to grow our ideas into a business that is doing really well, and we’re hoping we can keep this momentum going and stay in the downtown. It’s a great place to do business.”
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The Province of Manitoba is issuing this release on behalf of the Government of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg and CentreVenture Development Corporation.