Member Article

Pop up shop solves access dilemma for Leeds halls of residence

A new shop has ‘popped up’ in the grounds of a popular student accommodation complex in Leeds, giving residents vital access to the everyday shopping essentials they need while saving them a four-mile round trip.

Oxley Residence, managed by Allied Student Accommodation, has become home to the country’s first ‘Rapid Store’ – a specially designed pop up shop that has been installed in a prominent location alongside the main building at the halls of residence.

While Oxley Residence is well equipped to provide students with a positive backdrop to their university life, the lack of a shop nearby has regularly been highlighted by residents as a key drawback. The nearest stores being around two miles away. However, the prohibitively high cost of making alterations to the site’s iconic buildings, combined with footfall numbers being limited to the student population, meant installing a bricks and mortar shop was not feasible.

For the 400+ students living on site, the new Rapid Store has provided a lifeline. It is open seven days a week and stocks fresh, frozen and dry goods, including personal care items, confectionery and alcohol. The shop’s opening has also created jobs for up to four students, who are working alongside the shop’s permanent manager.

The Rapid Store has been designed and installed by Worcestershire pop up specialist Rapid Retail and is managed in partnership with Rapid Stores. The shop has come at no cost to Allied Student Accommodation, who have simply needed to provide a suitable place for its installation and a power supply for the unit.

Rapid Stores now plans to roll out the model to other sites across the UK, where access to shops is limited.

Julian Sparrow, Regional Manager, Allied Student Accommodation, explained: “Oxley Residence is a beautiful site with some amazing features and facilities, but the lack of a shop was something we were acutely aware of.

“What has been fantastic about this project is being able to make use of the external space we had available, to get a professional, fully managed shop in position in record time. It’s taken all the stress and hassle out of the process, with an added bonus being that it has created jobs for the student population too. The feedback we are receiving from students is just fantastic and we would recommend any PBSA that hasn’t got a convenience store locally to look at this option.”

Paul Chamberlain, co-founder Rapid Stores, commented: “We’re excited to now be live with our first Rapid Store! For universities and landlords of student accommodation, it’s a really simple model. Everything is included, all we need to get up and running is a suitable space and power. We’re delighted to say we already have interest from a number of other universities who have heard about this project.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Creative Leopard .