A co-produced a pop-up shop on London’s most famous shopping street.
BBC News 6 O’Clock News
Carnaby Street Pop-up
The London Made Me Retail Development programme is brought to you by the Mayor of London as part of his flagship Creative Enterprise Zone programme.
The programme was founded in 2022 in collaboration with Alice Mayor, a leading creative retail consultant and the founder of We Built This City. The Matchbox were one of 12 creative businesses, organisations and individuals tasked with opening a pop-up retail experience on Carnaby Street, opened by Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries Justine Simons.
The programme brings together creatives, makers and artists from the Mayor’s Creative Enterprise Zones to learn from some of the best retail experts in the business, before building and trading in their very own collaborative retail space.
We sent a small team to participate in the programme - Ellie Fryer, Hells Gibson and SHIO.
The shop featured original art and prints by Matchbox members with additional live art, screen-printing and workshops happening throughout. The Matchbox were also part of the build team, tasked with painting the facade and interior branding, designed by Jo Armitage.
We also hosted a Live Art Showcase Event called ‘FIRE IN THE BELLY’, an evening of art, music and good vibes.
Photo credits: Ryo, Matt Joseph Flynn and Sister London
Snapshot
Sponsored by the Mayor of London, managed by the GLA and Alice Mayor.
4 artists put through the programme, work sold by 11 Matchbox members with contributions by many more, work generated for 2 artists on the ‘build team’.
A hugely successful retail pop-up and networking event in the heart of London.
The Matchbox were invited back the following year to give a talk to the current programme participants, due to our success.
