Clicks and Mortar, the Amazon-sponsored pop-up shop, will open inside the old Maplin store on Pinstone Street next month.
The shop gives online sellers the chance to see how their wares fair on the high street where customers can see their products in the flesh. There will be a variety of traders from different sectors, with an emphasis on local creators over a six week run.
Business Sheffield will also be running free business workshops including classes on digital training and accountancy.
The concept, which has seen shops open in Manchester Cardiff and Edinburgh too, is the brainchild of the business support network Enterprise Nation and is sponsored by Amazon, the insurer Direct Line for Business and mobile payment firm Square.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “Over the past few years we’ve seen that thousands of small businesses want to start trading on the high street or in shopping centres but there are lots of points of friction which make it harder for them to do that.
“They have to find an empty shop, work out who the landlord is, figure out how to do the legal side of things and then kit out the shop, all of which can stop them taking that leap.
“We’re trying to create a friction free experience for them, so we find the shop, arrange the deal with the landlord and kit it out for them. They just rock up, plug in their product and start selling in a ready furnished place.”
Doug Gurr, Amazon UK’s country manager, said: “Amazon is committed to supporting the growth of small businesses, helping them boost the economy and create jobs across the UK. Small businesses are one of our most important customer groups.”
Traders will pay £150 a week each to cover the cost of business rates and utilities and to commit to stay for at least two weeks, with the line-up of sellers changing over the course of the six weeks.
The full list of sellers has yet to be decided. For more information and to apply for a spot at the new store, visit enterprisenation.com/clicksandmortar.
