Member Article

Sook to bring its pop-up flexible retail space to Liverpool ONE in regional debut

Grosvenor has announced that Sook, the pop-up retail space operator, has signed to take over a unit on Liverpool ONE’s Upper South John Street. Set to open at the start of November, the site will be the brand’s first foray into the North-West and operate for three months. The pop-up will be the third partnership between Sook and Grosvenor following two successful engagements in London.

The versatile 1,250 sq ft space will offer leases ranging from three days to a month, providing a blank canvas for businesses to engage with customers in their own bricks-and-mortar presence, within the heart of the UK’s most sociable city, Liverpool. Fitted out with digital display boards, screens and fixtures, the Liverpool ONE space will be fully customisable to suit individual retailer requirements. Providing businesses with exceptional support, Sook supplies brands with a range of data analytics and digital planning tools, giving tenants information on how best to use the space and operate with optimum efficiency.

Sook Liverpool ONE will provide space for a variety of uses including music, artists, workshops, fitness classes, experiential brand campaigns and traditional retailers. For many of these brands it will be the first time they are taking on a physical space and the Sook model removes the barriers to entry by providing a flexible free full-service experience.

Rob Deacon, Senior Asset Manager at Grosvenor, commented: “Supporting all brands from independents and local businesses to established names in retail has always been a huge part of our strategy at Liverpool ONE and Sook’s unique model allows local brands the opportunity to have a physical presence where they may not have been able to otherwise. Having Sook at Liverpool ONE for the three month period will showcase a refreshing selection of new brands, and we’re looking forward to seeing the success it will bring to our local and independent businesses.”

John Hoyle, CEO and founder of Sook, added: “The shift to the digital world has given life to so many online brands that now want to interact with their customers in a physical space. Whether a brand is dipping its toe in physical retail, or trialing a new concept, at Sook we offer a great degree of flexibility and freedom in terms of leasing, giving businesses of any size the chance to expand and develop. It is brilliant to have partnered with a landlord who shares our ethos, and taking space at Liverpool ONE will allow us to continue our mission of reinvigorating the UK’s retail landscape. We can’t wait to make our North-West debut and bring Sook to the region’s exciting businesses.”

This news follows a number of recent retail announcements at the destination, with M&S opening its show-stopping 70,000 sq ft store on Liverpool ONE’s South John Street, Gravity launching its £10 million, 100,000 sq ft Gravity MAX enhanced active experience concept, and locally-founded activewear retailer Red Run due to open its doors imminently.

Metis and CBRE acted for Liverpool ONE. Sook represented themselves.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nick Thornton .