Thursday, October 13, 2011

News: Independent retailers urged to follow Yella Brick Road

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Independent retailer, Yella Brick Road has doubled the size of their store in Rotherham town centre and expanded the range of "wickedly stylish fashion."

In 2009, the store's owner, Dannii Roden, was the first retailer to move into a unit in the refurbished Grade II-listed Imperial Buildings at the top of the High Street.

Two years later, the arcade is thriving with independent retailers including boutiques, a cafe, a deli, an old-fashioned sweet shop and arts space.


Dannii said: "It was hard work establishing the shop but I'm proud to have been the first to have moved in. With the new Minster Gardens just outside, the location is just perfect now.

"The expanded shop means that I can try different things. I had so many ideas but I couldn't fit it all in!"

Dannii was also one of the first retailers to benefit from the innovative grants scheme, funded by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, that is part of a drive to improve the range of shops and reduce the number of empty units in the town. It provides specialist shopkeepers with up to 50% of the rental costs in year one and 25% in year two, but it was the grant towards fit out costs that Dannii says was the most important.

Work was done to knock through into the vacant unit next door and the new "twice the size" store launched at the end of September.

The extra space means that menswear and gift items are now available alongside vintage couture fashion and accessories, as well as some High Street fashion, shoes and hand-made jewellery.

Bernadette Rushton, Retail Investment Manager at Rotherham Council said: "The fact that after less than two years of trading, Yella Brick Road is expanding is testament to the quality and individuality of the products which have proved a hit with Rotherham's shoppers."

Danni hadn't planned to stay in her native Rotherham after returning from living in Thailand, but the grants and support available made the decision to open up in the town a lot easier.

She hopes that more independent retailers will follow her lead, adding: "If you've ever had an idea in the back of your mind about running a shop, just do it. See what you can do or you'll never be happy."

Yella Brick Road website

Images: Yella Brick Road

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