Update on Dr Sturdy true intentions!

Dr Sturdy released a statement that actually reveals his true intentions. He wants the Emporium to himself. He wants to kick out Malt House Emporium and set up his own. He has today started to call the existing traders to ask them to stay with him. Statement from leaseholder Daniel Sturdy 02/08/17 Background When we took on the lease for the Malthouse in October 2014 we had a vision which we shared with the owners of revitalising a superb but tired building which strongly exemplifies Stroud’s industrial and manufacturing heritage. Our plan was to develop a ground-breaking concept combining the latest in technological advances with the traditional artisan skills that once drove the local economy. The vision was for a Makespace in the basement where entrepreneurs, inventors and designers, young and old, could use the latest technology to develop rapid prototypes for new exciting products and services. The Maker space movement is very large in the USA and there are some notable examples in the UK, such as Cambridge and London. Our twist on the idea was to combine the Makespace with retail space, so that the product developers can receive instant feedback on their designs, social space to encourage collaborative discussions, and some business incubation space for the developers who wanted to take their products and ideas to the next stage. That was the vision then and now. We did not have the capital required to develop the whole space in one go and so we entered into an agreement with Truly Unique Emporium to sublet the ground floor and first floor to a diverse group of antique dealers. In order to preserve the possibility of us being able to fulfil the original vision, and in line with normal business practice, the lease contained a break clause with Truly Unique Emporium Ltd which we could exercise if we felt that we were able to proceed with the bigger project. Current Situation Having submitted our bid with GFirst LEP for a Growth Hub for the Stroud area and to develop the currently empty basement to create this 'Make Space' it was necessary to address the integration of the three businesses to support our future plans. Over the last few months we have had discussions with many potential partners who have been excited by the vision of Stroud having an innovative and dynamic artisan producer / retail space. These discussions were sufficiently encouraging that we began to consider the possibility of revisiting the original project. But it wasn’t until we heard that Truly Unique Emporium was in the process of securing new premises in Tewkesbury, that we took the difficult decision at the end of May to exercise the break clause. It seemed a reasonable assumption that they would be offering enlarged spaces to some of the Malthouse dealers once she had secured her new premises. In addition we recognised that her own interests lay increasingly in importing mass-produced rather than the artisan-produced, bespoke items which we had hoped for. Unfortunately, after further discussions it became apparent that we were not able to secure the flexibility required to evolve the Emporium model into a space that would complement the other businesses in the building. We are pleased to announce that from the 1st of November we will be launching a new enterprise. It will offer space to around 75 small businesses, both dealers and artisans, in a supportive and collaborative environment, working closely with the ‘MakeSpace’. The 'Makers Yard' space will provide new makers with an introduction to a retail environment and an opportunity to learn from experienced designers, artists and restorers, who either work in the ‘MakeSpace’, or rent space as a dealer or maker in the shop. It will also offer a chance for customers to ‘Meet the Makers’ to buy and commission work. The shop will continue to offer a diverse selection of products from new and experienced makers and dealers including furniture and interiors presented in a spacious environment. Anyone - including existing dealers - wishing to be involved should contact: newshopstroud@yahoo.com The retail space will continue to support a significant number of small businesses and we believe the owner of the existing Emporium has acquired another site in the county and we wish her all the best for the future. Our focus is the next stage of development at the Malthouse, following significant investment to the Bar and Kitchen, to make the whole site an attractive and dynamic destination for shoppers, traders, makers and diners. Summary There is no intention to ask the current dealers to leave and the new management welcomes approaches from the existing dealers. We want the building to become once again a proud and vibrant source of locally produced manufacturing, whether that is furniture, toys, decorative items, tools, or edible items, both new and old. We want the building to celebrate the local, the artisanal, the skilled production. Too much of our economy and culture is based around cheap imports from China - we want to provide an alternative that generates national interest, creates local jobs, and nurtures local talent and creativity.