At The Guild Dumfries, we aim to provide our growing audience of loyal supporters and visitors to each of our events and projects with a diverse and varied range of makers, creatives, independent businesses, food and beverage producers, with an emphasis on quality, regional and seasonal produce. Over a short space of time, we’ve built a strong reputation in the community as a key platform for emerging business owners to gain exposure and develop a brand presence. Being part of the Retail Collective at Flourish is a great way for you and your business to interact both offline and online with new and existing audiences, gain feedback about your products and services, increase your visibility, gain exposure, learn new skills and we hopefully have some fun being part of a collective of like minded individuals.
To ensure we continue to maintain our reputation, we take care and commitment throughout our entire application process. The Guild Dumfries will review each and every application thoughtfully, and we don't take it lightly. It’s a serious business and a big job! If you’ve never applied to be involved in one of our events or projects before, please don’t be scared! We LOVE to hear from new makers and we are happy to give advice before you make an application. We’re keen to support all of our applicants, both fledgling and the more experienced businesses. We hope we have provided extensive information regarding our application process as well as our selection criteria.
Our selection process for this project is based upon our criteria below, please take the time to read through it and feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions or need further advice. Scroll further down the page and you'll find our Terms & Conditions that includes the finer details and costs etc.
We will send you all the details you need to make payment of rental fees if your application is successful. Please do NOT send payment with your application form. The Guild will receive payment in advance by bank transfer, details of which will be included within your acceptance email. Payment will be required by a date specified in the acceptance email. Your rental is not secure until full payment has been made and copies of all required documents have been received by the deadline. If payment has not been received before the payment deadline stated in your acceptance email, your rented space within the Flourish will be allocated to another business on our waiting list.
Each month, The Guild will make any payments by bank transfer and issue a simple sales summary of items sold minus a 10% commission | service charge. (Transaction fees of 1.75% for any sales made by a credit card will be absorbed by The Guild).
Makers pay a rental fee to take part at Flourish, this will be paid by monthly instalments in advance of each month of your rental period. All sales that are made during the rental period will be yours, minus a 10% commission | service charge. Transaction fees of 1.75% for any sales made by a credit card in the shop will be absorbed by The Guild. We will provide a concession space, display furniture and props within our physical retail space right in the heart of Dumfries town centre. The income generated from the rental fee you pay will contribute towards the costs of renting the premises in a prime site location, to pay for members of staff who'll be working during the trading period of the project which will be no less than 24 months, marketing and promotion of each maker, any packaging at point of sale, a small storage area for additional stock not on the shop floor and any other overheads and running costs. As a social enterprise any additional profits made will be re-invested into developing the types of facilities, projects, events, activities and opportunities our community and town needs.
AS A MEMBER OF THE COLLECTIVE AS WELL AS HAVING PRODUCTS STOCKED IN THE SHOP YOU'LL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THESE ADDITIONAL PERKS....
RENTAL FEE FOR THREE MONTHS | Any 3 months or longer between January & September 2023 - £345 (£115 paid in advance per month)
RENTAL FEE FOR THREE MONTHS | October, November & December 2023 - £450 (£150 paid in advance per month)
The 3 Month Rental Fee is a rolling contract so you can be involved for a longer period. You can terminate contract by giving us 2 calendar Months' notice.
RENTAL FEE FOR ONE MONTH | Any month between January & August 2023 - £150 paid in advance.
RENTAL FEE FOR ONE MONTH | Any month between September & December 2023 - £175 paid in advance .
We are offering an opportunity to rent for a short space of time so that businesses can take their first steps into a retail environment as less investment and stock is required. This also allows us to showcase more makers and rotate the stock we have for sale. This innovative aspect of this project will allow us to change the look and feel of our physical retail space and vary the visual merchandising from month to month, seasonally and themed with other events going on in the town. This gives our customers a fresh shopping experience and an excuse to repeat visit.
We realise that our rental model may not be suitable for all small businesses so there may be other ways you can be involved at Flourish. We're happy to discuss options with you so please get in touch as we want to try our best to support and provide a platform for businesses within our gift shop.
As part of this project we also hope to provide an additional opportunity for successful applicants to be part in our curated online e-commerce shop on our website. We will showcase our collective of makers, creatives and producers taking part for 3 months or more in our online shop that integrates with our in store inventory and EPOS system in our bricks & mortar shop. We hope that we can also provide an online platform for both young fledgling and more established businesses for minimal investment if they do not already have their own website. Makers & Producers are given the option to list up to 15 product listings so that customers can have items delivered directly to their door or click & collect at the retail space. This allows us to give our customers across the U.K and loyal followers an online shopping experience alongside in person if they aren't able to visit us on the high street. They are able to purchase items anytime and shop local from the comfort of their own home. We hope by offering a range of routes to retail , we will be accessible to all makers and shoppers alike.
ADMIN FEE | ONE OFF PAYMENT £20
You will be sent more specific details about stock delivery and collection information if your application is successful to be part of the collective, and when payment and documentation have been received by us. Makers will need to be available to deliver stock a minimum of 1 week before your rental period begins, dates and times agreed in advance by yourself and the team at Flourish.
Stock Delivery can be by post or in person. If you choose the option to post your stock to us, makers will assume all postage costs to/from Flourish.
Makers are not required to work at our shop in Flourish when we are open for business, although we'd love you to volunteer some of your time! Our in house team and volunteers will work at the shop during the entirety of the trading period. Our in house team will design and style the retail space. The positioning of products and merchandising is the decision of Flourish.
When the shop is open for business to the general public, replenishment stock should only be delivered in the morning or late afternoon via the High Street entrance, please note cars and vehicles are only permitted on the High Street at certain times. We may be able to take delivery of stock at other times but this must be arranged by appointment. You will need to provide a paper copy of your stock inventory that is being delivered and provide a delivery note.
Once your rental period comes to an end or you have seasonal products that are no longer available, you will have the opportunity to collect any unsold items by appointment. New stockists will be invited to drop off their items a minimum of a week before their rental period commences to allow time for pricing, adding to inventory and merchandising, the date will be agreed in advance by yourself and the team at Flourish.
While we will work our socks off to promote our collective of makers & producers and sell your work, there are no guarantees that your products will sell at Flourish. Please do not be offended if we have to return unsold stock to you at the end of the trading period. We will of course report back to you on any customer feedback we have gathered about your items and that we feel will be helpful to you. You'll also receive regular sales reports during your rental period.
We request that you provide details of other Dumfries and Galloway based stockists you supply your products to. If you are already selling your products via other retailers in the town, this does not mean you cannot make an application. The Guild does not operate exclusivity contracts, but it is important that we ensure that you are not stocking the our gift shop with exactly the same products as other nearby retailers. We want to make sure that we limit where possible any duplication, so that customers can purchase covetable products they might not find elsewhere in the town. Our aim is to provide additionality to Dumfries town centre, not to detract from it.
The Guild promises to adhere to the pricing you outline in your application and the details you send. We presume in good faith that the pricing used is a consistent one. We hope that you agree that it's in the interests of no one having your products available to buy elsewhere at a different price. If you think you need advice on pricing your work both realistically and effectively, then we can happily help you.
We will be regularly marketing our gift shop & community space on all our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram We will also promote the project on our website, which will include a dedicated directory to showcase the work of each business in the collective. We'll also send regular updates specifically about this project to our mailing list and within our network of organisations, partners and supporters. Each successful applicant to the collective will receive a media kit including branded graphics and templates that we encourage you to use on your social media and website. We will release announcements and information to press and media, publish events on online calendars, do extensive marketing on social media leading up key dates within the year. We also place posters and flyers around the region. During opening times, we aim to create a visual presence around our high street location to attract passing trade.
As part of your involvement in this project we ask that all successful applicants provide us with feedback about your participation and let us know your experience of being involved. You will be required to complete an online evaluation form and submit by a deadline date at the beginning and end of your rental period. Gathering your feedback is crucial, it provides us with a better understanding of what you thought about taking part, what impact its had on you, your business and where we may be able to provide support and training to raise your profiles, upskill and grow your business in the future. It helps us to identify what we did right and where improvements can be made. The feedback also allows us to provide evidence to potential funders, stakeholders and others.
The Guild(Dumfries) C.I.C takes no responsibility for loss or damage to you, your products or belongings during this project. The Guild will not be held liable for any thefts or accidents that may arise during set up, trading hours and breakdown of the Retail Collective. It is your responsibility as a business to have suitable Product & Public Liability Insurance. We will do everything within our power to prevent theft of products and displays, but we cannot guarantee that items will not go missing or get broken. Inventory stock lists will be supplied by each business, we will verify whether the numbers, descriptions, and/or prices match the physical inventory dropped off at the designated times and dates. The team at The Guild will make every effort to prevent any incidents. However, we cannot be held responsible if theft or damage does occur. You will need to provide us with a copy of all insurances if your application is successful and when payment is required.
The rental contract to be part of the collective at Flourish for the 3 month rental period is on a rolling basis with no specific rental length or end date. If you wish to end the contract after taking part for the minimum of 3 months then you are required to inform The Guild and give a TWO FULL CALENDAR MONTHS NOTICE, paying your rent for those months as normal. This time period will allow us to find a replacement business.
The Guild shall be under no liability for delay or failure to provide any services as a result of any act or circumstances beyond reasonable control including and not limited to, Act of God, bad weather conditions, failure to power supply, injury, terrorism, fire, war, lock out or strike.
Flourish is a Non-Profit Community Space + Shop
Flourish, 111 High Street
Managed and curated by social enterprise THE GUILD (DUMFRIES) C.I.C
Registered in Scotland as a Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee Company Number No | SC595249
Registered Address | Solway House, Crichton Business Park, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA
Copyright © 2022 Flourish - All Rights Reserved.