Displaying items for sale in empty shop windows?

[Lucan Unlordly]

We've been producing gift items, Mugs, Pens, Placemats etc., to help raise funds for a local charity. Most carry images of local landmarks and are well received when seen in the flesh. We've sold out of one or two independent shops but sales dry up as their customer base rarely changes.

I've identified a couple of empty shops in prime locations and am looking to approach the agents to see if they would support the charity and allow us to erect a display of products with links to the website - free of charge!

Before doing so is there anything I should consider that puts a spanner in the works. Would insurance, rates etc., be a potentially negative consideration for the landlord?

 

[Ozzy]

I've identified a couple of empty shops in prime locations and am looking to approach the agents to see if they would support the charity and allow us to erect a display of products with links to the website - free of charge!

Contact the LA first, around Northampton the council here has been allowing small independents to do this in empty locations around our town centre so the place doesn't look so abandoned...in the name of supporting local business.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If the windows are displaying something, generally, for the purpose of business rates, they are being used as showrooms and will attract rates, sadly!

As Ozzy mentioned, speak to the local council/economic development team and see if they can assist/advise.

 

[eteb3]

If the windows are displaying something, generally, for the purpose of business rates, they are being used as showrooms and will attract rates, sadly!

But if the charity is the occupier the rates are discounted by 80% minimum with discretion for council to reduce further

Given the empty shop may be paying rates anyway, a licence from LL to use the window without becoming ratable occupier would also seem to be an option

EDIT: possibly useful

Rateable Occupation - Galina Ward - Landmark Chambers

Landmark Chambers is a leading barristers’ chambers based in London, UK. Our team of experienced barristers provides specialist advice and representation…

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[WaveJumper]

Also many landlords will be paying BR on empty units anyway certainly back in the day we used to let retailers display goods in empty shop windows as this was a lot cheaper than putting fancy vinyl graphics on windows which was not cheap.

High streets you are probably going to need to go through the agents, if you can get into some local shopping centre (and many will have forward facing units onto high street, generally the centre manager will be your first port of call and they normally will hold spare keys for all empty units.

If speaking with council don't forget local office displays or even the local library

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If a charity is in the unit, it is occupied, so rates will be managed one way or another!

 

[eteb3]

Yes. My understanding is the charity is not in the unit at present. But using the window could be cast as ratable occupation by the charity, to the landlord’s and the charity’s benefit.

Alternatively LL remains ratable occupier and no rates apply to the window user (the charity).

on my limited knowledge it would be an edge case*, so Ozzy’s advice to negotiate with LA seems good to me.

(*There would arguably be two occupiers, so question of who is the paramount occupier.)

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Yes. My understanding is the charity is not in the unit at present. But using the window could be cast as ratable occupation by the charity, to the landlord’s and the charity’s benefit.

Alternatively LL remains ratable occupier and no rates apply to the window user (the charity).

It's all sounding far too complicated I'm afraid.

For this to work well we'd need to get up to 20 'windows'.

 

[IanSuth]

It's all sounding far too complicated I'm afraid.

For this to work well we'd need to get up to 20 'windows'.

if you have a towncentre BID ask them - various towns have done events using empty windows usually co-ordinated via the BID (who usually have an inside line or even shared staff with the LA)