Custard Factory
This afternoon we had an interesting talk by David Peebles, Sales Manager, The Custard Factory in Digbeth.
The Custard Factory is an independent retail, digital business and alternative culture district five minutes from the Bullring. He talked about the retail environment in Birmingham and how the Digbeth area has changed since they set up shop about 25 years ago. He also mentioned an idea of opening up the railway arches to house shops which would link Digbeth with the Bullring - great idea - would it ever happen?
The Custard Factory court businesses that might lure consumers away from the main shopping area in Birmingham but they also house businesses that cannot afford London prices or get the staff to commute or live in and around London e.g. Asos finance is based on site.
I pass the Custard Factory on my daily commute, you can see it from the train window. It does look fascinating, trendy, hip, cool etc etc. You can also see how this area would attract the alternative business and become an area that people will want to hang out in with its craft beer and micro brewery, independent coffee shop and motorbike manufacturer.
It would make a great studio space and surface pattern designer Abigail Borg has a studio there. Would a student space work well there? Or a permanent etsy style shop with independent traders taking up a smaller space within a bigger one? Food for thought and a few years down the line for me.
The definite upside to having a shop front there would be the other businesses that would be your neighbours. Great to pop in and see the graphic designer for help with your logo or the website designer round the corner. Who knows you could design wallpaper for their offices. Food for thought.
The Custard Factory is an independent retail, digital business and alternative culture district five minutes from the Bullring. He talked about the retail environment in Birmingham and how the Digbeth area has changed since they set up shop about 25 years ago. He also mentioned an idea of opening up the railway arches to house shops which would link Digbeth with the Bullring - great idea - would it ever happen?
The Custard Factory court businesses that might lure consumers away from the main shopping area in Birmingham but they also house businesses that cannot afford London prices or get the staff to commute or live in and around London e.g. Asos finance is based on site.
I pass the Custard Factory on my daily commute, you can see it from the train window. It does look fascinating, trendy, hip, cool etc etc. You can also see how this area would attract the alternative business and become an area that people will want to hang out in with its craft beer and micro brewery, independent coffee shop and motorbike manufacturer.
It would make a great studio space and surface pattern designer Abigail Borg has a studio there. Would a student space work well there? Or a permanent etsy style shop with independent traders taking up a smaller space within a bigger one? Food for thought and a few years down the line for me.
The definite upside to having a shop front there would be the other businesses that would be your neighbours. Great to pop in and see the graphic designer for help with your logo or the website designer round the corner. Who knows you could design wallpaper for their offices. Food for thought.
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