Frog and Mouse transformed thanks to swift Retail and Hospitality Grant
"The council support has been brilliant...sometimes you look at grants like this and think, 'that's a great idea but I bet it's ever so hard to get at', but this couldn't have been easier."
A home accessories business in Stratford-upon-Avon is strongly placed to bounce back after lockdown after refitting its shop thanks to support from Warwickshire County Council.
Frog and Mouse in Henley Street, has used a Retail and Hospitality Recovery and Investment Grant from the council to entirely refurbish and rebrand its retail premises and also add an eCommerce facility onto their website.
As with businesses throughout the retail sector, this has been a difficult year for Frog and Mouse with two enforced lockdowns denying them precious footfall. But they will reopen after the current lockdown ready to make up for lost time, in a shop transformed by the grant, says owner John Mackinnon.
"The council support has been brilliant," John said. "Firstly, it was so easy to access which was fantastic. Sometimes you look at grants like this and think, 'that's a great idea but I bet it's ever so hard to get at', but this couldn't have been easier.
"Louisa Smith at the council was so well-organised and methodical. The application was processed within days and that really enabled us to move quickly.
"It has enabled us to transform the shop with all new fixtures and fittings and it looks spectacular. When we opened, four years ago, I brought a lot of stuff from other shops to keep costs down and it looked nice, but, four years on, it needed a refresh.
"It has been an incredibly difficult year, there is no way we could have financed a refit ourselves, so the grant has made all the difference. The shop looks fantastic and we will reopen with a completely new look which will look great for years to come.
"I can't thank the council enough. Their support has really helped us through."
The Retail and Hospitality Recovery and Investment Grants scheme is part of an initial £6 million package of funding earmarked by Warwickshire County Council to support the immediate economic recovery in the county. The rapid release of funding made available grants of between £2,000 and £7,500 to provide long-lasting benefits for the businesses, their local communities and the local economy.
The first round of grants saw 40 businesses supported with funding totalling £215,000. Businesses are now encouraged to consider applying for the second round which will open early in 2021.