A NEW emporium showcasing products and items made by local residents and small businesses is set to open in Christchurch next month.

Fantastic Things Emporium, owned by Fantastic Things Limited, moved into the former Argos site in Saxon Square on April 26 with the ambition of promoting local talent in the high street.

A former councillor, managing director Mark Battistini, knows the difficulties in small businesses getting onto the high street.

“One of the biggest problems the council faced when I was a councillor, and continues to face, is how they can make the high street work,” he said.

“In recent years we have seen a big decline in footfall on the high street, but with the lifting of Covid restrictions and the push to shop locally, this has slowly been increasing.

“During lockdown, people have started up little pastimes or rediscovered their love of crafts and design and, for some, it was a hobby that they would like to continue with. Some people might want to start up their own business but can’t afford the rent or the business rates.”

Due to a high amount of interest, the company has revealed plans to spread the emporium over two floors with themed rooms located around the site.

Mark said: “The thing with emporiums is that they are usually based outside of the town centre making them difficult to get to. How this project in Christchurch can be beneficial is because it is in the high street, and not out of town

“We want to have a theme running through the store and, to keep up with our name, to make it somewhere fascinating and fantastic. But above all, we want people to enjoy themselves.”

The emporium is due to open its doors in mid-June, with a wide range of craft stalls, artworks and specially designated makers’ section.

Retail manager Sian Hillman said: “So, we just started promoting our store on Wednesday and we have already had a really big response. People already seem very excited about it.

“Because of Covid, we have seen how important it is to support local businesses. We want to give them a space on the high street where they can showcase their creations and products.

“We have all kinds of people get in touch with us, jewellers, people who specialise in upcycling furniture, a lot of crafts people, potters, you name it.”

Fantastic Things Limited still have vacancies at some of their stalls, with pitches designated on a first come first serve basis.

Budding traders do not need to man their stall, as staff at the emporium will oversee them in the trader’s absence.

Sian added: “People have sent in photos of some of their items and it is amazing, the talent that is out there.”

“We want people to get as creative as they like with their space, it is theirs to do what they want with it.

“There should be something for everyone in here. It also gives people the chance to go somewhere different.”

If interested in a pitch, email Sian at shillman@fantastic-things.com