The British high street may have faced huge challenges in recent years, but Mary Portas is more passionate about retail than ever. “This is such an exciting time, because we’re rebuilding,” says the consultant and broadcaster. “There’s so much talent, innovation and creativity in this country – we just have to support it.”
Portas earned the title “queen of shops” after transforming the fortunes of the luxury London department store Harvey Nichols in the 1990s and has since worked with too many big-name brands to count, from Louis Vuitton to Sainsbury’s, at her consultancy, Portas. Now, she’s channelling her decades of expertise into a mission to rethink the way we shop, by championing the small, independent businesses that, she says, “create the much-needed vibrancy and fresh thinking that our high streets and economy desperately need”.
In partnership with Mastercard and Worldpay, Portas has curated this year’s Thrive Street Retail Market: pop-up retail events taking place in October at Altogether Otherwise, a creative hub in Manchester’s NOMA quarter, and the Truman Brewery, an event space in Brick Lane, Shoreditch, east London; each featuring 15 community-minded businesses hand-picked by Portas.
By day, across two long weekends, the markets will be unmissable shopping destinations showcasing products with “purpose, character and innovation”, from eyewear to pre-loved fashion, homeware and jewellery. “It will be a mix of fantastic products and ideas you wouldn’t normally see together,” says Portas.
The markets will moonlight as hubs of inspiration, with business masterclasses, expert panels and networking events open to all local entrepreneurs and retailers. “It will be a great chance for local businesses to connect with one another, compare notes and learn from each other,” she says.
It’s Portas’s fourth year of involvement in the initiative, which she views as a vital opportunity to show shoppers and policymakers alike, a different, more enticing vision of how our high streets could look.
Round Retail (top) is one of Portas’ picks – the platform resells pre-loved fashion, splitting the proceeds between itself, the donor, and a charity
“The high street as it used to be, with all those big brand names, is never coming back in the same way,” she says. “That era’s gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead – far from it. The post-Covid re-evaluation of how we want to live and work has created a need and desire for more resources on our doorstep. We’re also placing greater value on businesses that demonstrate they care – they respect our planet and our communities. All of which has created exciting opportunities for smaller brands with brilliant new ideas.
“Small and growing businesses are the beating heart of our economy and the soul of our communities,” Portas says. “They bring creativity, culture, and character to our high streets – and they need more than applause; they need real support. That’s why we created Thrive Street 2025 together with Mastercard and Worldpay. A space where brilliant independent brands can come together, be seen, be supported, and show the world what the future of business truly looks like.”
Portas has long been a fan of markets, seeing them as a key way for town centres to “reclaim their soul”. Not only do markets give businesses a relatively low-cost opportunity to try selling their products in a physical space, but they bring people together. “People want that human connection, which we all value more now that we’ve seen what happens when we lose it,” she says.
Every detail of both Thrive Street venues is being painstakingly planned by Mastercard, Worldpay, Portas and her team to ensure visiting is “a wonderful sensory experience”, she says. “That’s so important; shopping should be a fabulous, social way to pass the time.” She points to her stint at Harvey Nichols as an example of the success that can come when shopping destinations put a sense of community at their heart. “We turned it into a place where people wanted to hang out with their friends,” she says.
Digital shopping is great for some things “but when I want to buy a great bottle of wine, or fashion, or something lovely for my house, I want to go to a physical shop, where I can spend time browsing”, she says.
“It’s about discovery; you don’t necessarily know what you’re coming to buy, but then you find something unexpected that you love. That sense of lightness and joy I’ve felt during my best retail experiences is what I want to bring to Thrive Street.
Soaked in Manchester sells umbrellas that are built to last – and made from recycled plastics
“We’re thinking about everything from the music playing to the beautiful wood finish of the design and, of course, great service. I want customers to think, ‘I want this on my doorstep.’”
Portas was deluged with entries from brands hoping to be chosen to take part. As well as earning a spot in one of the markets, the 30 that made the overall cut will attend expert workshops from Portas, Mastercard and Worldpay, plus receive guidance and tools to support them.
“We were looking for forward thinkers who are solving problems or reimagining a product or service in a way that’s unique,” she says. “We were also looking for people with ambition and hunger for their business to thrive, and businesses which are contributing to the wellbeing of their community or the environment.”
One stand-out for Portas is Round Retail, a resale platform that takes pre-loved fashion from individuals and responsible brands, resells it and splits the proceeds between itself, the person who donated it and a charitable cause. “It’s a gorgeous idea,” says Portas.
Another is Soaked, a Manchester-based umbrella company started after the founders came across a suggestion that 1bn broken umbrellas are discarded globally every year, potentially ending up in landfill. “Soaked’s umbrellas are consciously designed to last and created from fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, which really impressed us,” says Portas.
She can’t wait for the Thrive Street markets to open, to “show the world the creativity, culture and character these brands can bring to our high streets”, she says. “And hopefully, customers will leave excited about supporting the independent businesses in their own local areas, too.”
Thrive Street 2025 will be in Manchester from Fri-Sun, 17-19 October, and in London the following weekend, 24-26 October. Find out everything you need to know
