Duck Pods launched in Sudbury to offer flexible rental spaces for small businesses to operate

Entrepreneur Sarah Underhay has launched a new venture in Sudbury which gives small businesses an opportunity to showcase their wares without having to lease expensive premises.

Sarah ran Duck in Boots in King Street until her lease expired and she began looking for new premises in the town. After 18 months away from the town centre, she has just opened her new shop in Gaol Lane.

But having spent time working as a mobile business during lockdown – and seeing the devastating effect the lockdown has had on high streets and retailers up and down the country – she came up with an idea to create two ‘pods’ to hire out to businesses.

For those small businesses unable to commit to an expensive shop lease – and organisations who just want to rent them for exhibition or meeting place – the pods represent a flexible space solution she says.

The pods – called Duck Pods – are situated at the front of her new premises in Gaol Lane.

Sarah said she was initially going to lease the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop in Old Market Place, but that fell through.

“Because times are so uncertain at the moment, we had to reinvent our plans and there is a need for flexibility in retail space,” she said. People can hire them for a day, a week or monthly.

“Leasing premises are so expensive these days but with the pods, small businesses and artists or crafters can hire them on a very flexible basis for a pop-up shop or display.”

She added: “We are really excited to be returning to the town centre after over a year of setbacks getting into larger premises.

“Although we have had to amend our plans, we think this newly-renovated site will offer a fantastic opportunity for the town as a whole because a diverse range of businesses can come into the centre of town.”

Sarah’s new shop will feature locally-made gifts, artwork and crafts, supporting the work of independent businesses.

She previously ran a diverse and varied selection of craft classes, from glass painting to Italian cookery and cake artistry, which had to be suspended because of the coronavirus restrictions.

But she hopes to re-start the courses in future from her pods, which are fitted with lighting and heating and are wheelchair friendly.

Pod information packs can be obtained by emailing theduckpod@gmail.com.