The store owners believe their unique strategy of retail and social cohesion has made them stand out from the crowd

A Peterborough retailer duo have been left feeling “honoured and humbled” after discovering their store has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Dave Poulton and Kez Hayes-Palmer’s brainchild store, UNITY, located at Queensgate Shopping Centre, hasn’t even reached its one year birthday – but it is already making waves among the retail industry.

So much so, UNITY has made the shortlist for Independent Operator of the Year, as part of The Revo’s awards, thanks to the positive impact the store has on Queensgate Shopping Centre and the city.

UNITY is one of three UK finalists to be announced in their category before the award is announced on 4 December.

The Revo’s event, held at London’s Westgate Shopping Centre, celebrates excellence and rewards outstanding people, places and spaces that have demonstrated excellence in the ‘built environment’.

Co-owner, Kez Hayes-Palmer said: “We only opened as a permanent store last November and the Queensgate management team has continued to be so impressed with our performance and our impact on the shopping centre as a whole.”

Since UNITY launched, the store has raised almost £370,000 for small businesses and has seen 25,000 transactions ring through the tills.

But its aspirations to be more than just another conventional retail store is what caught the judges attention.

UNITY also has a keen interest in social justice – offering free crafting for children during the summer holidays and digital upskilling courses for the over 60’s and unemployed.

The store is filled with gifts and products from more than 50 small, local businesses –  ranging from crafters, artists, makers and start-ups – who all have the opportunity to reach a larger audience and grow their businesses.

Revenue from their sales also help UNITY’s sister organisation – Up The Garden Bath – continue their environmental community projects in the city, educating future generations about recycling, sustainability and wildlife preservation.

In March, the team took to Central Park to transform old bathtubs into planters, which were planted up by community and educational groups, and helped Central Park retain its prestigious Green Flag Award.

‘We are so unique’

Kez added: “We believe we are so unique in what we do, we are giving a platform to 50 small local businesses who are based within a 25 mile radius of our city.

“Not only that but UNITY also goes above and beyond to deliver educational community projects and reinvest revenue back into beautifying our wonderful city for years to come.

“It’s this attitude to business which we believe has disrupted the retail industry and has put us on the map for what we do.”

UNITY is gearing up to celebrate its one year anniversary next month and is planning a big, secret announcement as part of Queensgate’s Christmas light event on November 16.

Dave Poulton added: “Being shortlisted for a nationwide award is not only a huge vote of confidence in UNITY but also spurs Kez and I on to keep innovating as business owners.

“12,500 people have accessed our free educational workshops in the last year, which is a really powerful number.

“Whatever happens on the night, we know that what we’ve achieved in just one year is nothing short of phenomenal. We couldn’t have achieved any of this without the amazing products from our cacophony of local businesses, the help of the fantastic shopping centre management at Queensgate and, of course, our backbone, the support from the shoppers of Peterborough.”