Elgin’s St Giles – Departing Business Honors Shopping Centre Staff
A business leaving St Giles has expressed gratitude to the shopping centre’s staff for their support during its brief stay
Elgin, Scotland, St Giles, Box Brand, Custom Clothing
Elgin: A business that’s packing up from St Giles has shared some heartfelt thanks to the staff there. Lee and Grant Midlane took a three-month lease on a small unit back in October.
They ran Box Brand, which focuses on custom-made clothing and unique gifts. The couple wanted to test their business idea while their other venture, IT Central, was getting a facelift.
Lee mentioned that their lease was set to end on January 17, but they were shocked to hear about the centre’s closure. It was a real bummer, especially since the staff had been so supportive.
He said, “At other places, you might just get a key and be left to figure things out. But not here. The security and management really helped us out.”
They enjoyed their time at St Giles, noting that they had way more customer inquiries than they would have online. Meeting customers face-to-face made it easier to understand their needs.
On January 8, all businesses were told they had to vacate by January 20, leaving many in a tough spot. Looking ahead, Lee thinks more local support is needed for businesses transitioning from online to physical spaces.
She pointed out that there aren’t many small units available with flexible leases. It would be great if people could try out a space for a short time before committing to something bigger.
“That way, they could gradually build up their business,” she added. It’s all about giving folks a chance to grow.