"Space available to get started" – the PEP shopping center in Munich-Neuperlach is offering a 50-square-meter retail space at special rates to newcomers and startups with exceptional and innovative ideas. Applications are accepted online until February 2, 2018.
A five-member expert jury will select the winner of deinpepstore.de The application portal has been online since the beginning of January, and the application phase for the first space competition in the 35-year history of the PEP shopping center has begun.
“Through the competition, we hope to attract young, fresh concepts that might otherwise not be the first to come to our center,”
so center manager Axel Haug.
“We support entrepreneurship and sustainably promote brick-and-mortar retail—a great project at the start of the year.”
The winner will receive a one-year lease with special terms to test their concept in retail, as well as comprehensive additional services to facilitate their launch. Anyone looking for a suitable retail space is eligible to apply—whether they're a young company, a small team, or a one-man show—a newcomer, manufacturer, or producer. The important thing is the concept, which aims to conquer the brick-and-mortar retail sector with an exceptional and innovative idea.
Store must be first stop for applicants
The only requirement is: For the applicant, the new store is a Germany-wide premiereThe selection process is overseen by a jury of five industry experts, who will be expanded to include individual guest judges over the course of the selection process.
The jury consists of:
• Marie-Louise Rubner, City of Munich, Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft
• Wolfgang Puff, Bavarian Trade Association, Managing Director
• Angelina Hien, Coreografia Production, Owner
• Niklas Baldauf, THRE, Asset Manager
• Axel Haug, ECE, Center Manager
Three-stage selection process including online voting
The selection process takes place in a three-stage competition. The jury will select a top 10 from all applications received between February 1 and 8. The top 10 finalists will be presented on the website from February 8 to February 26, and the public will be invited to participate in an online vote. Visitors to the website can use the online voting until February 26 to select a wildcard winner, who will advance directly to the final of the top 5 and present live at the Center.
During the Wild Card voting phase, participants will enter a second selection round, in which the top 10 will be asked to develop a business plan demonstrating the sustainable success of their startup idea. Between February 26 and March 2, the jury will evaluate the submitted business plan documents and select a top 10 (including the Wild Card), who will then present their concepts live to the jury and audience at the Center between March 5 and 9. The winner will be announced afterward and will receive an attractive "startup package."
Special conditions in PEP for one year
The price of competition is the opportunity to take a first step into brick-and-mortar retail without major investments and without much lead time. The rental space is available for a whole year at special conditionsThe PEP covers the costs for the entire basic fit-out of the store. This includes neutral flooring, a glass facade, a flexible lighting system, and the installation of electrical connections in individual areas of the store. Only the furnishings and furniture must be provided by the winner. The center owner will also provide a construction cost subsidy of €20,000 and expert consulting with implementation option from Coreografia Production.
“The package is comprehensive, exciting and a great opportunity — and thanks to our good cooperation with media partners Abendzeitung München, Charivari 95.5 and München TV, the appropriate promotion of the new concept is also ensured,”
so Axel Haug.
Further information about the competition and the detailed terms and conditions
