Our misson
To co-design heritage-inspired solutions to climate change that build health and wealth in our community.
POP is an acronym for the People Of Place
The POP shop is managed by a Community Interest Company (or CIC), called POP shop enterprises CIC. The shop and company were established in 2022 in response to locally focused Action Research that explored the lived experience of people working from home and around care responsibilities, whilst setting up and running small and social enterprises in Dunoon and wider Cowal.
How it all started
The research was conducted over a series of meet-ups, workshops and social events facilitated by local designer Hannah Clinch of Tacit Tacit and Dunoon Community Development Trust.
What we found out
The research identified that people working from home, freelance and around caring responsibilities were underserved and underseen at a local level.
Research participants reported high levels of social and professional isolation, that could lead to poor mental health and a lack of career progression, particularly for women.
Although conventional enterprise support was available in Dunoon and Cowal, people did not always have the confidence to connect with funding opportunities. In addition, people working flexibly and around care did not always meet the criteria for business funding, because part-time work arrangements led to lower levels of business growth.
These factors led to a lack of investment coming into the area to support businesses, particularly female led businesses.
What we are doing about it
Today POP shop enterprises CIC continues to work in partnership with Dunoon Community Development Trust to fund and host co-work meetups. We also develop projects, linked to the regeneration of Dunoon that create employment opportunities for local freelance workers working in the cultural heritage sector.
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We are committed to Community Wealth Building and a Netzero agenda, and embed these principles into the way we operate and deliver these services.
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Where we can, we access funding and develop partnerships to enhance enterprise support at a local level, particularly for women.
The POP shop provides a vital space for these activities and a shop front for people who work from home.
People make business happen, and small, local businesses and social enterprises can have a hugely positive impact on their community.
We encourage value-led entrepreneurship, because we believe you can do business that’s good for our community, the planet and our economy.
POP is shaking things up
POP cares
We care about people and the planet.
All profits from desk hire and our services go back into projects that create local employment and engage people with sustainable development.
Shop team
Hannah Clinch
POP shop co-fouder
Designer social innovation and enterprise
Lynne Maclagan
Gardener, communications and POP community management
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Mike Blanco
Technical support, photography and film
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Board
Manda Newton
POP shop co-fouder
and archeologist
Eilish McArthur
UX designer
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Sarah Kidman
Financial management
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