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Shop where items are made from recycled parachutes pops up at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

So good to see this brand back at Cheshire Oaks after a great pop-up last year.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th July 2023

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet has today welcomed a much-loved local business, Be+Positive (BEPO), who have opened a new pop-up shop.

The brand, which makes a lot of its items from recycled materials including parachutes, had a hugely successful stint at the shopping centre back in 2022.

Be+Positive (BEPO) is a sustainable, low carbon footprint clothing brand with a mission to destigmatize mental health

And now that it’s back, it’s brought along some brilliant Cheshire-based creators, who can show off their start-ups.

BEPO is sharing space with The Oh Design Foundation, which supports creative enterprises and its growing collective of sustainable, purpose driven and talented designers, makers and artists. 

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The pop-up at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet promises to be positivity-focused, with the chance to meet talented creators.

Inside Be+Positive (BEPO) at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. Credit: Supplied
Inside Be+Positive (BEPO) at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. Credit: Supplied
Inside Be+Positive (BEPO) at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. Credit: Supplied
Inside Be+Positive (BEPO) at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. Credit: Supplied
Inside Be+Positive (BEPO) at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. Credit: Supplied
Inside Be+Positive (BEPO) at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. Credit: Supplied

Brands from the Oh Design Foundation at the BEPO pop-up

  • Designer Oscar Munro, whose work includes a capsule collection of denim trousers, jacket coats and travel bags.
  • Mother-daughter duo TDS, who specialise in creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories using locally sourced fabrics and dead-stock materials.
  • Award-winning fashion designer Lili Sipeki, whose work focuses on creating unique apparel through reconstruction and re-purposing of waste denim and dead-stock fabrics.
  • The Felt Mistress, a local stitcher who creates a range of oine-off bespoke creatures with her partner, illustrator Jonathan Edwards.
  • Critically acclaimed illustrator, comic artist and toy designer Jonathan Edwards, whose artwork has also graced the covers of records by artists such as The Black Eyed Peas and The Jungle Brothers.
  • Industrial designer Alfie Munro, whose work focuses on biophilic design, helping individuals reconnect with the natural world.
  • Cheshire-based design studio Forest and Clay, which specialises in handcrafted luxury furniture, pottery and homewares. 
  • Woodspring Co., known for their soy wax candles using essential oils and fragrance oils that come in biodegradable and recyclable packaging. 

The pop-up space at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will also host members of the inclusive boxing community with special educational needs. The Wirral Boxing Club will be making an appearance on Sundays, when Jay Montessori and the Inclusive Hub’s coaches will host their regular Sunday Sessions, catering to participants of all abilities.   

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The artisans showcasing their crafts alongside BEPO will be at the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet from 29 July until 10 September.

Kenny Murray, general manager at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, said: “We always consider our guests’ feedback whenever we review new pop-ups at the Centre, and BEPO stands out as one of our visitors’ favourite local brands to support, receiving glowing reviews after each activation at the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.

“We have always stood behind the brand’s mission to encourage our guests to prioritise their mental wellbeing, which is why we are thrilled to announce the return of BEPO this summer.

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“We encourage all our Centre visitors to feel empowered to open up about their wellbeing and seek those resources that could help with their situation.”

Ben Taylor, co-founder of BEPO and NHS Maintenance Support worker, said: “Each pop-up at the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet is a fantastic opportunity for us to interact with Centre guests and champion the causes we believe in.

“This year, we’re very excited to bring along some incredible handcrafted products created by local artists and makers who are aligned with the BEPO mission. Whether looking for a statement t-shirt or a handmade Mac, the pop-up will be sure to have something on offer for everyone, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to return to the Centre.”

Featured image: Supplied

Shopping

Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Sensory Support Boxes

Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ for autistic and neurodiverse customers shopping in its stores across the UK.

Supermarket shopping isn’t always the most pleasant or manageable of experiences for everyone, especially for those who are autistic or neurodivergent – with bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells, and crowds of people making it a rather overwhelming and overstimulating atmosphere.

This is why Morrisons has decided to collaborate with the National Autistic Society to introduce dedicated ‘Sensory Support Boxes’ at its stores nationwide, as a way to both mark World Autism Acceptance Month, and help autistic and neurodivergent customers have the positive shopping experience they deserve.

These boxes have been carefully-developed in consultation with the National Autistic Society to ensure they include the most helpful items.

A range of toys like fidget balls, spinners, and squish mats can all be found inside the boxes – which will be eventually be available in all 500 Morrisons supermarkets by May – to help encourage calmness and focus.

All that customers wishing to access the items need to do is simply speak to a colleague at the customer service kiosk of their local Morrisons store.

More than one in 100 people are autistic, and there are 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.

Sensory Support Boxes
Sensory Support Boxes
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers / Credit: Morrisons

Speaking on the decision to introduce the Sensory Support Boxes into UK stores, Joseph Clark-Bland, who is the Community Manager at Morrisons, said: “It’s a priority for us to ensure all Morrisons customers feel welcomed and understood.

“We’re proud to be leading the way in creating a more inclusive shopping environment for autistic people, their families and all neurodivergent people across the UK.

“World Autism Acceptance Month has been a key moment for Morrisons for many years, and we look forward to supporting even more customers via our new Sensory Boxes.”

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The introduction of the Sensory Support Boxes comes after Morrisons first trialled a ‘Quieter Hour’ in some of its stores back in 2018, before rolling it out nationwide in 2024 due to its success and positive feedback.

Featured Image – Morrisons

Shopping

You can now get a Pot Noodle as part of your Tesco meal deal

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pot Noodle on Tesco meal deal snack

If you ask us, a big key to a happy life is all about celebrating the little wins as much as possible and in this case, when we heard that you can now get a Pot Noodle as part of your Tesco meal deal, we nearly did a cartwheel.

Are we exaggerating? Only a little bit, to be fair. Is this still kind of a big deal (pardon the pun) for the millions of Brits whose lunchtime meal regularly consists of a Tesco butty, beverage and perhaps some crisps? We think so.

We only heard the joyous news through word of mouth, but it looks as though the rumours are true after being not-so-quietly confirmed via the official Pot Noodle social media channels last week, revealing that you can indeed get your flavour of choice as part of your meal deal.

And no, we don’t mean as your main…

That really is the headline here, let’s be honest; the fact that you can now get a Pot Noodle – something many people have for their tea or a more than satisfying late-night snack – as the bonus side along with your main item at Tesco it an absolute result.

With meal deal prices having steadily crept up across the nation over recent years, no matter which supermarket, Tesco Extra, Asda Express, Sainsbury’s Local, convenience store and so on you seem to look in, getting an extra bit of value for money like is a big win for those on a quick dinner dash.

This is just like when we figured out you could get a proper Ginsters sausage roll, Cornish pasty or steak/chicken slice as your snack too. Just as buzzing then as we are now.

The brand also recently revealed what the UK’s most popular meal choices were last year, and some of the selections might surprise you.

Once again, it’s all about enjoying the little things, and put it this way, if we’re overreacting, then so are plenty of others.

The only slight downside is that right now, as you might have spotted in the Instagram post above, this offer has only been rolled out at select Tescos.

As for those in Greater Manchester, there are just two local shops: the Tesco Extra in Walkden in Salford, as well as the Extra on Huddersfield Road in Bolton; the next closest after that is Warrington.

Nevertheless, you would expect that if the popularity of this new deal takes off – Tesco’s lunchtime package being one of the most popular in Britain – it’s likely that they will expand their plans up and down the country at large.

Speaking on the launch in an official press release, Pot Noodle’s senior brand Madeleine Boulton said: “We know our fans are always looking to get the most bang for their buck, so our move into the Tesco Meal Deal as a side is our way of giving customers the ultimate ‘snackisfaction’ and for some, the perfect hack that will ensure their meal deal sees them through the day.”

Can’t lie, we do rather fancy a Bombay Bad Boy now.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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