A new pop-up has appeared in Manchester ready to solve all your Christmas shopping woes.
The Forever Manchester Gift shop has opened its doors at the Corn Exchange and it’s stuffed full of proper Manc gifts made by some proper Manc artists.
For the second year running, the shop has taken shape in a beautiful glass extension off the historic building, hoping to raise £25,000 for local community activities across the region.
Located right next to the Manchester Christmas Markets, the gift shop sells everything from music-inspired tea towels to Manchester-inspired Christmas cards to socks, coffee, mugs and more.
The main wall is covered with huge framed artwork, including colourful prints, photography and maps.
ADVERTISEMENT
Throughout, there are gifts featuring This is the Place, the Tony Walsh poem that’s become synonymous with Manchester, on coasters, postcards and limited-edition prints by Trevor Johnson.
The Christmas gift shop. Credit: The Manc Group
The Forever Manchester Christmas gift shop opened its doors for the first time last weekend and will remain open until 18 December.
ADVERTISEMENT
All profits go to Forever Manchester, the only charity that supports and funds community activity across the whole of Greater Manchester.
There are also festive Captain Manchester tombola tickets on sale at just £5 online or in store, which gives entrance the chance to win £2000 in time for Christmas.
Inside the Forever Manchester Christmas gift shop. Credit: The Manc Group
It’s the second year that Forever Manchester has located its Christmas Gift shop at the Corn Exchange, who have kindly donated the space to the charity for the five weeks’ duration.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dan Davis, general manager at the Corn Exchange said: “We are really pleased we could offer the space again to Forever Manchester this year. It is a charity that we have supported for a number of years.
“There are some fantastic gift ideas for Christmas and the store really adds to the Corn Exchange’s festive atmosphere.”
Liz Page from Forever Manchester said: “We are excited to open our doors again at the Corn Exchange this year in the lead up to Christmas. We would like to thank the team for their ongoing support. It truly is a fantastic historic location in the heart of the city.
“Last year was great and this year we envisage even more customers as restrictions are no more and we can meet up with family and friends. We are looking to raise £25k to go towards community activities across our city.
“There is literally something for everyone who loves Manchester in our store. If you can’t decide on what to go for, why not buy your friends or family members a Captain Manchester’s festive Magical Tombola ticket at just £5 – if they win £2000 – you will be popular this Christmas!”
ADVERTISEMENT
Forever Manchester’s Christmas pop-up shop at the Corn Exchange is open Monday to Saturday, 10 to 6pm, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Shopping
Space NK to give away hundreds of free goody bags at opening of new Trafford Centre store
Emily Sergeant
Space NK is set to open its new store in the Trafford Centre this weekend, and hundreds of shoppers are expected to turn out.
As the leading beauty retailer – which also recently just opened a swanky new store in Manchester Arndale – prepares to welcome cosmetics fans through the doors of its newest Greater Manchester home this weekend, customers are being told they’re in for a real treat, as the brand has now confirmed some exciting launch day plans.
The first 300 people to visit the new Trafford Centre store on Saturday (21 September) when it opens at 10am will receive an exclusive Space NK goody bag filled with items from some of the world’s best beauty brands.
Not only that, but the first 200 shoppers to spend £150 in store will also receive a goody bag that’s worth an incredible £300.
Known and loved by millions of shoppers all across the country for offering a wide range of products, including skincare, cosmetics, and even beauty ‘gadgets’ too, Space NK stocks more than 130 world-renowned brands.
Drunk Elephant, Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, and Diptyque are just some of the big names the retailer is known to stock, alongside a whole host of exclusive products.
The new Trafford Centre store will feature 18 makeup ‘gondolas’, more than 300 shelves of the most in-demand brands, and dedicated areas for customers to try products at their leisure.
Space NK is opening a new store in the Trafford Centre this weekend / Credit: Space NK (via Facebook)
To make sure no launch-day customer walks away empty handed, Space NK branded tote bags will be handed out to Trafford Centre shoppers, alongside a selection of different beauty samples for anyone joining the queue.
Across the opening weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, any customer who makes a purchase in-store will also get the chance to play the ‘Spin to Win’ wheel game, and there’s loads of amazing prizes set to be won – including a much-coveted Space NK advent calendar, just in time for the festive season.
DJs will be blasting tunes to entertain shoppers all weekend long, and there’ll also be an exclusive set from TikTok sensation, the Altego twins, as well as complementary croissants and cookies for the first customers in the queue.
Space NK will be located on Lower Peel Avenue in the Trafford Centre, and it officially opens for business from 10am on Saturday 21 September.
Featured Image – Supplied
Shopping
Manchester City recreate Definitely Maybe album cover for launch of limited edition Oasis themed kit
Danny Jones
Football season is back underway and although clubs have already released their shirts for this season, the news of the Oasis reunion was simply too big for their club Manchester City not to mark the occasion with a long-awaited limited edition kit.
Man City already have three official match jerseys that they’ll be donning through the domestic season and in Europe, but given that the Burnage boys are back, both Noel and Liam Gallagher are massive Blues and it’s been 30 years since their debut album Definitely Maybe, they had to do something special.
We’d heard rumours of a potential kit collaboration between Noel and City for some time now, with reports dating back a couple of years now but it looks as though, much like the band’s comeback after 15 years, the stars have finally aligned and fans can now grab a sensational collector’s item.
Behold, we give you the limited edition ‘Definitely City’ fourth shirt:
30 years since Definitely Maybe, it’s Definitely City 🤘🩵 Introducing the 24/25 @pumafootball x @ManCity Definitely City Kit by Noel Gallagher
We’d seen several glimpses of the full collection over the past few weeks, with the jersey itself having been leaked multiple times and snaps of the older Gallagher brother in the trademark sky blue overshirt being used as a teaser most recently, but now it’s officially available to the public.
Co-designed by the legendary songwriter and guitarist himself (there seems to be no suggestion of Liam’s involvement at any point in the process), the kit itself is a striking combo of salmon pink into gradients of pale blue and off-white – certainly one to remember.
If you’re a fan of bold colourways like with the retro 1999-inspired third kit for this season, then this Oasis-themed fourth kit is probably right up your street too. It also features the already debuted cup printing with Noel’s own handwriting for the font.
The club and manufacturers Puma have also released a track jacket, bomber jacket, bucket and baseball caps, as well as a retro top that’s giving very 90s pre-match jersey/goalkeeper kit; a new polo shirt, a high neck drill top, limited edition ball, as well as a simple dark ‘Definitely City’ tee.
You can see samples down below and view the full collection HERE.
The new Oasis x City fourth kit is flanked by a whole roster of club fashion. (Credit: Manchester City/Puma)
We’ve already seen the success that nostalgic football and music collabs have produced with the likes of The Stone Roses x Manchester United collection released earlier this year, but it doesn’t get much bigger than one of the greatest rock bands of all-time and the best team in the land joining forces.
What do you make of the crossover then and, more importantly, if you’re a Man City fan, is it the fourth shirt or another part of the Definitely City collection that most takes your fancy?
To be honest, whether you’re a Blue or not, you can’t deny recreating that iconic album cover might be one of the coolest ways we’ve seen a kit reveal in years.
Daisy Jackson -
18th November 2022 
