"It’s with a very heavy heart" - ReeBee Scents announces it will not be remaining in Waterlooville once pop-up stint finishes
The last inhabitant of a council’s pop-up shop has announced they will not be staying on despite hoping to do so.
Marie Peters moved her ReBee Scents, Resins & Gifts business into the Waterlooville pop-up shop in Wellington Way in September. She was the last inhabitant of the Havant Borough scheme which started in December last year to give local businesses a chance to showcase their products and help increase footfall into the town centre.
However, despite hoping to take on the unit after the pop-up shop closes this month, Marie confirmed that she would be leaving when the current lease is up.
She said: “I have loved being here. It has been great doing the candle workshops which have been popular and I will continue to to run them. It has been a good experience, there is a really good group of people and shops here.”
ReeBee Scents was started by Marie just under two years ago, selling wax melts which she makes herself. The pop-up shops stocks these as well as candles, simmering granules (an alternative to wax melts), body products, hoover discs, carpet freshener, and a number of resin products.
Since announcing the decision on Facebook, Marie has received a number of supportive messages with locals sad to see her go.
She said: “Thank you for everyone's support and for the kind messages I have received with people expressing their sadness that I am leaving. I will be carrying on though but in what format I don't know, whether it be mobile or in another shop.”
Marie is now weighing up her next move with the council suggesting a move to Havant as part of the regeneration of the area there, or alternatively she is considering “kitting out a van” and making the business mobile.
Having received indication from the council that they would support her in staying on, she is disappointed to have received word last week that this will no longer be possible. Havant Borough Council have been approached for comment on the issue.
The pop-up shop’s lease is set to end on December 10 but Marie has requested for an extension till the end of the month which has yet to be confirmed.
The post on Facebook announcing that ReeBee would no longer be remaining in Waterlooville said: “It’s with a very heavy heart that I need to let you know that ReeBee Scents won’t be staying in Waterlooville. Despite it being strongly indicated that the council would support me to remain this has not happened.
“Unfortunately the shop is not busy enough for me to remain, I’m gutted, I love it here and you are all amazing. I’m hoping to be able to stay until the end of December, just waiting to hear from the landlord. It’s not the end of ReeBee Scents though, whilst I’m not sure if my next steps just yet, the business will continue.”