By-the-hour retail rental specialist Sook has launched a competition for Cambridgeshire businesses to design their own pop-up store – with the winner having the entire shop at The Grafton for a whole day free of charge.

“We thought it would be great to give local Cambridge independents the opportunity to run their business from Sook for a day,” a Sook spokesperson said.

The online design tool means you can create your own space and define the seating, lighting, wall-mounted screens and in-store furniture for yourself. Lots of retailers and organisations have already set up their own in-store display at the Sook store in Cambridge and in London’s South Molton Street, so if you have a friend or family member who runs their own business, or a favourite shop or independent that you think would benefit from having their own unit in The Grafton, you are invited to nominate them . Self-nominations are also welcome.

Many Cambridge businesses have already made use of the Sook space :

Gallery1

1 / 4

Upcoming clothing brand GULCE at Sook, with Maria Eduarda Goulart Cedro (left) and Hazel Gül. Picture: Keith Heppell

Sook CEO John Hoyle added: “Sook is the accessible interface between the digital and physical customer experience and by selling short units of time rather than space we believe we have created a far more inclusive and sustainable model for the future of physical retail.

“We are looking forward to playing our part in supporting Cambridgeshire local businesses and bringing excitement to The Grafton this autumn.”

Nominations close at 5pm on October 16. A winner chosen at random will be announced on October 19.