THE first three traders in the newly-opened Pop-Up Shop in Chard hope it proves a successful initiative.

Chard taxi firm founder and local inventor Kevin Wood is one of the first start-ups to take part in the initiative.

The South West Inventors Club member will be selling his three unique products: colourful Wiltshiremade EasyBricks – brick-sized interconnecting blocks that children can use to build large constructions for outdoor play; the ingenious Quick Fix Door Stop which Kevin hopes will help stop the 35,000 children a year who receive injuries through slamming doors; and KeyTag Security – a secure way to retrieve lost keys.

Kevin said: “I’ve always wanted to invent since I was 21 but never had the time. I have now and I want to use my experience and time in the shop to help other inventors take their products to market.

“Taking part in an initiative like PopUp Chard is a great opportunity to raise awareness about what I do and about the work of the South West Inventors Club.”

To find out more about Kevin’s door stop invention visit www.Quickfixdoorstop.co.uk

Kevin will be joined by stationery entrepreneur and former Holyrood Academy pupil Katy Roswell.

Her business, Forget me Knot Creations, produces wedding stationery from hand-made invitations, to order of service to place cards.

Katy, who has a degree in textiles after studying at Yeovil and then Somerset College, set up the business after creating her own stationery for her own wedding in 2010.

She said: “I decided to make my own stationery and people seemed to love it – so much so that I started to get a few orders here and there without even trying. I wasn’t enjoying the job I was in, so I slowly built up my business until I could afford to work on it full-time.

“I’m adding services on bit by bit. I’m really looking forward to my time in the shop, I hope I’ll be able to help people make decisions about stationery and other aspects of their wedding.”

More information is available her website at www.forgetmeknot creations.co.uk

Glamping expert and talented design/maker Meg Whyte is the third local start-up to join the shop.

Her beautiful, sustainable roll-up beds are designed for glamorous camping, the home, the garden and the beach and are made in the UK from British lambswool.

She founded her eco-friendly Cushty Chic last year.

Meg said: “As someone who loves camping, and caving expeditions to remote places, and after years of bad sleep on blow-up beds, I finally decided to start making my own luxury roll-up beds. Keeping the concept sustainable and healthy has inspired the rest of my business plan.

“I’m really looking forward to my time in PopUp Chard.”

More details about Meg’s business can be found at www.facebook.com/CushtyChic