The community interest company, which provides a high street presence to hundreds of small, independent producers, has taken occupancy of the historic Tron Kirk, on the Royal Mile, one of Scotland’s busiest thoroughfares.

It has signed a three-year lease with the Scottish Heritage Buildings Trust, which manages the iconic 17th Century building. From July 1, it will provide a retail space for more than 20 artists, designers, and craftspeople, seven days a week, as well as hosting occasional events and exhibitions.

The Scottish Design Exchange (SDX is expanding its presence with its social enterprise model of bringing original, high quality products made by small, independent producers to the high street. It has generated more than £4 million of income for hundreds of tenants at its stores in George Street, Edinburgh, and Buchanan Galleries, in Glasgow since it was launched in 2015.

Chie executive Lynzi Leroy said she has been inundated with demands from artists to showcase their work on the Royal Mile site. She said: “The Tron Kirk is on one of the UK’s busiest thoroughfares and we are delighted at having the opportunity to use this prize location to showcase the best original Scottish artwork.

“As well as during the busy tourist season, it also benefits from a huge influx of visitors to the city during the annual festivals, concerts and conferences and rugby internationals.

“We think it is important that tourists get to see the high quality of output from independent producers in Scotland and we have had a huge demand from our artists for space in the building.”

The SDX was created to allow fashion designers, artists, textile and jewellery designers, publishers, photographers, and other producers to display their creations to high street customers without having to pay high commission rates demanded by galleries. Tenants pay a fixed fee to rent space, so they’re not penalised for the popularity of their products. 
 
Ms Leroy said only artists who currently sell through the SDX will be considered for a space at the Tron Kirk, with preference given to those who have been with the company the longest.

She added: “We want to have a good mix of different artists and producers – including painters, printers, designers, jewellery makers and ceramicists – to ensure they are not competing with one another.

“They also need to be businesses of a certain size to ensure that they have the capacity to keep up with the level of demand

“I have spoken with the CEO of the Scottish Heritage Buildings Trust (SHBT) about doing other events and allowing to have our artists have their work exhibited in some of the older buildings that they are responsible for.

“It’s a really nice story that we, as a social enterprise, are partnering with a heritage body to showcase the work of some of Scotland’s best and most creative talent.”

Stuart Hood, owner of Hoods Honey, is one of the businesses that will be based at the Tron. His hives of 8 million bees produce more than 170 products that are sold around the world. Wax from his bees have been used to seal every Act passed by the Scottish Parliament since its launch in 1999.

He commented: “We anticipate that having a presence at the new SDX store will be extremely positive for our business. It is located at the epicentre of the Edinburgh tourist trade with some of the country’s highest footfall.”

Dodo Flugge, a German born artist who’s quirky, pop art prints are sold all over the world, said being based at the Tron would give her work a bigger audience.