Liverpool’s creativity has been key to the first year success of the city’s REX: The Concept Store, according to the team behind the project.

As the store, which provides a retail opportunity for ‘innovative and talented smaller businesses’ to trade alongside high street chains, celebrates its first anniversary this week, director Matt Bell has insisted Liverpool will always be home for the growing initiative.

Having originally opened REX in October 2014 within the basement of the George Henry Lee Building, before relocating to a unit in the Metquarter earlier this year, Matt says: “We opened Rex because we knew Liverpool had a wealth of talented artists, designers and small businesses with great products but nowhere to sell them. Some make, some curate but all of them share the same passion for giving Liverpool’s shoppers something different and an alternative to the normal high street products.”

Looking to the future of REX, which has sold a range of products including fashion, gifts, greetings cards and art by more than 100 independent retailers in Liverpool so far, he adds: “The store’s home will always be Liverpool as we open new locations next year. This is the most innovative and creative city in the country and that’s why the first store has worked so well.”

A celebratory evening to mark the REX’s first birthday will take place in the Metquarter store from 5.30-8pm tonight (Thursday), with prosecco, discounts and a viewing of autumn/winter collections.

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