Start-up Box: short-term store rental

Following in the footsteps of "The Box Vlaanderen", a project by the Belgian business development agency Stebo (www.theboxvlaanderen.be), the project "Die Box" for revitalising inner cities has also been implemented in several municipalities in the District of Zwickau.

The basic idea behind "The Box" is this: an empty shop is set up so that entrepreneurs or founders can move in for short periods and give their business idea a trial run at new locations. Short-term contracts are signed with the users; these are limited to a period of two weeks up to a maximum of three months. For a fixed price, the "Die Box" offer can be used by entrepreneurs and founders. Users are provided with plenty of support during their time "in the box" and can receive advice on request.

The project is aimed at start-ups and interested companies from different sectors. The first box was set up in the town of Limbach-Oberfrohna, followed by boxes in Glauchau, Zwickau, Crimmitschau, Werdau and Hohenstein-Ernstthal. The project has become a real success story.