Shopjacket, which was set up less than two years ago by property consultant Paul Murphy and designer Jo Atkinson, is aiming to gain a foothold in the US market with its bespoke printed panels, which make empty buildings appear to be thriving shops.

Paul Murphy, who has just completed the eigth Shopjacket in Dutch capital Amsterdam and is in negotiations with potential clients in Sweden and Germany, says the concept is about more than simply masking the problem.

"We've had interest from the West Coast of America so I thought, why not look at companies that have franchises? So why not a Shopjacket for that - it's a supplementary message: there is a franchise available here. That might just be the 'in'". (From The Journal)

Tyneside-based Shopjacket has built up an international profile since it opened 18 months ago and has shipped some of its three-dimensional store fronts to Holland as it wins more business overseas. (From The Journal)

Fake shops, bogus businesses and shoptical illusions - Shopjackets have numerous nicknames in the media, but they are in actual fact helping to put business back into the nation's empty shops.  

Shopjackets burst onto our shop fronts in the midst of the recession, and the concept was first coined by property consultant Paul Murphy. Paul explains how he got involved. "North Tyneside Council contacted me about 18 months ago because they were having problems with their town centres, and they were facing large amounts of vacant shops.

"At first they didn't want an individual to start the project, but as soon as they heard how my policies could help the shopping districts they started to listen more. My changes included better staff training and more attractive shop fronts so they could actually compete with Tesco and internet stores. My ideas were different from others and it started a real buzz going."

One in five shops in North Harrow is vacant, a statistic the council hopes that the optical illusion will address.

The former dog grooming parlour is set to be emblazoned with the slogan "This retail space could be yours.." on weatherproof aluminium. (From Financial Times)

This week it was announced that Mary Portas, the British TV retail guru, is to carry out a government-backed review aimed at halting the decline of the high street. Announcing the appointment, David Cameron prime minister, said: "The high street should be at the very heart of every community, bringing people together, providing essential services and creating jobs and investment; so it is vital that we do all that we can to ensure that they thrive." 

Medway council, which commissioned a virtual tea shop in Kent, says it has received expressions of interest from a number of retailers wanting to occupy the space. 

Paul Murphy, a chartered surveyor and co-founder of Shopjacket, which installs fake shop fronts, has spent two days with a US company looking to roll out the idea there. He believes the shop fronts, which cost from £1,700 and are made from foam board, vinyl or aluminium, "show customers they are not alone and someone recognises there is a problem". He adds: "We always get a rough ride from traders initially. But, at the very least, it attracts publicity."

Neil Wilson, a co-founder of Shopjacket who oversees design, says the shop wrappers have stimulated interest from the private as well as the public sector. Shopjacket is working with BMW on a fake showroom front.