What is a pop up store?

    Vacant of Los Angeles, California is the first company to develop the concept of pop-up retail or temporary retail shops. In 1999, company staff wondered whether consumers would line up to purchase limited edition products from niche retailers. Once the products were sold out, usually within a matter of hours, the store would be closed until the owner received more product and would then reopen the store.

Kate Spade pop up store. Penguin Pop-up Shop.

The trend involves "popping up" one day, then disappearing anywhere from one day to several weeks later. These shops, while small and temporary, can build up interest by consumer exposure. Pop-up retail allows a company to create a unique environment that engages their customers and generates a feeling of relevance and interactivity.

H&M Beach Pop-up Store.Hague’s coastal suburb of Scheveningen played host to a two-day H pop-up store full of summer goodies. The retail venture was a collab with Wateraid, dedicated exclusively to the provision of safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people.

Things that I learned about setting up a pop up store: 

- Choosing the right neighbourhood or location with the right business and retailers nearby.

You want to be in a high foot traffic area and easy to access. 

- You need to think about customers. Are you planing to attract new costumers or people who already use your products or service, and you just want to remind them about you.

- Has the area or event hosted pop-ups in the past, and were they a success? 

- Bringing energy into the shop with live music, free drink, some attractions or gifts. 

- It's important for the pop up store to be easy movable and set up for the next opening.

CHANEL pop up shop (if you think about it, carts 

and mall kiosks were the first pop-up shops)