What is a Pop-up shop?

Engage in-person

Whether you hear short-term space, temporary space, pop-up shop or pop-up store, these terms all describe the same thing.

Introduced in the early 90s in large urban cities, pop-up shops are a great low investment way to make sales, boost brand awareness, and get valuable feedback directly from existing and potential customers.

With a pop-up shop, brands, businesses and individuals can interact in person with customers and make new ones without the added hassle of long-term leases and commitment from traditional commercial rental.

From fashion, food, home, office, health, beauty and fitness to electronics, businesses of all sizes are choosing the low-cost and low-commitment option of using a pop-up shop to sell, promote and produce their products and services or test the waters before making a large investment.

Pop-up shop benefits

As well as other immense benefits, pop-ups only require a fraction of the financial investment of a traditional brick-and-mortar store, which is appealing to startups, emerging and established brands.

With low upfront costs, brands with limited budgets are able to access spaces which would traditionally be beyond reach, to create unique physical experiences. Below are a few other benefits to consider.

Connect with your customers

A majority of consumers want to experience a product in-person before they buy it, even if they’re buying online. Connecting directly with consumers through a pop-up shop is an excellent way to create an immersive experience and build loyal, engaged customers.

Test new products and markets

A pop-up shop can help you test different products, pricing and ideas in new areas or regions, and gain traction in existing ones. You also get direct feedback from customers and word-of-mouth marketing in an area where you know your target demographic resides.

Create buzz and awareness

Promoting new products or services, starting major campaigns or simply looking to increase brand awareness? A pop-up shop with a definite end date encourages customers to visit so they don’t miss out. This creates urgency and the desire to purchase your limited products.

Drive seasonal sales

Peak sales periods like Easter, Christmas and Black Friday are great times to open a pop-up. Tapping into the holiday excitement can help to drive customer retention after the holiday season. Frequent seasonal pop-ups will also build a sense of anticipation among your loyal customers.

Test offline sales

With low upfront investment, pop-ups are great as a testing ground. A successful pop-up can indicate that you could do well in a physical space. You could also use your pop-up shop to sell old or seasonal stock and invest the money elsewhere in your business.

Can I start a pop-up shop?

Absolutely. Anyone can find short-term space to bring their ideas to life. Startups, emerging and big established brands have all tested out the pop-up concept and become popular in the pop-up scene.

From fashion houses, artists, food processing and vending brands to importers many businesses have experienced the power of engaging physically with customers through a short-term space.

Where do I find short-term space?

You can find the perfect short-term space right here. Thanks to Popup Now, you can find space or list your space in under 5 minutes. Read more about the benefits of finding space or listing your space with us.

From retail and wholesale spaces, malls, pop-up kiosks, warehouses and commercial kitchens to food processing factories, we have the largest collection of spaces for every idea.