Having your very own pop-up shop is great for a whole range of reasons. Not only does it give you a chance to test out the market for your goods in the physical space, as it’s temporary, it doesn’t come with the same amount of stress. You can try out all sorts of different locations and venues, as well as earning a little bit of extra money in the holiday seasons when people are more likely to go shopping.
When it comes to choosing a venue, there are a few things that you need to consider before you start viewing potential premises. It’s always best to sit down and make a list of things that you need in a venue, as well as things that you want to avoid.
Location
Are you looking for a venue that is close
to where you live? If this is your first pop-up event, testing it out on the
locals is a great way to get started. You’ll also need to pick an area that
gets a good footfall of traffic throughout the day in order to increase your
chances of getting some sales. There’s no point in setting up shop in a quiet
residential area.
Accessibility
How are customers getting to your shop? Is
it all foot traffic? If so, are there good transport links available nearby? If
you want to host a special event in your shop, you will need to ensure that it
is easy for everyone to get there. Considering parking is also a good idea at
this stage.
Style
What type of items do you want to sell?
What vision do you have for the space that they’re in? The style of the venue
that you choose will reflect on you and your products, so you need to make sure
that it matches in with your theme. There are spaces of all kinds available for
pop-up hire, so take your time in searching until you find the one that feels
right for you.
Choosing the perfect pop-up location takes careful
thought and planning. Don’t just hire the first vacant space that you see – you
might end up with somewhere that looks great at first but doesn’t provide you
with the footfall that you need. There are lots of different pop-up venues for
hire in London, so you really can go for any type of style you desire.
Shopping Centre
Having a pop-up shop that’s located in a
shopping centre guarantees that there will be a certain number of people
passing by that are there for one reason only – to do some shopping. These are
generally slightly more expensive than others, but you may get a good deal if
the shop is only going to be vacant for a short time.
Private Apartment
Do you have an eclectic collection of items
to sell? It so, then hiring a private apartment might be just the venue you
need. If promoted well enough, people will still find their way to your store, and
it can really stand out due to the uniqueness of the venue.
High street
Have you spotted a vacant shop on your
local high street? If so, then it’s the perfect opportunity for you to set-up a
pop-up shop. Not only is it located in your local area, but high street stores
get a good amount of traffic from people who won’t be able to resist seeing
what you’re selling.
Galleries
Galleries make excellent pop-up shops. Not
only are they unique in their design, they are more readily available than
vacant shops and can give your pop-up a cool and sophisticated feel. They are
also very versatile as they are used to hosting a range of different events and
activities throughout the year.
It’s easy to get excited about the opening
of your shop, but there are still things that you won’t be able to do without.
Making sure that you have a good working list before you open will help to
ensure that the whole experience goes smoothly.
1) Insurance
Do you have contents and liability insurance?
If not, you’ll need some. In many cases it will be a condition of your lease
for the pop-up, so you won’t be able to set up shop without it. Insurance will
protect you and your products from any unforeseen circumstances.
2) Hire Staff
It’s tempting to think that you’ll be able to manage your pop-up by yourself, but if you want to be open for as many hours as possible then hiring some staff is a must. It’s always a good idea to have two people working during peak times, and it means that you can enjoy a day off once in a while.
3) Have a Launch Party
One of the best ways to let everyone know
about the arrival of your pop-up is by having an opening party. This gives you
something a little bit extra to promote, and you’re sure to bring in the crowds.
Organising a little bit of bubbly and some exclusive money off on the night to
entice people in.
4) Set Shop Policies
It might only be a temporary shop, but you’ll
still need firm policies in place. Keep your opening hours the same and clearly
advertise them. Make sure that all staff know and stick to your refund policy
as well. Having all of this well documented will make running your store so
much easier.
Opening a pop-up store isn’t something that
you’re going to be able to do overnight. It takes a lot of hard work and a good
level of research to ensure that you’re ready for all that it entails. However,
with the right venue in a good location, you’ll soon discover the benefits that
having a physical store can bring, even if it is for a short period of time.
Woohoo!
You've started a wishlist
Send an enquiry to more than a venue at once