Put the POP in Pop-Up! Best Pop-Up Shop Ideas [Infographic]

Retail real estate costs are dropping now that everyone is moving their stores online, but customers are missing that in-person shopping experience. That makes now the perfect time for startups to experiment with their local markets and offer that in-person experience customers are craving. Considering setting up your own brick and mortar, or just want to get your community engaged with your brand? Check out these hot tips for setting up your own pop-up shop.

What is a Pop-Up Shop?

Pop-up shops are small, temporary shops that can be anything from a sales tent to a brick-and-mortar rented space. These shops are often seasonal and are a great way for businesses to connect with customers in a more personal and engaging way. Some common pop-up shop styles include a renovated truck or bus, a mall display, a tent or canopy, a storefront extension, and more!

For businesses just starting out, a tiny shop of any kind can be an obvious next step towards a permanent location. Pop-ups allow entrepreneurs to test out the market and local demand for their concept before making the big financial leap to a full sized store. But these trendy outlets aren’t just for newcomers. Big businesses like Nike, Google, and Adidas successfully use pop-up stores to engage with customers and promote their brand.

What Can I Do With a Pop-Up Shop?

More like, what can’t you do with a pop-up shop? Pop-up shops are all about taking risks, exploring new ideas, and engaging with customers. Want to see if anyone will like your lime-flavored french fries? Looking to test out a raffle for promotional products? Want to turn selling out last season’s styles into a found clothing celebration? A pop-up shop is the perfect way for you to make small investments become big hits with your customers.

Of course, there’s more to pop-up shops than just sales. Many brands use these trendy stands as an event instead of a shop. If your goals are more oriented towards building a brand image or boosting customer engagement, consider making your pop-up shop the host of your own brand celebration. Host games, VR challenges, free samples, promotional giveaways, and other party-centric activities that will get people talking, smiling, and excited to see your logo.

What Makes Pop-Up Stores So Popular?

Pop-up shops have become an increasingly popular concept with both businesses and customers for a lot of reasons. Businesses love them because they are an excellent way to promote, test new ideas, and engage with customers without the same costs that come with a full physical store or onsite renovation. This means they can afford to be more creative, more interactive, and more glamorous.

Customers also have a lot of reasons to love this new way of interacting with brands. With a pop-up shop, customers can enjoy exclusive products, interact with brands they may only find online, and enjoy limited-time offers and experiences. While so much of how we do business has moved online, more and more customers are missing the personal touch that comes with real-world shopping. Businesses should appeal to this by making their pop-ups more engaging with smells, tastes, things customers can touch, and other atmospheric touches that customers can’t enjoy with online shopping.

How to Decorate My Pop-Up Shop

Pop-up stores are all about that personal touch, so take this opportunity to go all out. Rent some furniture, put down some carpet, hang up some lights, set up essential oil diffusers, and show customers what your brand is really capable of. Many pop-ups will implement a theme, such as a pineapple theme for a restaurant trying a new pineapple dish, a summer fun theme for a shoe company looking to push summer sales on sandals, or a rose gold theme for a tech company releasing new rose gold-colored tech accessories.

While you want to go big with your displays, it’s important to avoid overcrowding your limited space. While it may be tempting to try and cram as much as you can into your pop-up shop, you may find more success in focusing your display around one product or concept, and make sure that every addition is both necessary and aesthetically pleasing. If you have a particular vision in mind but are struggling to make it concise, a staging company is a great resource for making simple elegance out of any space.

Pop-Up Shop Giveaway Ideas to Build My Brand

If you’re looking to improve brand recognition or establish a new branding plan for your company, a pop-up shop is a great way to generate a buzz! A rented space or sales tent are both great options for showing off your style and make a great place to pass out promotional pens, bags, drinkware, and more. However, if you really want to get customers excited, nothing says fun like a renovated bus or truck that gives out free samples, promotional swag, and other cool prizes. Customers will treasure their giveaways not just for the value of the gifts, but for the value of the wild memories you gave them.

Mineral Alpha Soft Touch Pen with Rose Gold Trim

Recycled Cotton Remi Tote

Stainless Steel Double Wall Chroma Tumbler – 16 oz

Pop-Up Shop Ideas to Explore New Ideas

Looking to test the market with a fresh new idea? Take your dreams on the road with a food truck or pop-up stand with the focus on your big new product or service. You can also test out new locations for your business with a rented brick and mortar space and host a big event to draw in a crowd. Make sure you give out surveys for customer feedback so you get the most out of your test event.

Of course, you don’t have to limit your new ideas to things you’ll use forever. Customers love exclusive events, so feel free to offer a one-of-a-kind experience that they won’t have again! A fresh scents company can offer a premium bathroom experience, or a shoe company can offer custom jackets to match their footwear. You can branch further by partnering with other companies to expand what you offer beyond what your company can do alone, such as a gourmet restaurant and a jewelry store partnering to create a pop-up shop made to give the perfect proposal experience.

Pop-Up Shop Ideas to Improve Sales

If you need to push out some excess merchandise or just need a seasonal boost, create your own pop-up store to show off just how amazing your products really are! Get your best sales people out where the customers are with a mall stand or rented space, then let your product shine. Offer promotional giveaways and treats, pass out your business card printed on a pen or a mug, and make sure everyone knows that this is a limited-time chance to get with your brand in-person.

Pop-up shops are an excellent way to bring your brand to your customers. Any company, whether a fresh-off-the-idea-board startup or a billion-dollar business, can benefit from the greater exposure and cost-effective market research that can come through this trendy new sales style. Use these pop-up shop ideas and do your own research to bring these benefits and more to your business.