--- title: "Passing Trend or Future Proof: The Truth About Pop-Up Shops" date: 2018-12-31T16:05:34-08:00 canonical_url: "https://www.iqmetrix.com/blog/passing-trend-or-future-proof-the-truth-about-pop-up-shops" section: Blog --- - [ ](http://twitter.com/iQmetrix) - [ ](https://www.facebook.com/pages/iQmetrix/167877886558671) - [ ](http://www.linkedin.com/company/iqmetrix) - [ ](http://www.youtube.com/user/iQmetrixCorp) - [ ](https://www.instagram.com/iqmetrix/) [Back](https://www.iqmetrix.com/resources/blog) These days, where there are crowds of eager shoppers, there is likely a pop-up shop. These temporary storefronts have been on the rise [since the early 2000s](https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/11/popup-shop-corporate/545054/)—and not just in the retail industry. Pop-up restaurants, bars, concerts, workspaces, and even [cat cafes](http://www.edmontoncatcafe.com/) have achieved a strong footing in today’s competitive market, yet it’s in the retail sector that the concept truly thrives. The pop-up shop industry is valued at $50 billion. While pop-ups offer an attractive opportunity for e-commerce retailers, their more traditional brick-and-mortar counterparts can tend to be a little wary of the growing trend. The question for these retailers is whether pop-up shops are a transient fad or a long-term addition to the retail landscape. In other words, what do retailers with a physical storefront have to gain? ### What Makes Pop-Up Shops So Popular? ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bO6hl4zAEWl8eGAcilt4e7Znm5_jA1u2wDEnAsfqeFh4SDocFAS2X-nBKNygoBuhxmc5BGOHLRhHC1gKHqBgqKlPOFaAGl-ZnKkfBRSvJjTwU7NAqKjqtjeKIZyeFJ0K_Gopq4fW) From the consumer’s perspective, pop-up shops offer something novel and exclusive. Shoppers have access to a curated selection of goods offered up in a unique setting staffed by friendly experts. The innate characteristics of a pop-up shop — that it’s open for a limited period of time and accessible only to knowledgeable insiders — create a sense of excitement that appeals to consumers looking for something unique. From the e-commerce retailer’s perspective, pop-up shops are a particularly useful marketing tool. Since many people like to [try before they buy](http://www.iqmetrix.com/blog/keep-your-wireless-customers-happy-with-omnichannel-strategies), pop-up shops give interested consumers a chance to experience an exclusively online brand’s product without having to commit to a purchase. From a brand’s point-of-view, the pop-up shop provides an opportunity to connect with more customers in a short period of time without having to sign a long-term shop lease or sacrifice their identity as an online only company. Plus, a pop-up shop comes with a natural urgency factor, so they are likely to benefit from a slew of customers—[particularly millennials](https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/11/popup-shop-corporate/545054/)—who don’t want to miss out on this exclusive experience. ### Is Pop-Up Retail Here to Stay? ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/PtmzTM4gRINpUbeJrgIVyD19sVlDoIDlZOId0ZPQG_enD0sBR9ItVNR3Nm7fFk81dylpCqlclWU7I74WDaEkxXoCwfXFv1Nt4hrCc30DCF_OmqxR2faIJWbtJkybahirfRhnjaEL) Brick-and-mortar stores [aren’t fading into obscurity](https://www.iqmetrix.com/blog/can-we-stop-talking-about-the-retail-apocalypse-yet) as many predicted, but retailers are still looking to evolve this tried-and-true strategy. As retail leases become [wholly unaffordable](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/nyregion/soho-empty-storefronts.html), online stores become more and more attractive. Commercial landlords seem to be taking note though, with many offering more short-terms leases available. This could lead to both new and established retailers increasingly considering the low-investment, low-risk potential of a pop-up shop as a viable alternative to a permanent location. That said, it is not necessarily a one-or-the-other arrangement: some brands have been able to capitalize off both the in-store and pop-up shop experiences. Not only do pop-ups give consumers a new and novel way to buy, but they do it in an engaging physical setting rather than on an impersonal digital platform. Brands who use pop-up shops as a way to promote and exhibit their latest product releases can create a buzz about their offerings and then direct excited customers to their permanent storefront down the line. Plus, with today’s consumers preferring customization and individuality, pop-up shops satisfy a growing demand, hinting at a sustainable business model. Brick-and-mortar retailers should not view pop-up shops as a threat, nor should they consider them to be a simple passing trend not worth their time. Rather, they should view pop-ups as confirmation that discovering, handling, and purchasing goods in person is still important for consumers. When malls incorporate a host of rotating pop-up shops, consumers have a [tempting reason to return](http://www.businessinsider.com/malls-look-to-pop-up-shops-to-boost-their-appeal-2017-12), providing permanent stores with an opportunity to attract new foot traffic. As such, pop-up shops can be as beneficial to brick-and-mortar retailers as they are to e-commerce brands. Retailers who look beyond their own four walls can give their brands a fresh image and better connect with new customers. Better still, they can do it all without having to reinvent the wheel. In the age of amazon, pop-up shops are just one way specialty retailers can still compete and win against their big-box competitors. With the right retail technology at your back, success is right around the corner. *Photo Credits: Shuttertock /* *Tooykrub**, Shutterstock /* *NYCStock, Shutterstock / Shootdiem* - [ ](http://twitter.com/iQmetrix) - [ ](https://www.facebook.com/pages/iQmetrix/167877886558671) - [ ](http://www.linkedin.com/company/iqmetrix) - [ ](http://www.youtube.com/user/iQmetrixCorp) - [ ](https://www.instagram.com/iqmetrix/) Subscribe to our newsletter You have opted out of some cookies, meaning that our demo form is not available to you. Please email sales@iqmetrix.com or call us on 1.866.476.3874 to get started. Related Stories [Native vs. Browser-Based POS: Which is Better for Telecom Retail?](https://www.iqmetrix.com/blog/native-vs-browser-based-pos-which-is-better-for-telecom-retail) [SummitX 2024: Does Retail Matter? 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