Reasons to open a pop-up shop. Top 7 business benefits to opening a pop-up shop

What is a pop-up shop? Everything you need to know to try short-term retail > Reasons to open a pop-up shop. Top 7 business benefits to opening a pop-up shop

What are the benefits of opening a pop-up shop?

There are a wide variety of reasons and benefits to open a pop-up shop. For starters, pop-up shops, also known as temporary retail stores, are an effective way to build brand awareness for your retail business.

But did you know what other pop-up store benefits your business can gain? From building deeper relationships with your potential customers to testing new markets, pop-up shops offer brands the opportunity to build an offline arm to their business — all without breaking the bank!

If you’re considering taking the leap into physical stores, here are 7 business benefits of pop-up shops.

1. It will Engage Your Customers Online and Offline

Go Multichannel With a Pop-Up Shop

If you run a primarily online business, pop-up stores are a chance to interact with your customers in the offline world. And in today’s retail landscape, it’s crucial to engage shoppers both online and offline with a multichannel sales strategy.

Multichannel sales help retain 73% of customers, according to a Harvard Business Review study in 2017 measuring the shopping habits of 46,000 people in the U.S. Plus, shoppers who engage with brands on four or more channels spend about 9% more than their less-engaged counterparts, according to the same study.

“Brands must appeal to those who love to go into the store to see, touch and smell what they’re going to purchase, as well as those who love the ease of one-click buying,” says Melissa Gonzalez, founder of pop-up architecture firm The Lion’esque Group, in her book The Pop-Up Paradigm.

Demo Products and Share Your Story

Pop-up stores also allow online retailers to engage customers with product demonstrations and answer questions on the spot. Brands benefit from this face-to-face interaction, and customers learn more about products and get immediate answers to any pain points they may have.

Also, authentic engagements with your customers offline allows you to share your story. Shoppers can learn about your brand and the story behind your products — and this authenticity can build brand loyalty and loyal customers.

2. Pop-Up Stores Are Cost Effective

Pop-up shops are also a desirable offline retail sales strategy because they can be high-impact while simultaneously being cost-effective. Big and small online brands are taking advantage of the cost savings of opening a short-term store.

Pop-up shops are less expensive than traditional retail storefronts for multiple reasons, including:

• Less square footage: Because pop-up shops tend to have a smaller retail footprint, rental costs are far more reasonable.
• Shorter rental period: Traditional storefronts typically require retailers rent a space for anywhere from three to 10 years. But pop-ups have a shorter lifespan — think anywhere from three days to six months. That means shelling out less cash for rent in the long run.
• No extra storage needed: Pop-up shops are temporary by nature, so brands usually offer a limited amount of inventory during a pop-up’s lifespan. That means retailers don’t need extra storage on-site for inventory.
• Lower overhead: Again, temporary retail means your general overhead costs is far lower. Expect to spend less on inventory, staff, cost of rent and utilities, etc.

A “renter’s market” also gives brands the advantage when it comes to finding retail spaces to lease. Higher-than-average vacancy rates in chi chi neighborhoods, malls and typically permanent storefronts have helped brands get great rates at prestigious addresses. Because of this, commercial real estate brokers are giving in to the rising tide of temporary retail and their shorter leases.

3. You Can Test Out New Markets

Pop-up shops require a much smaller financial commitment, so they’re ideal to use when testing the waters in new markets.

Whether you’re an online-only retailer ready to dabble in offline sales or you’re interested in expanding your physical presence to a new city, pop-up stores are a low-risk way to gain traction.

When dipping a toe into a new market, pop-up stores help build brand awareness before brands commit to a full storefront. Brands can root themselves in a community to find their target customers within an area. Use face-to-face interactions to engage customers (like the methods highlighted above) and build trust prior to fully investing in a new market or full offline sales strategy.

4. It’s Easy Experimentation – Try Out New Products and Soft Launch New Collection !

Because the financial commitment for a pop-up store is significantly less, brands can use temporary retail to experiment with new products or collections. Rather than conducting a formal (and expensive) market research study, simply ask the customers visiting your pop-up stores what they think.

Pop-up stores can serve as your own way to poll your target customers offline. Sell new products alongside your usual inventory and ask for customer feedback on the spot. Does your new product or collection resonate with them? How does it stack up against the products your customers know and love?

Brands can also send home free samples of new products for customers to try. In exchange, ask them to complete a short survey online to gauge their responses to your yet-to-be-launched line. Then you can use that information to perfect and polish those new products before launching them to the broader public.

5. Financial benefits of opening a pop-up shop

If you’re considering opening a pop-up shop, you may be wondering what the financial benefits are. Pop-up shops can be a great way to boost your revenue and grow your business.

Here are some of the top financial benefits of opening a pop-up shop:

1. Increased revenue. Pop-up shops can be a great way to boost your revenue. In fact, they can often bring in 20-30% more revenue than a traditional brick-and-mortar store.
2. Low startup costs. Pop-up shops have low startup costs, which means you can get up and running quickly and without a lot of financial risk.
3. Flexibility. Pop-up shops offer flexibility, which is ideal if you’re not sure if you want to commit to a long-term lease.
4. Boosts brand awareness. A pop-up shop can help boost your brand awareness and reach new customers.

In summary, pop-up retail is not only a fantastic way for brands to test out new pop-up concepts and products, it’s also a great way to generate immediate sales. Not only does a pop-up shop give brands a unique selling proposition, it also is an attractive proposition to shoppers.

Shoppers get to try out products they might not otherwise be able to afford or experience. Shoppers also get to feel connected to brands and supported.

Read More: 6 Financial Advantages of Hosting a Pop-Up Shop

6. Increasing your brand awareness 

When it comes to promoting your brand, there are a lot of different approaches you can take. But one strategy that can be especially effective is opening a pop-up shop.

A pop-up shop is a temporary store that can be set up quickly and easily. And because they’re only around for a limited time, they can create a sense of urgency and excitement that can really capture people’s attention.

Plus, pop-up shops are a great way to connect with your target audience and build relationships with them. You can use your pop-up shop to host events, give away freebies, and really engage with your customers.

And when it’s done right, a pop-up shop can be a powerful tool for driving brand awareness and sales. So if you’re looking for a way to take your marketing to the next level, a pop-up shop could be the perfect solution.

Read More: Why a Pop-Up Series Is The Best Next Move For Your Brand

7. Leverage seasonal pop-ups to build a customer base

As a small business owner, you may be looking for ways to build your customer base and grow your business. Seasonal pop-ups can be a great way to do this.

Seasonal pop-ups can be a great way to attract new customers and grow your business. By Leveraging seasonal trends, you can create a unique experience that will draw people in and build customer loyalty.

Here are a few tips for using seasonal pop-ups to build your customer base:

1. Leverage trends: Take advantage of seasonal trends to create a unique experience for your customers.
2. Build customer loyalty: Use seasonal pop-ups to build customer loyalty by offering exclusive deals and experiences.
3. Stand out from the crowd: Use your seasonal pop-up to stand out from the competition and attract attention.

By following these tips, you can use seasonal pop-ups to build your customer base and grow your business.

Read More: The Season’s Best Pop-Up Shops

Conclusion

In summary, several reasons were stated why brands should consider moving to a pop-up shop. The pop-up store advantages are numerous, including the ability to test a product, test pricing, test promotion, test your brand, test your staffing, test your environment, and test your operating costs. The flexibility of a pop-up store also provides the brand with the opportunity to test new ideas without committing to the cost of a permanent location. 

The pop-up shop is a marketing tactic that has evolved to a great degree. It is a great way to put your brand in the hands of the public and test the waters to see what the market likes without having to invest a great deal of money.

Ready to book your next pop-up store? Find the ideal space for your project!