13 High-Tech Gizmos and Gadgets You Need to Have at Your Pop-Up Store

Popping up? We’ve got an app for that. A list, actually. In celebration of our favorite festival for emerging tech, South by Southwest, we’ve rounded up our favorite high-tech apps and gadgets that make opening a Pop-Up Store as easy as tapping a button.

Get inspired

Pinterest

With Pinterest, you can create visual mood boards for any subject imaginable by storing and organizing images from all over the web. The platform’s “secret boards” are a team essential, allowing collaborators to connect and share ideas privately. All of this makes Pinterest a fantastic source for inspiration, which can be achieved by merely searching a topic and scrolling through all of the beautiful images and DIY tips that your heart desires.

Plan and Prep

UberRUSH

Have you ever needed to run an errand STAT but your whole team was swamped? Those days are over. UberRUSH is an on-demand courier service designed specifically for small businesses. It’s an option in the Uber app (for users in San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago) that can be used for just about anything, from delivering contracts and other documents to taking care of any of your last-minute needs.

via TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit

Sometimes you need an extra set of hands, and that’s where TaskRabbit comes in. Need some clothes to be steamed? Need help installing fixtures and furniture? Taskers are thoroughly vetted helpers that can assist you with many types of tasks. Transactions are secure and cash-free, and you’re given the rate long before a Tasker arrives.

Digital measuring tape

The iconic tape measure got a major upgrade. eTape 16’s Digital Tape Measure improves upon the classic design by adding a large digital display for easier viewing and saving information. You can also toggle between inches and centimeters and use the tape continuously for up to 64 hours with a single battery. Think of the mountains of time this can save you during the build-out process!

iHandy Level

Speaking of your digital toolbox, the iHandy Level definitely belongs in there, too. It’s a free mobile app available on iPhone and Android that puts a super accurate level in your pocket at all times. Use it for hanging pictures, installing shelves, and more.

Moving Van

An organized, well-maintained inventory list is paramount to your success as a small business. But keeping track of inventory becomes especially challenging (and extra important) when transporting your items. A super easy way to make sure that everything makes it to Point B is the Moving Van app, available on iPhone. As you pack, you can photograph individual items, identify boxes, and choose the room that each box should end up in. While this process may cost you extra time, it greatly reduces the confusion and back-and-forth while unpacking in a team.

Operations

Shopify

Shopify is an ecommerce platform that allows online businesses to sell products online and offline. Shopify’s rovbust software seamlessly integrates with their point-of-sale hardware, which syncs inventory across all channels.

via Square

Square

Square is another great POS option with low startup costs and easy-to-use hardware. Square offers magstripe, chip, and contactless readers as well as a powerful suite of business management tools and integrations.

Shyp

Planning a Pop-Up far from home? Shyp might be your new best friend. Whether you’re transporting inventory or furniture for your store, the Shyp app takes the pain out of shipping (if you’re in SF, NYC, LA, or Chicago, at least). Just take a picture of the thing you need to send and Shyp will come pick it up, package it with professional materials, and ship it at the lowest rate possible.

Engagement

Snapchat

Snapchat is still somewhat underexplored by businesses, but its potential is endless. It’s a great way to stand apart from the crowd, reach out to teens and millennials, and share exclusive promotions. You can even submit your own geofilter to use at your Pop-Up activation.

via TIME

Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard is a digital version of the trusty red View-Master you had as a kid. Instead of film, you insert your phone (with compatible apps) into the cardboard viewer to create a Virtual Reality experience. Offer new worlds, play immersive games, and more by collecting images through the Cardboard Camera app. Google Cardboard is for Android only, so make sure you have a tablet or Galaxy on hand.

Cosimo

Cosimo takes the visual element out of digital connection. After recording audio, you can upload and tag it for the world to find. Something like this would be wonderful in an art gallery Pop-Up for customizing audio tours or for creating playlists at a music-oriented event.

via The Drum

Periscope

Periscope is a new and quickly growing platform that allows you to live stream video to your followers. Viewers can engage with the video by commenting and “hearting.” Though most businesses are still experimenting with the best way to use this hot new tool, live video offers opportunities to provide demos, answer questions, and give your fans a behind-the-scenes look at special events.