The digital world has burst into being over the past couple of decades, to much fanfare. But the physical one has been quietly reinventing itself as the growing online world has forced us to reevaluate what we use our physical spaces for.
Although the notion of a “pop-up” store first emerged in LA in the 1990s, it’s only recently that brands big and small have started to see it not just as a novel idea but an integral element in their businesses’ development. And the timing couldn’t be better.
While many assume that younger generations prefer shopping online, the majority actually shop in brick-and-mortar locations. According to Forbes, the majority of millennials prefer to make their purchases offline. A study published earlier this year by IBM and the National Retail Federation found that 98 percent of the Generation Z population still likes shopping in physical locations.
But this isn’t a case of either/or. And that’s where temporary retail space comes in.
Ultimately, the benefits of a pop-up speak for themselves. From generating publicity to interacting with new and existing customers — not to mention boosting sales — there are plenty of things a temporary retail space can do to enhance a brand. Whether you’re partnering with other businesses with a similar vision, testing an exciting new product, or trying out a new spot in a new city, the opportunities are varied, and whatever the end goal is, you can learn a lot.
We spoke to two digitally native brands that have used Appear Here to create their own physical experiences. The first is the NY-based luggage brand Away. Within a short time, Away went from being an unknown challenger in the stale luggage industry to selling the suitcase that everyone wanted to be seen with at check-in. Not only did Away create a great product, it also did its PR, and launched a few well-placed pop-ups. The match was lit.
“Our first shop in London helped establish Away’s international presence and allowed us to engage with a new community,” said Emma Bates from the brand’s global marketing team.
“The store blew away all of our expectations. Sales went beyond our goals, but what we were most excited about was the response we received from our UK customers. … As our first foray into international retail, it was a great learning experience and proved that we can bring the Away experience to our customers all around the world. We’ve since experimented with pop-ups in Berlin and LA.”
Another brand that’s taken advantage of the opportunities provided by pop-ups is the direct-to-consumer men’s apparel brand Mizzen+Main. Appear Here helped the Houston-based brand find a shop on West Broadway that’s sure to make a statement through the end of the year.
“We’ve had six pop-ups and are planning our seventh for this September,” said Richard Ross, creative director of Mizzen+Main. “We’ve come full circle with our first one in SoHo, New York, in 2015, followed by an appearance in Midtown, two spaces in San Francisco, one in Houston. This fall we will be opening our next pop-up store in Fort Worth, which will run for four months.”
For Mizzen+Main, the best way to measure pop-up success was by counting sales and PR mentions, but its ultimate goal was to raise brand awareness. And through its pop-ups, Mizzen+Main learned it had garnered a serious amount of brand loyalty very quickly.
“It is amazing to see how many of our current customers will travel to our pop-up just to stop in, say hi, and check it out,” said Richard. “Not only are our customers loyal, but they also love sharing the news about Mizzen+Main with their friends and network. Our pop-up employees ask customers how they heard about us and most of the time, they let us know that a friend told them they needed to check it out.”
For Away, the footfall in the physical store led to an increase in online sales.
“We’ve found that physical and online retail naturally support one another,” said Emma. “Even considering the widespread use of e-commerce, our customers have let us know that they still want to interact with us and experience the brand in person. We had lots of people come into the London space to check out a bag who ultimately purchased online.”
So there you have it. In an increasingly digital world, word of mouth is still king. And the best way for anyone to experience anything is still in real life.
4 ways pop-ups can benefit online brands
1. Build real-world relationships. You can connect with new audiences and build more meaningful relationships face to face.
2. Test the market. Whether it’s a new location, concept, or product, pop-ups allow brands to quickly test their idea while minimizing risks and costs.
3. Connect to a moment. Retail is all about being in the right place at the right time. Pop-ups give brands the flexibility to do this, whether they’re opening a store for a national holiday or a key moment in their brand calendar.
4. Create an experience. Seventy-eight percent of millennials prefer to spend their money on experiences over products, and 70 percent of people see shopping as a form of entertainment. Physical retail today needs to cater to this.
Feeling inspired? Enter Appear Here’s Space for Ideas Competition to win your own flagship store in London, Paris, or New York. Plus the design, funds, and mentorship to bring it to life.
