LOVE OF DAMES pop-up
Everything you need to know about temporary retail
Hi Dames, as you’ve seen in our Instagram stories we’ve had two successful pop ups in less than two months and have gotten so many questions about it ! So here it is , summed up in a blog…
Why host a Pop Up?
OK! so if you own an online boutique like us , one of the best ways to get out there and get your products seen , meet your current customers and network with other fellow business owners and potential new clientele is to do a pop-up shop… here you will meet business minded individuals eager to broadcast their unique products and trial a brick-and-mortar space.
Yes, online technology has been great in terms of convenience but nothing replaces having a face-to-face interaction and experience. Customers get to meet the face behind the brand , interact with you and connect deeper bringing more sales.
I know what you might be thinking , with businesses in various stages of closure, it may seem like an odd time to set up a pop-up shop. But as the world recovers, consumers will be hungry for real-life experiences. And while they've gotten used to the convenience of shopping online, they miss feeling connected to brands (and to each other) in a physical environment.
Where and How to host a Pop – Up Event?
There are often large events that request vendors to set up booths and sell their products, think about large conferences , large markets , bazaars, or even something as large as a music festival. It’s important to find the right spot for your pop-up. There are a number of factors to consider, and one of the most important is determining what type of space makes the most sense for your event.
After you’ve determined what type of pop-up you want to have, you can begin deciding on a location. Knowing what your shop’s goals are is one important factor to consider.
Finally, one of the biggest considerations has always been wether the neighbourhood or street you’re considering a high-traffic area? Are there plenty of people walking by the location you’re scouting—and, most importantly, are those people your target customers?
Reserve a space for your Pop-Up shop
In order to reserve a space for your pop-up , you must either contact the host of the event, or in some cases send in an application for a vendor booth spot, or reach to a brick and mortar store you’d like to have a pop up at. There will typically be a fee to reserve a spot for your pop – up shop, which can range from £60 -£1000 depending on the area.
@loveofdame
Advantages of Pop Ups
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Brand Awareness.
Create a Buzz and bring Brand awareness -This approach works especially well when promoting new products or collections, kicking off major campaigns, or simply looking to increase overall brand awareness.
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Test.
Allows you to test the grounds – Pop-up shops require little upfront investment, which makes them a great testing ground. A successful pop-up can be a good indication that your business is a candidate for expansion into physical retail.
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Demand.
Test Demand - Manufacturing a small batch of merchandise to test at a pop-up is one way to validate customer demand before investing in a larger number of units. If you have an idea for a new collection or product line, for example, start with just one or two items to see if they have traction.
Things to remember for your pop- up?
1………Lots of inventory – its always better to have too much inventory than not enough! You don’t have to display all of your inventory at first but do have back up underneath the table or easily accessible.
2……….Credit Card reader – We got ours at SumUp ( easy and straight forward) This is a must as most people use their cards or phones to pay.
3……….Personalized Banner / Signage - which was designed by DFJ studio. – you want to advertise who you are and hat it is youre selling. And easier access for people to follow your social media platforms.
4……….Business Cards – Very Important ! Prime marketing tool to get more people to know about your company.
5……….Ca
sh /Change – its always smart to have some cash available preferably in 20’s, 10’s and 1’s.. In case you have customers that want to pay in cash.
Bags for check out - most customers will want their purchase in a bag, try and get as many as you can – better to have more than to run out.
6……….Decorations – Nothing makes a point than standing out , you have a small space for display make use of it , bring accessories that represent your brand and make it look as presentable as possible. Brand personality goes a long way.
Pro Tip - Design your pop up shop like a mini store – we like to bring rugs , display a plant here and there and have varying display ( table, rolling rail, mannequin 0 you want your space to be both appealing and welcoming to customers so they want to stay and look at your products longer..
@loveofdame