Pop-up spaces have become both incredibly useful and incredibly trendy for a number of different purposes. Finding the right one for your event, job, or venture can be tricky, though.
Knowing where to look, who to talk to, and how to set up a pop-up space will take a good deal of work. But once you’ve taken care of all the tasks on your list, you’ll be very pleased with the results. To help you figure out what to look for and where to find it, we’ve put together a guide to finding pop-up spaces for anything and everything you could want to do.
How to find pop-up spaces that work for you
Pop-up spaces are suitable for several types of activities, especially selling things on the fly. People use pop-up spaces to give demonstrations, sell handcrafted goods, taste-test food — there’s a pop-up space for pretty much anything you can think of.
Depending on what you’re selling, the setup might be quick and minimal. Finding the perfect pop-up space with all the right equipment can take a little work, though. We’ve put together some suggestions to help you get the ball rolling on your next pop-up sensation.
Figure out your purpose first
Are you opening a shop? Are you demoing a product? Are you trying to recruit people to a cause or drive business to a particular place? Do you just want to breakdance with a crowd around you? Whatever your reason, knowing what you want to do is the first step to figuring out where to find pop-up spaces that suit your needs.
The perfect pop-up space will depend on your needs and a number of other factors. If you don’t need a lot of room and just need a place with traffic, try finding space in a public area that people walk by a lot. If you need display cases, counters, or tables, a storefront might be a better solution.
You definitely don’t want to get a bigger space than you need for a pop-up event or store, and you always want to be near the type of traffic you’re hoping to get. Knowing exactly what you need will help you narrow down your choices.
Know your budget
Opening a pop-up shop is a great way to do business, but it isn’t cheap. Whether it’s a recreational activity, selling goods or services, or something else altogether, renting a pop-up space costs money.
You don’t have to go all-in and break the bank to find a place, but knowing what you can afford to spend and how often if you plan on doing it more than once will be crucial to picking the right place.
We don’t suggest jumping on the first thing you see just because you can afford it. Shop around and weigh your options. Also, check booking sites — they often have deals on all types of venues to rent from third-party sellers, owners, and others looking to rent out a space for whatever you can think of. Using these resources, you can find an affordable pop-up space that will suit your needs.
Pick a space in the right area
Once you know your purpose and budget, you can narrow down your search to the right space. Depending on the activity, you may want a space with more or less traffic, a younger or older crowd, or that is open or closed in.
All of these things will account for how well your activity goes. Like we said earlier, pop-ups come about for a number of reasons. Although many of them are retail, not every purpose is the same. Try to think about the area around your pop-up in regards to what you want to do.
Some examples of great pop-up spaces
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what to look for, we’ll provide some examples of pop-up spaces, so you know what’s out there.
1. Boombox Chicago: cool storefront
Boombox Chicago is the ultimate pop-up storefront. Made from an upcycled shipping container, this is the most modern version of a modern trend. Instead of taking up existing space, they use recycling to create new space that is perfect for any pop-up shop’s needs.
2. The Vandenberg House: refined pop-up space
For a space that’s more than just an empty storefront, The Vandenberg House in Toronto is a great space for a number of pop-up events and activities. It has hardwood floors and a lot of space that gives off an elegant and refined feel — perfect for a pop-up yoga class or whatever else you can think of.
3. START Los Angeles: versatile location
START Los Angeles is the perfect blank canvas for every pop-up venture. Want to hold a pop-up art exhibit? Great. Want to take pictures? That works too. This space is truly open for whatever ideas you can come up with.
All about pop-ups: wrapping up
Hopefully we’ve given you plenty to think about and some great ideas so that finding your next pop-up space will be a breeze. Check out our listings to get an idea of what’s out there, and if you’re in one of those neighborhoods, try them out for yourself. There’s no end to the possibilities.
YouTube: 3 Reasons Why Pop-Up Shops Work
Photo credit: The feature image has been done by Joel Drzycimski. The photo in the body of the article was taken by Sung Jin Cho.
