New Poll Reveals Why Americans Patronize Pop-Up Stores

CHICAGO, Nov. 6 – Pop-up stores are particularly pervasive during the holiday season and a new national poll of Americans reveals why.

When asked to name the top three reasons to shop or visit a pop-up store, “finding seasonal products” by far ranked first, cited by 61 percent of the 1,224 consumers polled in the survey* commissioned by PopUp Republic, a social media marketing company focused exclusively on pop-ups.

Other prime reasons for patronizing pop-ups, according to the poll, are to find new and unique products (cited by 39 percent), to shop locally (36 percent) and to benefit from great prices (34 percent).

“Pop-up stores, temporary places of business, are ideally suited for holiday shopping because they often sell products tied to the season or feature distinctive gifts,” said Jeremy Baras, president of PopUp Republic. “That’s why pop-ups will pop up everywhere this month and next, whether they are holiday bazaars offering handmade crafts, Christmas tree lots, jewelry kiosks in malls or booths selling wine and cheese boxes.”

   The popularity of pop-ups this time of year is one reason for the launch this month of PopUps Across America (www.popupsacrossamerica.com), the first online shopping mall that features products offered by pop-up merchants.

            “This new e-commerce site opens a whole new world to the pop-up entrepreneur who otherwise would have a customer base limited to consumers who live nearby,” said Baras. “It enables a pop-up proprietor who plans to open a shop for a couple of weeks or a month to sell goods nationwide during the time the pop-up is listed on the PopUp Republic national pop-up directory.”

Have You Ever Run a Pop-up?

            The poll also asked consumers if they every managed or ran a pop-up store. Remarkably, only 2 percent say they have done so.  

            “This startling low figure reveals most Americans are unclear as to what defines a pop-up,” said Baras. “If you’ve ever conducted a yard or garage sale, or set up a table at a flea market to sell collectibles or items you’ve made, you have run a pop-up.

            “And, you might have started your pop-up career at a very young age,” he added. “That lemonade stand you ran as a youngster with your sibling was, in fact, a pop-up!” 

            The common feature of all pop-ups is that they are temporary and can last an hour, a day, a week or months, but by definition, have a beginning and an end. PopUp Republic recently estimated the growing pop-up industry rings up some $50 billion in annual sales.

            Founded in 2012 in Boston and now based in Chicago, PopUp Republic is a leading service provider for the burgeoning pop-up industry. Among its many offerings are an online directory that displays thousands of pop-ups occurring nationwide providing a one-stop shop for shopping enthusiasts, and an array of marketing services to help pop-up hosts promote their spaces. Information is available at www.popuprepublic.com.

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*The PopUp Republic poll results are based on the responses of 1,224 adults, ages 18 and older and living in the United States, who completed an online survey Sept. 29-30, 2014. The sample was managed to reflect the demographics of the U.S. population.