Have Pop-Ups Pooped Out?

Pop-Ups are all the rage, it seems, all over.  On weekends, especially, there are an inordinate number of Pop-Ups in Southeast Queens (and other places), many being scheduled at the same time and close together in proximity. 

Some are from the heart, the cool new idea and a few are about paying the rent for the business and drawing more traffic. 

From Retail is Detail: "The concept of pop-up stores also known as the guerrilla store was popularized by Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçons. Its founder, Rei Kawakubo, opened the label’s first pop-up store in Berlin in 2004. Since then, the fashion label has been making its mark around the world through pop-up stores in Warsaw, Helsinki, Singapore, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Glasgow, etc. These stores are usually only open for a year and are situated in unpredictable locations away from fashion hubs and districts. The temporal and anti-establishment nature of these pop-up stores has enabled the label to constantly evolve and build a name for itself in the fashion space. This pop-up concept was quickly embraced by the progressive fashion industry players as a way of bringing exclusive tastemakers to the stores.

Noting the appeal of pop-up stores to consumers, this guerrilla marketing tactic is no longer exclusively used by the fashion industry.

Retailers and brand owners value the pop-up store tactic for:

• Creating an instant buzz;
• Allowing for non-committal exposure;
• Creating opportunities for brands to experiment;
• Informal, cost-effective test-beds for new products and concepts"

Retail Is Detail

Then the concept headed over to the UK, also where Designers were able to draw interest.  Now here we are in 2021 and Pop-Ups are no longer limited to Fashion.  All types of Sellers are participating in Pop-Ups and this summer, well, there's a whole bunch of them scheduled for every weekend through to December. 

The Artist Market On Linden (now known as The Artist Market NYC) began in our Art Studio on Linden Blvd., in St. Albans/Southeast Queens sometime ago.  Our focus was and still is the smaller and more creative Entrepreneurs looking for a regular location vs. running from Street Fair to Street Fair.  

While not an original idea, it was for the area and has since integrated with all of our Events, especially the Film Festivals.

Our goals moving forward include returning to the original concept by featuring more unique Vendors/Entrepreneurs with more focus on them as "Business Owners" with purpose, personality and a story to tell. 

We do want to hear from you; what's your take on Pop-Up Shops?