Hello! Kiera here!
If you are reading this now I can only assume that you are interested in hosting one of our lovely pop up spaces very soon, right? Well, if that’s the case then read on! In this post, we are going to give you some handy tips from the Contemporary by Barker Proudlove team and previous hosts so you can be as prepared as possible for hosting your very own pop up shop.
First of all, DO NOT WORRY! Although we can understand that the idea of having a space on the high street could be daunting for some, we can assure you that it is a fun and an enjoyable experience!
Paperwork (ugh)
Let’s get the boring stuff out the way first... Paperwork! This might seem a boring job but it is so vital. Without a signed document your pop up can’t go ahead! So, make sure you sign your licence when you receive it via email and return it to myself or Jess… (jessica@barkerproudlove.co.uk) (kiera@barkerproudlove.co.uk). As soon as you sign your licence you are confirmed to go ahead -so just bare that in mind too!
Stock
Make sure to bring plenty of stock with you! Be optimistic about what you will sell. If you think the worst case scenario is that nobody will visit or buy anything… imagine the worst case scenario of having to run home every night to make more stock! Or worse… imagine an empty shop! Plenty of our previous hosts have thought we were mad when we said bring plenty of stock… so this top tip comes from experience… it is always best to bring a lot rather than a little.
Social media
Each of our pop ups has its own dedicated pop up page to give you individual exposure for your pop up week(s). Feel free to send us photos for promotion on our page! We would also recommend building up the excitement a few weeks in advance through your own social media platforms. Doing this gives people an opportunity to plan their trip to the pop up but also build a good support base for you!
Word can spread quickly online so don’t underestimate the power of social media!
Planning
It may seem really obvious but PLAN! Having a plan for each aspect of your time in the shop will avoid any hiccups along the way. Your shop setup is a key factor to consider, visual merchandising can go a long way and help get customers through the doors!
What our previous hosts have to say…
Don’t just take our word for it! We caught up with a previous host from The Lanes Pop Up Little Fawn Toys to give us some tips, in which they said:
“ A Sumup card machine was my essential bit of kit for card payments but, don’t underestimate people paying cash, so make sure you have loose change available too.
Don’t buy as many paper carrier bags as you think! Most people have a reusable one.
A receipt book is handy both for receipts but also for keeping track of what you have sold.”
We also caught up with recent Harrogate Pop Up host Martha & Bea, here are some of the tips she had to give:
“ Consider your setup of the space. This is the first thing people will see. You may need to consider bringing extra lighting for products you want to showcase.
Having the radio/ music on low creates a welcoming atmosphere.
Regularly clean and dust the shop so it all looks presentable”
We hope that these tips were useful for your preparation and if you’re already booked in with us.. we wish you all the best of luck in your pop up venture, if not… what are you waiting for!
If you are interested in finding out more about our pop up spaces, simply visit our page: https://www.contemporarybybp.co.uk/pop-up-spaces and click the “book now” button on the page about your desired location to send us your interest!