Whenever we think about retail, we tend to think about brick-and-mortar. And in a post-pandemic world, online retail.

But have you considered pop up retail?

Pop-up is a trend of opening short-term sales spaces that last anywhere between a few hours to a few days before closing down! Put simply, these are temporary shops that suddenly 'pop up' out of nowhere!

People in Mumbai have encountered Sweetish House Mafia, a homegrown cookie brand that used to 'pop up' in their car at pre-decided spots in suburban Mumbai. Dressfolk sells high street sustainable and ethical fashion wear without an inventory model. Along with an online store, they also organize pop-ups, take your order, and deliver it to your doorstep in a few days. Fab Box is a healthy snacking company, and also a Malpani Ventures portfolio company. The company has an online store, presence on food delivery platforms, retail chains, and has also started setting up pop-ups in various parts of Mumbai to reach directly to their customers while reducing friction, customer acquisition cost, and greatly increasing personal touch!

Why consider pop-ups?

1. Takes minimal space

You do not need a large space to set up your store. Depending on the size of your products, your inventory, and consequently your sales target for the day - you can customize your space requirements! Moreover, with the pandemic causing downward lease adjustments, closing storefronts and empty spaces in malls or shopping centers, landlords are more than willing to offer a little space for a few quick bucks.

2. Reach your customers directly

You do not want your customers to take the pain to come to you! With a pop-up, you can go where your customers are! And you do not necessarily have to stay in one place. You can be lean and agile, and change your location to smartly track your customer's presence.

For example, knowing that customers are more likely to stay at home than be in malls during this pandemic, Fab Box went ahead and set up pop-up stores in residential communities!

3. Pop-ups can help online visibility

Not everyone has been to your online store and knows about your brand! But if someone sees your pop-up store at a mall or residential community or their office building, they are more likely to go ahead and look you up online. This is a fantastic way of acquiring customers.

We believe pop-ups will become increasingly important in a post-pandemic world as more and more business owners understand the inefficiencies of only an online or an offline play. A pop-up offers you the best of both worlds without simply relying on just one customer acquisition, and servicing channel. A pop-up store is a fantastic way to be frugal, lean, and profitable by keeping fixed costs low, geographic reach flexible, and reach customers directly without a brick-and-mortar presence!

The future is frugal and innovative.