Are you thinking about opening up a pop up shop? You are in luck as London is one of the best cities in the world to do so. With consumers always looking to be wowed by the next new thing, London's retail landscape is ever-evolving, trying to create memorable experiences one way or the other.
Having the most pop up shops in Europe, expect many potential customers in the UK capital, whether you want to introduce a new product to the market or test a new restaurant idea.
Flexible setup? State-of-the-art AV? Ample space? Whether you are looking for large industrial chic warehouses or high street storefronts, finding a pop up venue with high foot traffic in London won't be a problem.
Giggster offers a convenient way to find pop up venues for hire that can match your style and bring your vision to life. Scroll our curated listings and book the perfect pop up location today!
Looking for a new location for product launches? Or perhaps you need a new way to boost sales and promote your business? On Giggster, we share hundreds of spaces in London with high foot traffic and consumers who are always on the lookout for novelty.
Excited to launch a new hair product or shift excess stock? A fashion pop-up event in artsy Shoreditch could bring you closer to your target audience. Think of a gallery or a storefront.
There's nothing like a pop up shop in Central London to promote your new brand. Is a studio on the first floor of a warehouse suitable? Or is it an outdoor space that could work better? The streets in the city centre are always busy, and you can rest assured you'll find your target demographic, or they will find you.
If you're looking for a good location for an end-of-the-season sale, look no further than a high street storefront in Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, or Abbey Road. Set up your temporary shop and watch your old stock fly off the shelves.
Is it time to take your online store to the next level? Look for a pop up venue in a well-frequented and well-connected area, like a shopping centre. You will know in a week if a physical store will be just as successful.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: From rooftop venues for product launches to loft studios and shopping centres, London has 1342 pop up shops whether you want to get rid of old inventory, boost brand awareness or place a food stand.
Hassle-Free Booking: Giggster makes it super easy to find the perfect place to set up shop. Book carefully curated listings from Shoreditch to Soho to Notting Hill, guaranteed to provide a unique experience. Pop up venues on our app start at just £17/hour.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Pop up events get cancelled all the time, and if that happens to you, you can easily reschedule. Book your pop up store with the assurance of free cancellations for bookings cancelled within 24 hours of confirmation, provided the booking is made at least 48 hours before the event.
Platform Protections: When planning a pop up event, the last thing you need is bad advertising on day one. Protect yourself and your customers from unforeseen incidents by choosing Giggster's optional protection packages for damages and liability. Booking the ideal venue like Bright, renovated Islington Community Space in London will be a breeze after that.
Pop up venues are all the rage in London these days. But like most event spaces and venues in the UK capital, pop up shops are not all roses, and you may come across some challenges.
Advantages
Temporary retail spaces allow you to inspect a new location and give it a trial run without fully committing to opening a new store.
There is no commitment to a long-term lease, which will significantly reduce costs for rent.
Customers are more likely to buy from you immediately if they know the store and products can be gone any minute.
Disadvantages
Pop up shops have a limited timeframe, which might not be enough to get the trust and loyalty of new customers.
Location means everything with a pop up store. There's always the risk of slow sales if foot traffic is low.
With a pop store, there is a level of uncertainty. It could be hard to establish your business at a new location, and you never know if you'll have other pop up opportunities.
A good rule of thumb when choosing a location for a pop up shop is to know the foot traffic and demographics. Giggster offers 1342 exceptional pop up spaces suited for all kinds of pop ups, whether you want to set up shop in central London, South Kensington or Knightsbridge.
Shopping Centres – Popular Areas. Buzzing shopping centres always have exciting experiences to offer visitors. These locations have great visibility and are easily accessible by public transport, which makes them one of the most sought-after pop up venues.
Galleries – Creative Zones. Are you looking for new ways to engage your customers? Will a contemporary gallery with an intriguing exterior suffice? Most gallery spaces on Giggster offer an imaginative space minus the hefty price tag. These locations are often ready to be used, and can organize staff, catering and other vendors to help elevate your pop up business.
Outdoor Spaces – Stunning Backdrops. Parks, gardens and other outdoor spaces make excellent locations for pop ups. Draw attention to your pop up kiosk in your neighbourhood park with eye-catching menus and advertising.
Warehouses – Expansive Space. If the artist in you is searching for non-traditional premises for one-of-a-kind experiences, warehouses could fit right in. Explore industrial premises in busy neighbourhoods and draw media attention with exciting marketing strategies.
Blank Canvas Spaces – Versatile Backdrops. Unlike art galleries and shopping centres where you already have something to work with, blank slates like warehouses, apartments, lofts or studios give you the space to do whatever setup best fits your business.
Whether you're setting up a weekend-long exhibit or popping up a new food truck in front of the shopping centre, visit diverse pop ups to see how they operate and keep track of important details. Explore the neighbourhood and monitor times with the highest foot traffic. We made this simple planning guide to help you open your pop up shop without a hitch.
Hire Staff – Are you opening a food stand in your favorite park? Perhaps you're planning a big pop up event? Regardless of the type and size of business, you can't do it solo, no matter what. To ensure a great kickstart, hire staff that can help out with setting up, selling, promoting, or simply being there to answer customers' questions.
Kickstart with a Party – Every grand opening deserves a buzz-worthy event. Think special promotions, early booking discounts, free samples and more accompanied by a DJ, a live music band and lots of drinks and food.
Advertise – Create an online buzz for your upcoming pop up shop; you'll be surprised by how much social media can influence the crowd. Create stories, go live, take people behind the scenes and build anticipation for the big day.
It's Launch Time – The big day has finally arrived! Do one last check to ensure everything is ready to go. This is the best time to connect with customers and keep them entertained and eager to learn more about your products. They will surely want to come back.
Between utilities, staff salaries, insurance, marketing and beyond, the cost of setting up a pop up store can quickly pile up. Take these factors into account to help you stay within budget.
Choose your location carefully.
Rental fees can be one of the highest expenses when opening a pop up shop. The bigger the space and the central the location, the higher the rent. Explore a variety of affordable retail spaces, sizes, layouts and, most importantly, locations that will suit your business best without compromising quality. Pop ups on Giggster start at £17/hour.
Are you going to throw an opening party?
If you want to create a buzz for your grand opening, a DJ, a band or other performers can be useful to engage customers and passers-by. Have allocated funds for entertainment from the get-go and opt for local artists, friends of friends or talented family members to reduce your costs.
DIY decor and design.
Hiring an interior designer to transform the space to match your vision can be costly. Depending on the size of your pop-up space, you can choose to do all the decor, design and branding yourself or with a little help from your friends.
Pop up spaces in London are plenty. Whether you want to get out of your comfort zone with a brick-and-mortar store or explore the potential of a new location for your beauty shop, Giggster gives you access to a number of pop up spaces in London, ready to turn your pop up store vision into an overnight success. Browse favourite locations across the city and secure that storefront you've been eyeing for a while now.