Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In
Retail

Retail, Reinvented: The Rise of the Pop-Up Shop

How do pop-ups from brands like SKIMS and Shein affect local foot traffic? We explore more in this post.

By 
Bracha Arnold
March 14, 2023
Retail, Reinvented: The Rise of the Pop-Up Shop
SHARE
Explore our free tools to get timely insights into key industries
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
Key Takeaways

Pop-up shops are nothing new on the retail scene, with Japanese fashion house Comme de Garcons debuting the "guerrilla shop" back in 2004. Since then, more and more retailers have jumped on the pop-up train, seeing the format as a fast, affordable, and engaging way to promote their products. We take a closer look at a few different pop-up retail experiences to understand how brands can leverage this format to expand their reach and tap into new markets.

SKIMS Swimwear: Branching Out From Brick-and-Mortar Partners 

Kim Kardashian debuted her shapewear line, SKIMS, in 2019, “breaking the internet” and  selling $2 million worth of products within minutes of the launch. The Kardashian-Jenners are no strangers to hyped-up product launches, and the launch of Swim by SKIMS was no exception. The entrepreneur chose the Miami Design District as the launch location for her collection in March 2022, which resulted in huge demand that is a testament to the popularity of both SKIMS and the Kardashian brand. Lines snaked around the block, reflected in the foot traffic data – visits to the Design District increased by 31.8% the week of March 21st, the launch date, compared to the same week the previous year. 

SKIMS can be found online and in-store at Nordstrom, but pop-ups like the one in the Miami Design District are a great way for the brand to branch out and reach a new audience beyond its usual retail channels. And it's no surprise that the pop-up drew a crowd, with the social media savvy Kardashian likely utilizing her vast online following to drive attendance, highlighting the importance of social media strategy for retailers. 

Stranger Things: Exploring the Upside Down

Stranger Things, one of Netflix's most popular shows, is known for leaning into nostalgia. The show is set in the 1980s, and shopping malls play an essential role in the plotline. Leaning into that nostalgic vibe, Netflix chose to use malls for their experiential pop-up stores, allowing visitors to experience the Upside Down, Hawkins, and other central locations from the show. These stores, which serve as a retail destination for show merchandise and a promotional tool, have been met with enthusiasm from fans and elevated foot traffic to the mall.

One mall in Grapevine, Texas, hosted a Stranger Things pop-up between May 23rd, 2022, and August 14th, 2022. The mall saw a decided uptick in visits during the period. Pre-pop-up visits to the mall had remained relatively static compared to an April 4th, 2022 baseline. In May, visits began to increase, and the week of the pop-up's launch saw visits up nearly 50% (compared to an April baseline). This trend continued until the pop-up closed in mid-August. The success of this pop-up serves as a reminder of the appeal an immersive shopping experience can have on consumer behavior.

Shein: Fast Fashion Pulling Crowds from Afar

Shein is one of the biggest clothing retailers in the world. The Chinese fast fashion brand was founded in 2008 as a B2C brand and has grown to a fashion powerhouse, fueled by its influencer collaborations and popularity on TikTok. And though the company rose to prominence online, Shein has been leaning into physical retail more and more in recent years, with a permanent location opening in Japan. Shein has also begun considering the U.S. market for more store openings and, to that end, has started experimenting with pop-ups across the country. 

One pop-up took place in The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, Texas, over a weekend in August 2022. The pop-up was a success, with thousands of customers lining up, and weekly visits growing by 33.0% compared to the previous week. But aside from seeing more visitors than the last and following weeks did, visitors from the mall also came from farther away than usual. Comparing the mall's True Trade Areas (TTA) in the weeks immediately preceding and following the Shein pop-up shows that the mall’s TTA was significantly larger the week of the pop-up, drawing visitors from areas that don’t usually feed visits to the shopping center. In other words, the pop-up not only brought in more visitors to the mall, it helped reach new customers.  

Increasing Reach With Pop-Ups

The retail revolution is well underway, with more brands and consumers seeking unique shopping experiences. And in a time when many stores may struggle to get customers through the door, collaborating with other brands and retailers can help provide a needed boost and increase foot traffic for shops, retail corridors, and malls alike.

For more data-driven insights, visit placer.ai/blog

Learn how downtown regions across US cities are measuring up with our free tools.
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
Explore our free tools to get timely insights into key industries
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
SHARE
Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week
Subscribe to the newsletter
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Recent Publications

Get 3 brand & industry breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter
Text Link
Pop-Up Shops
Looking Ahead to the 2024 Holiday Season
Trader Joe's: Continuing to Thrive in 2024
Bowlero and AMF: A Ten-Pin Knockout
Recreational Retail: Store Performance in 2024
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – September 2024
A QSR and Fast-Casual Face-Off
Sam’s Club’s In-Store Retail Media Network Opportunity
The Rising Stars: Six Metro Areas Welcoming Young Professionals
Costco in 2024: A Deep Dive
Sherwin-Williams in 2024: Brighter Than a New Lick of Paint
Life Time and Orangetheory: Premium Fitness Flourishing
C-Stores: More Than A Pit Stop
Darden: Dining Dominance Undeterred 
Placer 100 Index for Retail and Dining: August 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: August 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: August 2024 Recap – Back-To-School In Full Swing
Auto Parts Retailers: The Traffic Continues
Pumpkin Spice Works its Magic Once Again
School Season Sparks Retail Growth
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – July & August 2024
Big Lots’ Big Rightsizing Move in Four Data Points
Fun Away From The Sun: Checking in With Eatertainment
Domestic Migration and Population Growth: Strong Currents Off The Carolina Coast
The Civic Impact of Summer Events
Retail Trends in College Towns: A Back-to-School Snapshot
Five Below and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet: Consumers Still on the Hunt for Discounts
Macy’s & Bloomingdale’s: Into 2024 and Beyond
Limited Time Only: The Trend Continues
Beauty in 2024: Many Ways to Win
Dollar General & Dollar Tree: Powering Ahead in Q2 2024
The Home Depot and Lowe's Foot Traffic Remodel in Q2 2024
Superstore Update: Summer Savings Spree
Placer.ai Mall Index: July 2024 Recap – From Fourth of July to Back-to-School
Placer.ai Office Index: July 2024 Recap
Summer Movie Madness: Blockbuster Films Boost Foot Traffic
Driving Success: Toyota in 2024
Denny’s and IHOP: An All-Day Breakfast Matchup
Warby Parker: Seeing Clearly Now
Planet Fitness at the 2024 Halfway Point
Serving Summer 2024: RBI and Yum! Brands Q2 Foot Traffic
Starbucks, Dutch Bros., Dunkin’: Finding Summer Success
Fast Food and Fast Casual Favorites, Plus CosMc’s Takeoff
Chipotle and Sweetgreen: Fast-Casual in Q2 2024
First Watch, Texas Roadhouse, and Applebee’s: An FSR Roundup
Albertsons Companies: H1 2024 Recap
Teaming Up For Success: Sports Stadium Sponsorships
Limited Time Offers: Price Wars Boost Visits
Placer 100 Index for Retail & Dining: June 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: June 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: June 2024 Recap
Inside Out 2: The New Blockbuster Bringing Crowds Back to Theaters
Petco and PetSmart: A Head to Head
Frozen Delights: Exploring Ice Cream Chains Across America
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – June 2024
Barnes & Noble: Writing a New Story
Small Format Stores - Sprouting, Blooming, and Expanding
Retail and Dining on Father’s Day
Thrift Store Visit Scores
Charting Value Grocery’s Visit Growth
Placer 100 Index for Retail & Dining: Introduction and May 2024 Recap
Digging Into Darden: Q2 2024 Update
2024 Retail and Dining Trends Update
TRU and avid: Midscale Hotels on the Rise 
Diving Into Kroger: A Strong Start to 2024
Placer.ai Mall Index: May 2024 Recap – Mall Visits on the Rebound
Placer.ai Office Index: May 2024 Recap
2024 Memorial Day Recap
Las Vegas: A Tourism and Migration Deep Dive
Eatertainment Chains: Full on Food, Fun, and Foot Traffic
The Promise of Luxury Apparel
Catching Up With Ulta Beauty & Gap Brands
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Five Below: Q1 2024 Treasure Troves
CAVA Still Going Strong
Driving Success: Auto Parts Chains in 2024
Checking in With DICK’S Sporting Goods
Mother’s Day Shopping and Dining Trends
Placer.ai Mall Index: April 2024 Recap – Retail Resilience Heading into Spring
Dollar Stores Still Gaining Momentum
Off-Price Apparel Chains After Q1 2024: Demographics in the Balance
Walmart, Target, and Wholesale Clubs Continue to Thrive
Home Improvement and Decor Check In
Placer.ai Office Index: April 2024 Recap – Recovery Continues
Movie Theaters in Q1 2024: A Preview of Coming Attractions?
Let’s Get Physical: Fitness In 2024
Where Are Workers Returning to Office in 2024?
2024 Wins: Sweetgreen & First Watch on the Rise
A Full-Service Turnaround: Bloomin’, Dine, and Texas Roadhouse
Wendy’s and Denny’s: Breakfast and Late Night Dining Drives Success
Coffee Chains: Q1 2024 Update and What’s Changed Since COVID
Checking in with RBI and YUM!
Chipotle & McDonald's Serving Up Success
Wingstop & Shake Shack Continue Growing Their Reach 
Strong Start for Sprouts in 2024
Crocs’ Footwear Fairytale
Who Attends NCAA Final Four Events?
Eclipse Fever: How Did the (Retail and Hospitality) Stars Align?
Exploring Albertsons Companies’ Grocery Growth
Placer.ai Mall Index: March 2024 Recap – Malls Rise Again
Placer.ai Office Index: March 2024 Recap
Florida Spring Break Break-Up? Travelers Still Love Florida!