Your Pop-Up Shop Checklist: 9 Essential Items (2024)

If you’re considering opening a pop-up shop, there are several important items you’ll need to ensure a successful launch. From securing a venue to decorating your space, there are many details to consider. In this article, we’ve compiled a complete pop-up shop checklist to ensure a successful launch.

We’ll also be sharing a few possible venue options along the way from Peerspace, the world’s largest peer-to-peer digital marketplace for hourly venue rentals. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, these tips will help you make the most of your temporary retail space. Let’s dive in!

1. Don’t just pop up anywhere, book the perfect location through Peerspace

To find any item on our pop-up shop checklist, you’ll want to start your search on Peerspace. As the largest platform for hourly venue rentals, it’s also home to the widest selection of pop-up shop venues and flex spaces online.

You can search by specific styles, sizes, budgets, individual amenities, and more. You can also communicate directly with a local host to coordinate vendors and make other important preparations. There’s never any long-term commitment so you can book for as long, or as short as you want. Keep an eye out for some of the venue options we’ve sprinkled along this pop-up shop checklist to see what we mean!

2. Have extra seating and tables on hand to properly display your goods

The last thing you want is to run out of table space and have your products displayed poorly or out of sight. Visibility is key for potential customers so be sure to give them plenty of opportunities to actually see your product. On Peerspace, many pop-up shops and venues will have tables and chairs available as part of your listing, so you can chat with the host and plan accordingly.

This beautiful art gallery that’s just a few blocks from Philadelphia’s famous Liberty Bell is a great example. Not only do you have access to this gorgeous brick building for your pop-up, but included in the hourly rate are ample tables and chairs. You’ll see these on display when you check out the high-quality images uploaded by the host!

Check out these creative venue marketing ideas to bring in more business from day one!

3. Be sure to acquire a projector or screen for presentations

Does your pop-up involve a presentation or slideshow that accompanies it? Having some kind of projector or TV screen that you can hook up to is a must, especially if you’re using a program like PowerPoint or Prezi. If you don’t have this stuff lying around at home, don’t worry! Many of the listings you’ll find on Peerspace will have one available included in the hourly rental price or as an add-on.

If you’re in Charlotte, North Carolina, try out that quirky and colorful creative studio that’s just minutes from Uptown! It has everything you need to have a successful launch like a projector, screen, and more. It also comes extremely highly rated by Peerspace community members who have used it for a variety of events and productions.

4. Get stylish and strategic with decorations and signage

One of the most important things to get out of this pop-up shop checklist is that visuals can make or break your big day. Be sure to pick a cohesive theme with colors, signs, and decorations that draw in people walking by and dedicated customers alike.

Looking for a particular style or them? Search for specific styles like industrial, modern, chic, and more when you search for pop-up venues on Peerspace to find a space that suits your aesthetic!

5. Make payments easy for you and your customers by using a POS system

Most shoppers don’t carry extra cash, and making them run to an ATM might turn away some potential customers. Make sure that you have a state-of-the-art POS system on hand or something like Square with an iPad to keep lines moving and offer flexible payment methods.

If you don’t have access to one, find a location on Peerspace. For instance, we love this luxe retail creative space in Miami, FL that has one you can use! To add to the list of reasons this is a flexible, easy-to-use space, it also offers you a Clover POS system available to you if you want.

6. Ensure you have dining plates and utensils on hand

Are you serving food at your pop-up shop or having the event catered? It can be easy to overlook that you may need some extra dining plates and utensils on hand to feed everyone. On every Peerspace listing, there will be a detailed list of all of the available amenities, so you can find out if they have them for you to use already, or if you should make arrangements to get more.

For an all-inclusive option, try something like this cider bar in Central East Austin that has everything you need and more! It’s a spacious tasting room with mixed seating, A/V equipment, optional tastings, and even food boards and tables to feed your crowd.

Here are more creative pop-up shop ideas to enhance your event!

7. Start strong with smart marketing and promotion

To attract customers and generate buzz about your pop-up shop, it’s important to invest in marketing and promotional materials like flyers, social media ads, and influencer collaborations. Be sure to allocate sufficient time and budget for marketing efforts to spread word of mouth!

A major benefit of working with a dedicated local host on Peerspace is that, in many cases, they’ll be willing to share their local connections or expertise to help your event go well. You can team up on marketing materials, send over logos or graphics, and much more. After all, hosts are just as invested in their space looking great for the big day as you are. Teamwork makes the dream work!

8. Co-host a pop-up event with an established business to attract new customers

If this is your first pop-up event or you’re hosting an event for your new brand, pairing with an established business is a smart move. For instance, you can book time in a popular retail space that regularly runs campaigns with international brands and that can help introduce your goods to an existing customer base.

That’s precisely what this Melrose Avenue pop-up retail space in Los Angeles, CA offers you. They invite you to co-host an event with them, giving you the type of exposure that is rare for new brands. And this isn’t just any retail space, they’ve worked with brands like BTS to promote and see their merch!

According to Peerspace reviewers, this retail space is all about supporting you and your business goals. “This space is INCREDIBLE! We used it for our first pop-up shop and it was such a success. Eugene is also the BEST! So communicative and supportive. I would DEFINITELY rent this space again and plan to next year when we come back for another pop-up shop.”

9. Gauge success with sales and customer data analysis tools

As much as you’ll want to rest and recharge after your pop-up shop, there’s never a better time to start planning the next one! Use sales and customer data analysis tools as well as inventory tracking systems to determine what was successful, and what you’ll need to pivot for the next event.

Pop-up shop checklist: conclusion

As you can see, hosting a successful pop-up shop just takes passion and a pop-up shop checklist like this to keep you on track.

And remember, start searching on Peerspace and find the next great pop-up shop for you! There are thousands of options all across the United States and beyond all with their own unique charms and strengths. With so many dedicated hosts, you never know what you’ll find and who you’ll network with.

Find unique pop-up shop venues on Peerspace