Seasonal Shopping

Where would we be without those special sales that come with the seasons? There are things we all need and want, and when we can get them on sale, well, all the better.

Why not find a small town or village within a city near you and have a look at some interesting shops? There might be some things that you can’t find anywhere else!

Shopping – Everyone loves it!

The above photograph was taken while visiting a shopping district in Buffalo called Elmwood Village. I thought the shoes leading to the store were a clever idea. Of course, I followed the shoes and found some interesting finds.

Pop-Up Shops Are Your Seasonal Friends

You can find Pop-Up Shops that are set up for seasonal sales.
These stores are often set up in otherwise empty storefronts and give the vendor a good deal on rent for a short time. This helps a vendor try out a product or business that would otherwise take a lot of investment to set up.

Store space in a downtown area or a mall often costs thousands of dollars per month, and the vendor must sign a lease. In some cases, leases are for a minimum of five years. This is viable for many already branded stores but risky for the new entrepreneur.

Because a Pop-Up Shop may be set up for a period of from six weeks to six months, it allows a creative entrepreneur a good test of their products or services.

Shopping at a Pop-Up Shop can be good for the shopper also. Sometimes you can find items that are unique and different. Or you can take advantage of the close-out sale when a Pop-Up has run its course.

Art Markets and such that are often set up alongside a fair offer fun shopping, and you can find artistic offerings that are not available in a regular store.

The Pop-Up Shop is a Win-Win for the Shopper and Entrepreneur. Here are some ideas.

• A Pop-Up Shop is a great way to test out a new product line and see how customers react to it. Sometimes you want to generate awareness for a Cause, a Pop-Up Shop can be a good way to do this.
• Setting up a Pop-Up Shop is a good strategy for an entrepreneur but once the store is gone, it can be difficult for a customer to get help with a product, follow-up on a service or learn more about the Cause.
• This is where a website comes in. It is a good idea to set up a website first with everything you intent to try out in the Pop-Up Shop. You can have an online shopping cart, a place for email sign-ups and this will help customers feel secure in their purchases.

The Pop-Up Shop as an Add-On to an existing store

Sometimes a vendor has a shop already. It is doing well, but then a downturn in sales happen. Why is this happening, they ask themselves. They are doing the same marketing and advertising, what happened? There are several things a vendor can do and a Pop-Up Shop is one.

• Arrange to set up a Pop-Up Shop in a location some distance away from your regualar store. Perhaps the neighborhood village no longer attracts the customers you need. Perhaps your sales staff are becoming tired but you are not sure. Perhaps buyers want an updated product or something different altogether.
• We are in an age of Disruptions. Market research through a Pop-Up Shop may just prove to give you the new answers you need.
• Change the staff, change the displays, change the location and change some of your products. These ideas will help you test what could help increase sales your regular store.
• Pop-up retail is the perfect way for your store to take advantage of seasonal trends and also offer shoppers a products specially dedicated to a particular holiday or season. Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Mothers and Fathers Day, Summer specials and other seasonal offerings can be a good idea for a temporary shop.
• Temporary stores can take time and additional staff to set up and take down, even so, considering the savings of possibly up to 40% on space rental this is a good opportunity for additional sales without a long term committment.

Don’t forget to browse online for shopping these days.

As a vendor or a shopper for a Pop-Up Store it is a good thing to have a back up to plan to reach each other in case there is a need for futher assistance in regards to a purchase. Pop-Up stores can gain a long term following from customers who appreciate their products or services.

One rule of thumb in business of all kinds is. “Satisfy one customer, gain another. Disatisfy one customer, lose ten or more.” In my career I have built several businesses and it is not easy. But once you have built a loyal customer base through good products and services you find your business has much more staying power.

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by Trina Astor-Stewart (Author)