Established in 1999
Vacant is best known for pioneering pop-up retail.
History
Vacant is best known for pioneering pop-up retail. Style.com called Vacant a 'moveable feast' back in 2003, planeshop, our rotating retail concept for Airports made the 'Top 10 business ideas' in Springwise in 2010. We have received press on MTV, Financial Times, Vogue, Entrepeneur, Trendwatching, CNN Money, Chicago Tribune, Easyjet, Fox 5, Brutus, Figaro, NY Times, WWD, Travel & Leisure, I.D Magazine and Elle, etc.
We provide turnkey solutions for brands that require pop-up activations and brand marketing, as well as interactive technology, projection mapping, staffing, build and acquirement of globally targeted heavy footfall prime real estate. Through our partners we provide real estate and legal assistance, permits, viral marketing, social media campaigns and guerrilla marketing which builds awareness to a product or brand.
Short term real estate
Property owners and brokers did not waste any time closing the door on our first stores, eager to only entertain a long term tenants offer. Short term rentals were not an option. Beyond the scope of brokers and real estate agents we have the added knowledge of commercial property with liens against them, and non-paying tenants, ensuring we are able to identify the best option to meet your budget.
We have developed a straight forward pricing structure for companies and brands looking for real estate only for pop-up, and have expanded our team accordingly. You can waste a lot of time on websites reviewing spaces from middlemen and pay more, or you can pay us a scouting fee, with the option to work with us every step of your marketing project if desired.
What is a pop-up shop
A pop-up shop is a short term or temporary store used by companies to build brand awareness, launch a new product, test a consumer market or targeted retail location, including experiential marketing.
Nowadays, the term pop-up has become a buzz word for just about anything temporary. There is a 'science to a successful pop-up shop'. Major brands understand the potential with pop-up activation for experiential marketing, however emerging brands have to tread carefully, as there are a lot of companies in the marketplace now attempting to lease space for short term, and most of these spaces are unsuitable for a retail activation.
Pop-up shops are increasing in popularity during major events and holidays for companies to secure locations for heavy foot traffic and seasonal retail. For example, we place companies in real estate locations for the following global events; Shanghai fashion week, Brazil World Cup, London Fashion Week, Black Friday and Thanksgiving holidays in NY, LA and Chicago and NY Fashion week, SxSW and ComicCon.
Back in the day
Some of our earliest customers and guests include Robin Williams (Actor), Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgewick (Actors) Alec Wek (Model), DJ Shadow (Musician), Fred Durst, Stash (Graffiti Artist and Designer), Futura (Graffiti Artist and Designer), Kostas (Artist), ESPO (Artist). More recently, Stefanie Scott from Disney's Ant Farm and David Bowie.
Anywhere in the world you need pop-up.
London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Beijing, Shibuya, Harajuku, Manila, Sydney.
Some of the clients we have worked with over the last 15 years.
HBO Game of Thrones Container Pop-up at SxSW, Austin, Texas
It all begins with the location.
In pop-up retail, when it comes to a successful location for your business or your client, forget vacant and for lease properties in undesirable places. We place you in heavy footfall, targeted locations where your brand will build media attention as well as generate revenue. We provide a customized location plan according to your brands requirements and target audience. With 15 years of pop-up retail experience, our global team operates in key retail markets so if you are thinking of launching a pop-up in Shanghai, Shibuya or Manila, we have a team in place that speak the language.
Pop-up and short term real estate has no set pricing. We negotiate the best possible rate according to the market, the type of property required and your project. We have reviewed over 1260 short term license agreements from property owners and have brokers on our team to handle every type of real estate contract.
No set pricing
Pop-up and short term real estate has no set pricing. We negotiate the best rate according to the market rate, the type of property and your project. We have reviewed over 1260 short term license agreements from property owners and have brokers on our team to handle every type of real estate contract.
Property management
We provide 24 hour property management to ensure your property is secure, and we also provide security for events at your pop-up if required.
Select properties
Most properties we have scouted and negotiated for brands and developed successful pop-up stores for, have been leased by major brands after our departure. Delta Airlines, Johnny Walker, Warby Parker and Carolina Herrera including others have all secured the retail space we have left behind.
Permits
We provide permitting in all states and countries, including food and special activity permits, alcohol, fire and retail permits, local community permissions, ensuring your pop-up activation opens without any issues or concerns for you or your client.
Tips
Beware websites offering short term rental listings. With all the hype these websites create, they are simply middlemen, between you and the property. In most cases they work with the tenant of the retail location, not the property owner which places you at risk, as most tenants are not permitted to sub lease their property to you. If it says the property is available for pop-up, it usually means no brand would want the property for long term, as its either situated in a low footfall area or has zero potential for retail or brand marketing.
Don't forget the property owner will require a security deposit for any commercial real estate you lease from them. This can be as little as 3K to as much as 35K. If we provide you with a turnkey solution, you are not responsible for the security deposit.
We have developed a straight forward pricing structure for companies looking for real estate only for pop-up, and have expanded our team accordingly. You can waste a lot of time on websites reviewing spaces, and pay more, or you can pay us a scouting fee, with the option to work with us every step of your marketing project if desired. Our pricing structure will be announced shortly.
Bob Dylan pop-up shop in Los Angeles, CA
HBO Game of Thrones Container pop-up
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Our turnkey activation for HBO included shipping container modifications to highlight the brands marketing and retail activities. The entire wall of the container drops down to reveal the companies product selection.
Consumers browsing the Game of Thrones pop-up container.
The Game of Thrones container is delivered into place at SxSW.
Guests shopping at the GOT Container at UCLA, Los Angeles.
A selection of products from the Game of Thrones container.
Like these pics of the Game of Thrones container pop-up shop. See more details of this project and learn about our permitting capabilities in our deck by contacting us.
Kangol 75th Anniversary Pop-up Store
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Our design and construction for Kangol for their 75th Anniversary included a 25 foot long Union Jack mirror fixture to showcase their collaboration with Disney. The fixture is designed to break apart and provide a different retail view for the consumer.
The Fader magazine launch at Kangol's 75th Anniversary pop-up store in NYC.
Nylon launches their next issue at the Kangol pop-up store on Lafayette Street in NYC.
Like these pics of the Kangol pop-up shop. See more of our projects with Pharrell, Reebok, Puma, Harajuku Lovers etc. in our deck by contacting us.
The Beatles Double Decker pop-up shop
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We developed a turnkey pop-up retail concept aboard an original 1960 London Routemaster bus for the launch of the Beatles stereo vinyl box set. The project involved multiple stops throughout NYC with a simultaneous event running in Los Angeles.
On route to the second location in the FInancial district.
Our design for the Beatles double decker pop-up shop logo.
Our stop on Lower Broadway in NYC.
Like to see more images from the Beatles double decker pop-up shop ? See more of our projects in our deck by contacting us.
If you would like to see more of our work, please contact us for our deck.
Capabilities
We provide global turnkey pop-up solutions, from real estate procurement, location scouting, local competitor and anchor tenant statistics including consumer analysis to concept design, 3D rendering and custom fabrication, interior buildout, permitting, legal assistance, local translation, global staffing, retail merchandising and POS. Additional capabilities include carnets, freight and trucking to property management, printing, lighting, interactive retail technologies, face + eye tracking and NFC mobile apps ensuring your project is launched on-time.
Store Design
From brainstorming concept ideas with your team to design and 3D rendering of your pop-up activation, we use the latest technology to deliver your project.
Airport retail
Thinking of an airport activation, everything is delivered to meet airport building and safety codes. We also work with TSA and international security, provide badged staffing to manage the project, with printing to meet fire standards for the airport.
Real estate
We provide targeted commercial real estate in global markets for your activation. Our experience ensures you are provided with locations which meet your expectations.
Permitting
Permits are one of the many items, most companies executing pop-ups overlook. Food permits, alcohol sales and temporary serving permits, DWM inspections, location permits, change of use permits as well as assistance with special event permits, tax requirements, we ensure your company and your clients have all the necessary paperwork before your pop-up is launched.
Public Relations
Our partners have worked for everyone in the business, we place our PR partner according to your project requirements. It may be someone who has launched events for Warby Parker or Jack Spade, or completed work for a liquor brand like Johnny Walker or Absolut, it may be a fragrance specialist, or a video game media expert. We provide social media marketing, as well as live event blogging.
Buildout
Our team builds and constructs your pop-up shop location to our approved designs, taking care of every detail. Everything from CNC routing to fixture build, carpentry, temporary walls, structural engineering, licensed electrical work, prop styling, and printing.
Consulting
Simply need us to oversee your project, or guide your team through the process, or build a detailed rendering and design with an overview of available properties which meet your criteria. Contact us for more information.
Event management
We provide complete event management if required, from securing an alcohol sponsor to providing PR, red carpet, step and repeat, security, policing and DJ, equipment, additional lighting and permits for your events.
Sourcing
Through our factory connections in China and Pakistan, we produce high quality footwear, clothing, molds, sculpts, promotional items and special edition products for your pop-up store to enhance the consumer experience. As its almost the World Cup, we also produce soccer balls to the highest quality and detail, and have produced balls for Harajuku Lovers, Reebok and 10 Deep. Information on request.
POS
We provide mobile point of sale according to the type of brand application we are working on. Over the years we have evaluated, tested and continue to utilise eight different merchant systems, with different card payment and integrated databases to provide clients with reporting and activity as well as files to import/export to your system. All programs we utilise are PCI compliant.
Staffing
We have staffing in place globally. No more worries about workers comp in the US, or local authorities in other countries. We have project management in place in most major cities to oversee your brand execution, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Our staff are trained to represent your brand.
Technology
Twitter feeds and walls, #selfie printers, NFC tags and smart posters, face + eye tracking, interactive walls, floors and windows, digital applications, projection mapping, mini sites, digital treasure hunts, we develop and design applications with our partners and in-house to enhance the brand consumer experience.
Media deck
If you would like to request our deck, we will require a signed NDA. Please provide your company information if requesting our media deck, alternatively call us at (917) 445 1779 to discuss your opportunity.
Real estate and permits
For all real estate and permit enquiries, please call us at (917) 445 1779 for urgent requests with less than two weeks to your launch. Yes, we can still turnaround your project with 14 days or less to execution.
Vacant LLC
new york city (917) 445 1779
los angeles (323) 788 3294
contact@pop-upshop.com
need our business card. text 'POPUP' to 50500