What is a pop-up shop?

Point of Sale (POS) Glossary

A pop-up shop is a temporary retail location opened to sell seasonal or trendy merchandise. It is also known as pop-up retail and flash retailing. Halloween, Christmas and Fourth of July shops are frequent examples. Sometimes a large brand will open a pop-up shop to highlight their products.

Because these shops are temporary, the point of sale systems, fixtures, and signage appear differently than permanent stores. POS terminals may be portable tablets, and signs may be banners. There is often a tendency to have more interactive and exciting displays in these stores as they are designed to have flair.

In some cases, these pop-up stores may seem risky to consumers since it is known they will not be there for the long-term, and sales may be considered final. If a large brand sponsors the store, then a customer might still be protected in the event of a problem.