TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to outline the origins and nature of the pop up retail phenomenon, examine the development and characteristics of pop up shops within the UK and offer some reflections on the impact of pop up shops within the UK’s town and city centres and on the role of pop up shops within the wider retail economy.Design/methodology/approach The paper begins with a brief review of the pop up retail phenomenon and this is followed by an examination of the development and characteristics of pop up shops in the UK. The information on which the paper is based is drawn from the corporate websites of pop up shop operators and property management companies and agencies.Findings The paper reveals that pop up shops have been developed in a variety of formats and locations within the UK and a number of factors driving pop up shop development are identified including high retail vacancy rates in shopping centres, relaxations in planning regulations, the opportunity for retailers and entrepreneurs to market test products and brands and changes in customer behaviour and consumer culture. Looking to the future pop up shops may make but a small physical contribution to increasing the number of retail units on the High Street but by enhancing the experiential environment for consumers, they may make an important contribution to the quality of shopping.Originality/value The paper provides an accessible review of the origins, development and possible impact of pop up shops within the UK and as such will interest property professionals, academics and students interested in changes in the retail environment.
VL  - 35
IS  - 5
SN  - 0263-7472
DO  - 10.1108/PM-10-2016-0055
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/PM-10-2016-0055
AU  - Jones Peter
AU  - Comfort Daphne
AU  - Hillier David
PY  - 2017
Y1  - 2017/01/01
TI  - A commentary on pop up shops in the UK
T2  - Property Management
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 545
EP  - 553
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -