Following months of closure for many retailers on UK high streets, pop-up marketplace The Pop-Up Club is back as the country starts to reopen. The company organises artisan markets and pop-ups in empty retail units and will provide a much-needed boost to footfall on flagging high streets. Founded in 2017 by entrepreneur Tillie Peel, the company works with local makers and offers them an outlet to sell their crafts to shoppers and will launch in Seven Dials in London on Monday 17th May and Chelmsford on now running on the first Sunday of every month, with further pop-up events planned across the UK for later in the year.
With many using lockdown as an opportunity to turn side hustles into businesses and consumers increasingly looking to shop at independents to support small companies following lockdown, The Pop-Up Club will be a welcome addition to empty retail units and markets that will last several months. In 2020 the initiative generated an income of over £140k for small businesses trading in its spaces. Traders will showcase a range of sustainable, hand-crafted products, from candles and ceramics to jewellery and artwork, among others. Pitches range from just £25 per day so are a cost-effective way for makers to showcase their items. Pop-Up Club will also offer spaces for workshops and hold events with local influencers at several of their sites to celebrate the launches.
Tillie Peel, founder of The Pop-Up Club says: “The company enjoyed great success pre-pandemic, but now more than ever there’s a need to attract shoppers back to the high street. Many have gotten used to shopping online so it’s essential that there are initiatives to pull them back to the shops. Our mission is simple: we want to provide artists, makers, designers, and small businesses, that have sustainability at their core, affordable pop-up spaces, as well as drive footfall to the area. Additionally, for consumers who have been stuck at home for many months, the opportunity to get out and experience a taste of pre-pandemic life by something as simple as an afternoon shopping will also provide a much-needed boost to those who have previously struggled with lockdown anxiety. As restrictions are starting to ease, we look forward to welcoming both traders and shoppers to the Pop-Up Club and predict this summer to be our best ever.”
Pop-Up Events:
- Chelmsford Pop-Up opened 12th April and open for the foreseeable
- Brighton Pop-Up opening 3rd July for 6 weeks
- Manchester Pop-Up opening mid June until the end of August
- Seven Dials Market opening 17th May until 23rd August
- Chelmsford Market May-December, first Sunday of each month
