5 Undeniable Reasons to Pop Up Your Etsy Shop
Sure, we love self-driven cars and robots that vacuum our floors — and who could resist the robot velociraptor concierge at that Japanese hotel — but robots will never replace the simple joy of human interaction.
Abandon the online checkout! And offer your customers — both new and old — service with an in-person smile! Think a brick-and-mortar shop is impossible for your online store? Think again. It’s all possible with pop-ups.
Pop-up shops —temporary retail stores — can take your business off the web and directly into the real world. Put your products into the hands of your customers — along with a wink and a smile— by hosting a pop-up shop.
An Etsy Seller Handbook article explains:
“…Representing your business and making personal connections with shoppers and peers can build momentum and drive traffic to your Etsy shop for later purchases.”
Whether you have an Etsy shop or some other online store (psychedelic yoga pants by Carriage Goods, anyone?), meeting your customers face-to-face can have an extraordinary impact on your business. We now offer you five undeniable reasons to pop up your Etsy shop:
Service with a HUMAN Smile
Adding a Pop to your business plan is an affordable way to meet customers in the flesh, all while drumming up business for your online store.
Robots will never replace human salespeople
…according to Geoffrey James. In a recent inc.com article, James reminds us:
In Sales, that union of human and machine is already happening, big time. Sales technology (CRM, email marketing, etc.) is a multi-billion dollar business. What’s not changing, though, is the complexity of human-to-human interactions.
According to recent research from LinkedIn, the demand for talented salespeople far outstrips the supply almost everywhere in the United States and Canada. So, AI robots replacing human salespeople? Not happening now and probably not ever.
This is good news for small business. Technology can help you streamline your business and simplify daily tasks. Yet robots — or some form of AI — can’t compete with the intricacies of face time with potential and repeating customers. So kick the robot to the curb and interact face-to-face with your customers!
Engage the senses
Even with a creative, highly-visual website filled with detailed descriptions, people still want the ability to touch and feel, smell, hear, taste, try on, or sample a product. Hosting a pop-up shop featuring your products is a simple way to get your items in front of customers.
Avoid long-term leases AND save some $$
We get it. You’re a commitmentphobe. Skip the long-term lease and save thousands by keeping your business online with occasional pop-up shops. Best of all, if you book a pop-up space through Poppir, you can leave behind the expensive real estate broker or realtor.
Benefit from complementary business
You don’t need to rent out an entire traditional storefront to host your next pop-up. A Share Pop is when you rent space in an existing, complementary business. For example, shelf space in a boutique or a display in a coffee shop.
Share Pops are a win-win for both the Etsy shop owner and the existing business. Share Pops:
- Put your products in the hands of customers
- Benefit from the foot traffic and returning customers of the existing business
- Draw new customers to the existing business
Pop-ups can work for ANY business (including restaurants and mini mental health conferences!), so you have no excuses for restricting your business to the digital space.
And, look, we know it’s overwhelming to pop up for the first time. But we’ve got resources for you! Read about how pop-ups benefit your online business in our white paper.
Want to read more? Expand your knowledge with our Pop-up 101 reading list. Next, explore 11 free or cheap tech tools for marketing your pop-up. We actually have a looooot of marketing tips on our blog.
Want to take your business to the next level? And show the robots they’re not in charge? Click HERE! to find Poppir’s white paper.
Are you an @Etsy shop owner interested in popping up? We’d LOVE to feature your pop-up on our blog! Find us on Facebook, Tweet us @JoinPoppir, or email me at annie@poppir.com!
