There are a lot of predictions for what’s ahead in 2013. I hope mine won’t be as stale as yet another kale juice cleanse story (please, make them stop!).
First fashion and technology prediction: prepare for more tech-enabled pop-up shops. If the private beta launch of Republic Spaces and others, like Storefront, working on the same problem, I’m betting we’ll see an increase in pop-up shop matchmaking.
Whether these startups can navigate all the legal, landlord, rental and retail hassles I’m assuming need to be smoothly handled in order to create a workable solution with any hope of scaling is a big question, but the idea underlying these companies’ missions is solid: there’s a lot of empty retail space out there and plenty of designers and small business owners ready to open up temporary shops, test their concepts and introduce their brands to new cities without the commitment of fully-fledged storefronts. Why not hook them up with a nice, social-friendly web-based solution?
If they can pull it off, it will definitely create a more efficient landscape for the pop-up concept, give small businesses a leg-up and give independent brands a chance to expand without the burden of traditional brick-and-mortar ties.
Stay tuned for predictions to come.
More stylish startups….
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