When I was growing up there was a shop on our local high street that was forever closing down and then reopening the following week selling a slightly different collection of crap. Every few weeks it would have a different name and different stock, the only thing that remained constant was that whatever it was selling was undoubtedly crap.
Up until now, I’ve always assumed that shop was a failure. I mean, it must have been, right? Why else would it keep closing down? But maybe it wasn’t. Maybe, in fact, it was just before its time. Maybe it was offering us a glimpse into the future, into the brave new world of the 21st century. Maybe, just maybe, it was the world’s first Pop-Up Shop.
I hate Pop-Up Shops. Just seeing those three little words written down makes me want to pick at my eyeballs with a rusty fork. Actually, to be more precise, I don’t hate the shops themselves. I hate the term. I hate Pop-Up Restaurants as well. It’s all so ‘on trend’. And I hate myself for typing that too.
We were in Chamonix last week and I was unfortunate enough to lay eyes on the only thing I hate more than a Pop-Up Shop (no, not someone taking a photo with an iPad, though that comes in a close third…), a shop that has started calling itself a Pop-Up Shop despite having been there for several years. A fake pop-up shop. Just a shop. But one whose owners so desperately want it to be seen as a cool that they thought it best to call it a Pop-Up Shop. Seriously.
In preparation for Pop-Up’s eventual arrival in Italy, assuming it’s not here already, I’ve decided the only way to keep my sanity is to embrace the ridiculousness. Give Pop-Up a big, warm hug and welcome it into my life. So, that’s what I’m going to do. From now on, this blog is a Pop-Up Blog. And it already feels good. Much cooler. More on trend. I won’t be taking photos of anything with my iPad though, you have to draw the line somewhere.
Living in the Langhe 
Ha ha ha. I know what you mean. We have a shop in Certaldo that keeps reinventing itself; childrens’ clothes, then hunting shop, then lingerie, then kitchenware and they always have a sale on! For me the worst shops are ‘Outlets’ which can be anything from genuine designer warehouses to an industrial unit with next to nothing for sale. I consider my time very valuable and could spit drawing pins when I discover after parking, that I have walked into a room full of rubbish!
At least they haven’t called it a pop-up shop… yet! It’s only a matter of time though… 😉
As someone who is allergic to retail therapy in any form, I have absolutey no idea what a pop-up shop is. I know about pop tarts, though. I recommend them as an alternative.
Now there’s an idea… a pop-up pop tarts restaurants. I’m on it.
I’m amazed you haven’t heard of Pop-Up Shops, and I’m sorry to have introduced them to you. I feel bad now. They are everywhere in England, and they’ve seemingly made it to Chamonix too. It’s only a matter of a time before one opens up in your local village. And then closes again. And then opens again…
Sounds a bit ike my mouth, it does that all the time 😀
Let me know when your pop-up pop-up shop opens up (I’m a poet and I didn’t know t. Hurrah).
Pop Up just sounds like it could start playing annoying and spammy ads to matrimonial sites or viagra. I wish there was a pop up blocker. Poor you. Should I ship a scarf and wayfarers to you?
If you could please, that would be great!
You’re right, Pop-Up Stores are almost as bad as Pop-Ups Ads. But at least you can close Pop-Up Ads down. Pop-Up Shops just keep on spreading…
I just don’t get it?? It’s not like they are that much cheaper than a real shop/store. What is the point of them?
Nope, same here… they tend to be more expensive than regular shops in fact, purely because they’re cooler.
Hmmmm, sounds a bit like BS to me! 😉
Yep, I think it just might be! 🙂
Maybe Italy will just refuse to play. I may be mistaken but there are only a few McDonald’s there – in my opinion, it’s crap masquerading as food – is that the case?
There are quite a lot of McDonalds here these days, sadly. There was a bit of an uproar when they first arrived in Rome, and that led to the start of the Slow Food Movement I believe, but these days they’re everywhere.
I hope you’re right about Pop-Up Shops, but I fear it might be too late. I just found out that they have already arrived in Milan… 😦
Just to say thank you for supporting my competition entry – you’re a star 🙂
It’s a pleasure, good luck!
I hear you. I didn’t know the term was irksome to others as well. My local waterfront park in Philadelphia recently became a “pop-up PARK”! ugh. the same old part that was always there is now a pop up park… I’m so annoyed by it, I find it hard to even go there for functions. I googled “i hate pop-ups” and you blog appeared first on the long list of many diatribes on the subject haha. But why? Why am I so annoyed by this?
Ha ha.. I love that you googles “I hate pop-ups”. I’m sure there are many better diatribes on there, and as you say, it’s hard to know why it’s so annoying. It just is! On the plus side, I saw a place calling itself a “Temporary Negozio” yesterday, so maybe the tide is turning…