Appear Here launches competition to give brands free pop-up space

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jan 11, 2019

A competition has now opened to give four creative brands the opportunity to open a free, two-week store in London, Paris, New York and LA.

‘Space for Ideas’ was launched by Appear Here, an online marketplace offering short-term retail space, on Friday. It comes as an opportunity for smalls brands, which may not have the budget to open shops in prime locations, to interact with new customers and boost their physical presence.

In addition to winning a two-week flagship store space in one of the world’s leading retail destinations, the four winning entrepreneurs will receive mentorship, design advice and budget to bring their ideas to life.

The competition is backed by an impressive judging panel, which includes fashion and tech powerhouses such as Diane Von Furstenberg (founder of DVF), Natalie Massenet (founder of Net-A-Porter) and Dylan Jones (Editor of GQ), as well as iZettle and HoriznStudios.

Appear Here said the 296% increase in demand for space it experienced in the UK in 2018 demonstrates that, despite the shift towards online shopping, there is still an appetite for creating physical experiences.

“I truly believe that the right idea, given the right space to grow, has the power to change the world. As retail undergoes a period of unprecedented change, providing a platform for transformational ideas has never been more important,” commented Ross Bailey, founder and CEO of Appear Here.

“I want to see ideas that embody the need for human experience and showmanship. At Appear Here we believe that a store is more than the sum of its parts, It has the power to be the heartbeat of a community. Retailers are defined not by what they sell, but by the experience they promise, and we want the winning ideas to reflect that.”

Natalie Massenet, who founded Net-A-Porter and is an investor in Appear Here, added: "Appear Here are giving aspiring entrepreneurs across the world the chance fulfil their dreams. The flagship store cities of London, Paris, New York and LA, sit at the forefront of the retail sector and provide the ultimate springboard for the lucky winners."

Entries for the competition close on 18 February.