Christmastime Pop-Up Shops

Get the scoop on 2013' holiday pop-up shops.
They’re temporary and they appear at the drop of a hat, ready for business before you even knew they were moving in, yet pop-up Christmas shops are an iconic fixture of the holiday season. The shops that appear in empty storefronts or on street corners are part of the national culture, with handcrafted ornaments and decorations to make your house look less like a Grinch and more like you lived on the North Pole.

But now, pop-up Christmas shops are that and much more. The “pop-up shop” model now applies to technology, gift and clothing stores that are setting up an extra storefront for the busiest shopping time of the year. Once exclusively online stores are taking their products to your neighborhood, attempting to make some extra money and try out the “brick and mortar” business model of setting up an actual storefront.

These pop-up Christmas shops are only around for a period of 2 months or so, and then they’re on their way out after a clearance sale encouraging you to stock up on your Christmas collection and gifts for next year. Both independent crafters and major chain stores participate in the trend, bringing quite a selection of holiday stores for your shopping pleasure.

Check out our list of some of the most notable pop-up shops for the 2013 Christmas season.
The annual technology store by Wired magazine contributes the newest gadgets and toys, from a toothbrush sanitizer to a cordless kettle, to your list of unique gift-giving ideas. The online store popped up on Nov. 15 here, and the retail store opens its doors in New York City through Dec. 22.
Located in the Kansas City Garment District, this pop-up boutique features work from local craftsmen, musical artists, authors and more, with the opportunity to support home-grown businesses. The shop is open through Christmas.
The online store for socially conscious consumers just launched its first-ever holiday pop-up store in New York’s LaGuardia airport. The store, which calls itself a “lifestyle destination,” features clothing, accessories and gifts for both men and women. The store is open through Jan. 4, 2014.
Looking to give something green over the holiday season? Knack, a creative reuse center that collects discarded materials, sorts them and makes them available for people to use, is opening a unique pop-up shop in Massachusetts. Everything in the store is handmade by local artists who use at least 75% reused material. The store is open through Dec. 22.
This pop-up shop encourages shoppers to buy homemade items, and features only hand-crafted goods, ranging from paintings and jewelry to pillows and flasks. The “holiday shopping spectacular” brings more than 120 vendors to one place through Dec. 30.
If you have a techie on your holiday gift list, you won’t want to miss the tech giant’s take on the Christmas pop-up shop. Before you swipe your credit card this holiday season, you can test-drive Google's latest devices like the Nexus 7 tablet and Chromebook. Google has set up 6 pop-up stores in retail centers nationwide: New York; Annapolis, MD; Chicago; Los Angeles; Sacramento, CA; and Paramus, NJ. Stores are expected to close by Dec. 24.

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