Pop-up businesses take off

Budding entrepreneurs who fear the high costs of long-term leases are getting in on the pop-up act. The concept was made popular in Ireland by Crackbird, the temporary restaurant operated by the owner of Jo’Burger.

Pop-ups are temporary spaces used by businesses for short periods. A licence contract is used, and a lease can last anywhere from one day to a year.

Joe Prendergast, co-founder, PopMeUp.ie, says the concept takes pressure off new businesses.

“Some people think they have great ideas, and by going into a pop-up unit might realise that nobody likes their product so they can move on to something else. Or what they thought was something small might turn out to be big and they can expand easily.”

Initially reluctant, landlords are warming to the concept, according to Prendergast.

PopMeUp.ie has a database of tenants and landlords, and will negotiate terms. The firm itself is recruiting a managing director.