The Pop-Up: Here today- Gone tomorrow

Pop-up Shop Carnaby Street London 2012 (ELS)

Fast moving you say? Oh yes, fast indeed, fast enough that next week we won't be here anymore! What makes the Pop-Up so attractive? Is it the basic human nature that we always want what we can't have, or want something that is precious or rare? What a beautiful metaphor for life itself- what is here today might be gone tomorrow.

For those of you out there that are 'window shoppers' it does add a certain level of excitement and novelty to those same streets you wander day after day. 

What has fuelled the ultimate success of the Pop-Up movement? Social media. Like raves from American teen movies, or dance off's from hip hop movies, you find out right at the last minute where to be and at what time. 

The anticipation is worth it, you never know what will be around the next corner. It brings people together, you become part of a community, a movement, something bigger than just yourself. It is urban, underground edgy and feels more real. You are part of something exclusive, something fresh.

This movement translates to so many sectors- be it in retail or party venues, such as my friend's "Panda Party" Pop-Up night out in different venues across Dublin and now even London. It fits in perfectly with our generation's obsession with social media, the technology take over, and the consumer experience being at the centre of our wishes- we don't want to just buy- we want a "take away" emotional experience to go hand in hand with our consumerist desires.

But like many movements is the Pop-Up already fast loosing it's appeal? Is it already becoming too popular to be unique? Like Flash Mobs that suddenly took over for a few years, but then soon became so common place- will this happen to the Pop-Up? 

What are your thoughts?