Pop-up store build
Pop-up stores - retail presence without permanent fit-out.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
Pop-ups are temporary by definition, so the design must be quick to build, easy to remove and still look intentional. We work to lease terms, landlord rules and a short programme.
Commissioned work in pop-up store build normally runs from 25 to 106 m², with 8–18 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 800–2500 per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Exhibition & Event Build capability, alongside 7 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When pop-up store build is the right answer - and when it is not
Pop-up retail is chosen where a brand wants physical presence fast, in a space it does not own, for a limited period. It suits launches, seasonal retail, events and market testing. The economics determine the design: the kit must be transportable, quick to install, and reusable or recyclable, because a pop-up built as a permanent shop rarely returns the investment.
How the work is actually carried out
The system is designed as a demountable kit, light and assembling with minimal tools and trades, with each unit sized to the transport and the access route. The layout is designed so it can adapt to a differently shaped unit at the next site, since pop-up locations are rarely identical. Fixtures, lighting and services are designed to plug into whatever each site provides, and everything is labelled with an assembly drawing so a small team can install it. Materials are chosen for the number of installs the kit must survive.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Typical size | 10-150 m2 |
|---|---|
| Construction | Modular units, reclaimed and reusable elements, printed graphics |
| Programme | Installed in 1-3 nights; removed to the lease deadline |
| Compliance | Fire certification, electrical approval and landlord conditions |
| Capability | Exhibition & Event Build |
| Reference range | CNY 800–2500 per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 8 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Pop-up store build
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for pop-up store build. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Scope | Typical area | Reference total | Unit rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small area | 25–63 m² | CNY 20,000 – CNY 157,500 | approx. CNY 2500/m² |
| Standard area | 63–150 m² | CNY 50,400 – CNY 375,000 | approx. CNY 1650/m² |
| Large area | 150 m² and above | CNY 120,000+ | approx. CNY 800/m² |
Build tiers for pop-up store build
Pop-up store build is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 20–80 m² | 5–12 | Up to 80 m², one substrate and one access setup, 5–12 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 30–150 m² | 7–18 | 30–150 m² across two or more faces, 7–18 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 15–30 m² | 10–20 | 15–30 m² across two or more faces, 10–20 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 30–120 m² | 8–18 | 30–120 m² across two or more faces, 8–18 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 30–150 m² | 10–22 | 30 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 10–22 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Three-dimensional design and floor-plan coordination with the organiser
- Pre-assembly and trial fit in the workshop before shipment
- Structures, graphics, lighting, AV mounting and furniture
- On-site build, opening-day standby and dismantling
Faults we see most often in pop-up store build
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Building a bespoke interior for a short-term site, making a temporary presence a permanent cost.
- Designing the layout to the first location's shape, so the kit does not work anywhere else.
- Assuming services the site does not have, and discovering it on the install day.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Sites and repetitions | Tell us how many locations and how many times the kit will be used. It determines how robust and standardised it must be. |
|---|---|
| Access at each site | Door widths, lifts, stairs and delivery routes. A kit that cannot get in cannot be installed. |
| Services available | Confirm power, lighting and data at each site so the kit works anywhere rather than only where it was designed. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Pop-up store build |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Pop-up stores - retail presence without permanent fit-out. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 25–106 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 8–18 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Exhibition & Event Build projects photographed on completion.
Exhibition & Event Build — Pop-up store build
Exhibition & Event Build — Custom exhibition stand
Exhibition & Event Build — Photo-op installation
Exhibition & Event Build — Custom exhibition standCommon questions
Can the pop-up be reused in another location?
What happens to the materials afterwards?
How early do we need to confirm a stand design?
Discuss pop-up store build
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.