《Memoir Series》6.12~ What a Pop-Up Store Really Was ~

当感觉一切进入正轨的时候，2016年6月份，我们已经经营了9个月，我突然接到landlord的通知，需要我们搬离这个unit,因为他们找到了一个长期租客，直到那时我才知道，我们只是短期客户，也就是Pop Up store。 我当时满脑子想的就是：

-我还没有跑完一个日历年，我需要验证这个模式

-7,8月正好是备圣诞货的时候，我们也准备充足，准备迎接第二个圣诞节

-我们已经积攒了一些本地客源，不想随便搬离，怕客户找不到我们了（很现实：我们根本没这个知名度，我当时的担心纯粹多余）

我没有复盘一下盈亏,好好考虑：

-要不要在这个shopping center继续开店？

-要不要考虑别的便宜一些的地方？

我把我之前能够进入shopping center当成了我的实力，其实，我只是幸运而已。

➡️ 当时没有对自己的实力和方向有充分理解：

🌟 我们当时的规模和实力和shopping center并不匹配，就像一个拖拉机装上波音747的引擎，它只会散架而不会起飞！

🌟 永远不要把运气当做实力，你会被现实狠狠打击 不过landlord很友好的告诉我们可以提供另一个unit给我们费用就按照一样的package fee，而在我意识到我只是POP up店铺的时候， 👉 我学会了查看合同的break clause，把搬店的新合同延续到了年底过完圣诞节才能break，既然我损失了一次重新装修，那么我想确保我能够有第二个完整的圣诞节把钱赚回来；但我当时并没有意识到，这一次调整，并不能真正解决问题。

《Memoir Series》6.12~ What a Pop-Up Store Really Was ~

Just when everything seemed to be getting back on track, in June 2016 — about 9 months into the business — I suddenly received a notice from the landlord. We were asked to vacate the unit, as they had secured a long-term tenant. It was only at that moment that I realised: we were never a permanent tenant — we were simply a short-term occupant, a pop-up store. At the time, my mind was full of concerns:

-I hadn’t even completed a full calendar year

-I still needed to validate the business model

-July and August were our key preparation period for Christmas, and we had already stocked up, ready for our second peak season

-We had started to build a local customer base, and I was worried that moving would mean losing them (looking back, this concern was probably unnecessary — we simply didn’t have that level of brand recognition yet)

What I didn’t do at that time was step back and properly review the fundamentals:

-Should we continue in the same shopping centre?

-Should we consider a more cost-effective location?

Instead, I mistakenly saw entering shopping centre as a reflection of our capability. 

In reality, it was more about luck than strength.

➡️ Looking back, I didn’t have a clear understanding of our true position or direction. Our scale and business model were completely mismatched with a shopping centre of that level

🌟 it was like putting a Boeing 747 engine on a tractor: it doesn’t take off, it just falls apart.

🌟 Never mistake luck for ability — Reality will humble you — fast.

Fortunately, the landlord offered us another unit under a similar rental package. At that point, having realised we were operating as a pop-up, 👉 I started to pay closer attention to contract terms — especially the break clause. For the new lease, I ensured it would run through to the end of the year, allowing us to complete the Christmas season before any break could be exercised. Since we had already absorbed the cost of one relocation and refurbishment, I wanted to make sure we had a fair chance to recover during a second full Christmas period. But at the time, I didn’t realise that this adjustment wouldn’t truly solve the problem.(To be continued)