Co-creating value in the independent pop-up retail ecosystem

Foster, C, Brindley, C, Oxborrow, L ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2795-8131, Armannsdottir, G ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5458-8434 and Ghosh, B, 2025. Co-creating value in the independent pop-up retail ecosystem. Journal of Place Management and Development. ISSN 1753-8335

Preview

Text 2478214_Oxborrow.pdf - Post-print Download (319kB) | Preview

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to explore through an ecosystem lens how value can be co-created in independent pop-up retail, thus enhancing the community-based retail offer. It considers value co-creation between pop-up owners, supply side stakeholders and customers operating in a challenging retail environment, offering useful insights for those involved in researching and managing high streets and temporary retail space.

Design/methodology/approach: Adopting a qualitative approach, the study draws upon interviews with 87 participants involved in pop-up initiatives in the UK. This includes 28 interviews with supply-side stakeholders such as landlords and community representatives, 23 with pop-up owners and 36 with pop-up customers.

Findings: This study finds that pop-up business models are heterogeneous. Value is co-created through the multiple symbiotic relationships the pop-up has with stakeholders in the community ecosystem in which they are embedded. Further value is co-created through the customer/pop-up owner interactions and the unique, temporary retail experience.

Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore qualitatively, value co-creation in a novel temporary retail setting, which considers both the supply-side and demand-side perspective within a retail ecosystem. Previous studies have focused on customer experiences of pop-ups rather than considering how the pop-up offer can be managed and enhanced through the relationships pop-up owners have with wider community stakeholders, as well as customers. Adopting a holistic perspective to value creation is key given the challenging retail environment many communities are experiencing.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Place Management and Development
Creators:	Foster, C., Brindley, C., Oxborrow, L., Armannsdottir, G. and Ghosh, B.
Publisher:	Emerald
Date:	17 June 2025
ISSN:	1753-8335
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1108/jpmd-11-2024-0130 DOI 2478214 Other
Rights:	© Emerald Publishing Limited. This AAM is provided for your own personal use only. It may not be used for resale, reprinting, systematic distribution, emailing, or for any other commercial purpose without the permission of the publisher.
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Business School
Record created by:	Laura Borcherds
Date Added:	01 Aug 2025 16:09
Last Modified:	01 Aug 2025 16:09
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/54111

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Statistics

Views

Downloads