DARIEN, Conn. Sue Chun is used to selling clothes to online shoppers abroad looking to buy American attire. But she is giving the traditional retail experience a shot with a new pop up store on Heights Road. It is appropriately titled Summer Pop-Up Shop.
The store, which opened its doors Tuesday and will remain open for only three weeks, is in a bright, newly renovated space next to Sanda's Cleaners. The racks and shelves are filled with designer jeans, Italian silk scarves, vintage sunglasses as well as jackets and dresses from popular brands such as Versace, Gucci and Missoni.
When customers walk in, Chun greets them with a large smile. "When you're web-based, you're kind of hiding behind a computer screen all day," she said. "It's nice to have people come in because you can speak to them, see what they're looking for and get a sense of them physically."
One woman walked in Tuesday morning and asked for a certain dress in a size 28. Chun took a look at her and suggested a size 27 instead, which fit "like a glove." It's not the same experience as clicking on the item you want on a website.
Chun has experience with pop up stores in New York and South Korea, and said, "If you have confidence in your items and good pricing, you can end up doing well." Her parents own Sanda's Cleaners next door and encourage people stop in and check out the temporary shop. She is hoping that word of mouth will spread during her short tenure.
Though she is getting some help from friends, Chun is mostly running the shop solo seven days a week. Even though business tends to slow in the summer, she is confident her fashion knowledge and below-retail prices will make her venture a success.
Do you know any pop up shops in Darien this summer? Tell us about them in the comments below, on Facebook and on Twitter.
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