How Pop-Up Shops Work
Everything that goes into your group's store: the steps, what it costs, and how you earn. You promote the link, and we handle the rest.
A pop-up shop is a temporary online store we build and brand for your group. Your members order during a set window, we produce and individually bag every order, and you (the store manager) pick up the batch and hand it out. You don't have to handle any money during the sale, and you earn the difference between the price you set and our cost, paid as CIV store credit.
Step by step
We build your store
You pick the web address, something like shopciv.com/yourstore (you choose the “yourstore” part before we build).
We brand it for your group
Your name, your colors, your logo, with just a small CIV Enterprises credit. We run all the production quietly behind the scenes.
You set the dates and prices
You choose when the store opens and closes, and you set the retail (sale) price shown on each product.
Your members order online
During the open window, they order right at the link. We collect every payment through secure checkout, so you never have to touch a dollar during the sale.
We produce and fulfill
After the store closes, we make every order and have it all finished within two weeks of the close date.
You pick up one organized batch
Every order is bagged or boxed individually, labeled with the buyer’s name and order number. You pick up the whole batch at once to hand out.
We notify buyers (optional)
By default we email each buyer when their order is ready, telling them to contact you. Prefer to handle it yourself? We switch it off.
What it costs you
One upfront fee, paid before the store opens. That is your only out-of-pocket cost.
$100
Store build fee
Includes up to 5 items. It is separate from your earnings, never deducted again and never taken back later.
+$10
Per additional item
An “item” is a distinct product style: a tee, a hoodie, and a hat count as 3. Colors and sizes are free, so a tee in 4 colors and 5 sizes is still just 1 item.
How your group earns
You set the retail price your members pay; we charge you a lower wholesale price. The difference is yours.
Know your floor before you price
Before you set a single price, we give you the worst-case (lowest-volume) wholesale number, so you know your guaranteed minimum margin on every item right from the start.
Selling more earns you more
When the store closes, we total up every unit sold and apply the best quantity-price tier to your whole order. The more your group moves, the lower your cost per item drops, and the more you earn.
Low minimums to worry about
In nearly every case there is nothing to think about here. A small turnout simply lands in the standard lowest-quantity tier, and because your retail is set above wholesale, you make money even on a few sales.
How you get paid
Your earnings
Everything your customers paid, minus the wholesale cost at the final quantity tier, minus standard payment-processing fees, minus any applicable sales tax. (Most clothing is not taxed; some other items sometimes are.)
- Your earnings are paid as CIV Enterprises store credit, usable toward any of our products or services, from more apparel to signs to awards. (It is credit, not a cash payout.)
- Use your credit within 30 days and we add an extra 5% of your earnings as bonus credit. Your 30 days begins once the store closes and your final pricing is set.
- The $100 build fee is paid before the store opens. Your earnings credit is issued after the order is complete.
The timeline
Your preview, within about a week
After you request your store and pay the $100 setup fee, we post a preview of your store within about a week for you to review.
Going live is your call
Once you approve it, the store can open right away, or we can set a specific opening date and time so you can build up some hype before it goes live. Immediate or scheduled, you choose.
Open window
We suggest about 2 weeks. Most groups run 1 to 3 weeks, but 2 tends to be the sweet spot: long enough to spread the word, short enough to create a little urgency.
After close
We produce and fulfill within 2 weeks of the close date, then it is ready for your pickup.
A few things to know
- Once the store goes live, the product lineup and prices are locked for that window. No mid-store changes, so everything stays clean and fair.
- All sales are final, since every garment is custom-decorated and each buyer picks their own size.
Questions about anything here? Get in touch and we will walk you through it.
Start Your Pop-Up Shop
Tell us your group's name and what you'd like to offer. We'll help you pick your link, set your dates, and get you your pricing before anything goes live.