How this CEO is reinventing the grocery store for modern times
Pop Up Grocer is taking the standard grocery store or bodega concept and turning it on its head.
The retailer offers a variety of food and lifestyle goods and features an impressive assortment of LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and women-owned brands.
After launching a number of pop-ups across the country, it opened its first permanent bricks-and-mortar store in Greenwich Village, one of New York City’s trendiest neighbourhoods, earlier this year.
Here, founder and CEO Emily Schildt shares the inspiration behind the unique grocery store concept and her top areas of focus over the next 12 months.
Inside Retail: How did the idea for Pop Up Grocer come about?
Emily Schildt: I realised that while so many better-made, climate-friendly, and generally innovative products were coming to market, there wasn’t any physical space in which they could immediately sell. Big retailers have long timelines for accepting new products and charge prohibitive fees, and independent stores have limited reach. I thought, what if we could create a space that would allow for new products from innovative companies to reach people quickly, outside of the superficiality of the internet? And the idea for Pop Up Grocer was born, a platform for discovery.
IR: What have been the biggest highlights and setbacks you’ve experienced in building the business thus far?
ES: Before starting Pop Up Grocer, I knew nothing about retail. I didn’t even know what point of sale (POS) stood for. Everything about building this business has been a learning experience. But I do it because I find life boring otherwise quite honestly, and because I really believe in what we’re doing. I want the little guys to succeed; I want to shift the control of power; I want to build an equitable business that has a meaningful impact.
IR: How can independent brands best position themselves to be added to Pop Up Grocer’s shelves (physical and virtual)? Do you have any personal favourite items at the moment?
ES: We receive hundreds of applications every month, and at this time, are only able to service a fraction of them. We are excited to grow our support, as we grow our business, with more locations and activations. Recent favourites include Branche olive oil — it looks so beautiful on my kitchen counter, in addition to being highly useful — and Doosra’s ‘The Bites,’ an undeniably addictive snack.
IR: What are your top priorities/areas of focus for the brand over the next 12 months?
ES: We’re working to build more stores and bring increased visibility to the brands we work with, nationwide. Our mission is realised at scale.
IR: What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s your approach to work/life balance?
ES: I move my body first thing in the morning with some sort of workout, then I have a strong coffee. I typically make myself a nice, healthy breakfast. I like to do all of these things before checking my email, so I start the day with a dedication to myself, as a daily reminder that I am my most important responsibility. Then, I dive into work which entails a variety of tasks and hats. I’m pretty good at creating boundaries around work and shutting off before dinner. While I have my moments, I’m not really a frenzied founder.
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