Appear Here Takes a Bite of the Big Apple

By Veronica Grecu

Following the success of marketing short-term retail leases in London and Paris, Appear Here has eyed New York City for its U.S. expansion plans. Launched in 2013 by 20-year-old Ross Bailey, the start-up is bringing its pop-up store listing platform to the city’s trendiest neighborhoods like Chelsea, West Village, SoHo, Nolita and Williamsburg.

Appear Here has partnered with some of the largest landlords in the city such as Blackstone, Simon Property Group and Brookfield. The companies will use the pop-up store listing platform at more than 200 retail spaces across Brooklyn and Manhattan, where skyrocketing retail rents are usually hard to secure for most emerging retailers.

Offering spaces from 50 square feet—sometimes in unusual places such as former restrooms—to thousands of square feet, Appear Here connects brands, retailers, designers and entrepreneurs with available space, seamlessly online. The young company has signed more than 80,000 retailers from niche brands and boutique designers such as Kanye West to giants Nike, Apple, Coca-Cola and Amazon.

“More than ever, designers, brands and entrepreneurs are realizing that renting space online is the fastest and most flexible approach to retail. We’re excited about the opportunity to bring our award-winning platform and service to the US, starting with New York,” said Bailey, the company’s founder and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement.

By handling short-term retail leases exclusively online, Appear Here has managed to speed up the leasing process and help retailers book spaces in under 3 to 6 days, while the industry average is 3 to 6 months. Appear Here’s unique product is able to get already-established brands much closer to customers, and also introduce up-and-coming brands to landlords and activate dormant public spaces into pop-up stores that will ultimately enhance the shopping experience.

Image courtesy of Appear Here