Square Debuts U.K. Pop-Up Store To Help High Street Merchants Boost Sales

Square has opened its first pop-up store in the U.K., following the company’s first store opening in New York City last month.

According to Finextra, the store is located in Birmingham’s Great Western Arcade and will be open until Sept. 16 in Unit 6 of the arcade (between Colmore Row and Temple Row). It will offer a selection of products from local businesses across the West Midlands region.

“At Square, we want to make it as easy as possible for anyone to start, run and grow their business,” said Sarah Harvey, U.K. Lead for Square. “The West Midlands has a rich culture of entrepreneurship, both past and present, and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with small business owners across the region to help their businesses to thrive for many years to come.”

Square recently released the results of a new survey, finding that high streets across the West Midlands could be given a boost if more local businesses accepted card payments. In fact, 63 percent of West Midlanders would be more likely to shop locally if they could pay by card, and on average, 41 percent carry less than 10 pounds in their wallets.

Yet more than half of small business owners in the West Midlands do not believe that they are missing out on sales by not accepting card payments.

“Businesses of all sizes should have access to technology that can help them succeed — starting with an affordable, quick and easy way to accept any way their customers want to pay,” said Jack Dorsey, CEO and Co-founder of Square. “We are already working with some extraordinary independent businesses in the West Midlands, and we’re excited to bring our technology to more people across the region.”

Representatives from Square will be at the pop-up store to answer questions about products and services. In addition, Square will host a series of free events and master classes for local business owners.

“New technologies like Square have enabled creative folk to become masters of their own destiny,” said Dan Alcorn from Birmingham’s creative community Badego. “The ability to set up a small stall or pop-up shop, combined with the power of the internet, gives us all an opportunity to turn passion projects into new careers and ventures.”