Quick Quote
Containers Direct logoQuality you can see, experience you can trust.
Quality you can see, experience you can trust.

Container Pop Up Shops

Shipping containers provide the perfect structure for pop-up shops

Container pop-up shops are a fast growing trend, used as a quick, low cost start up option that will get you noticed, or for big established brands to capitalise on and expand their territories in a temporary outlet.

Retailers ranging from big brand names like Nike and Superdry, to small independent businesses selling artisan goods, are at the forefront of the contemporary concept of the pop-up shop. The humble shipping container can provide the perfect structure to transform into a boutique style retail space.
Take your store on the road to capitalise on sales at festivals, seasonal markets and events, or use it as permanent fixture. Boxpark Shoreditch, opened in 2011, was the world's first permanent pop-up shipping container mall, which led the way for a number of similar projects across London. Containers Direct provide shipping container conversions for pop-up shops for any purpose, including specialist conversions for catering businesses, using new and used shipping containers of any size. Alternatively we can supply bespoke new builds or flat pack pop-up containers.

Constructing your container pop-up shop

Designed and crafted to your needs, we can construct your pop-up unit to any required size, although 20ft shipping containers and 40ft shipping containers are standard sizes therefore they don't need cutting to size. Multiple units can be stacked for larger storage space without taking up extra floor space, and be accessed via an external staircase. Full side opening containers are a popular choice as they can be accessed via an open side with your goods on full display, true market style. 10ft shipping containers are popular for the small retailer or where space is at a premium.

Whatever size and type of container you choose, we can fit it with a range of suitable features including:

Shutters and Hatches

A pop-up unit, especially one where food and drink is purchased from, requires an opening for serving. We have come up with three popular standard options, although we will always work to a bespoke design if you have other ideas. Serving rails or a drop down serving counter can be included with all these options.

Option 1 - Lifting hatch

A steel hatch that opens upwards on gas struts. Lockable inside with shoot bolts when the hatches are closed.

Case studies: 15ft pop-up football club cafe / 15ft pop-up fish and chip shop

Option 2 - Flat panel door hatch

These shutter style hatch doors open outwards to rest flat against the container. When open they make great menu boards. Lockable inside with shoot bolts when the hatches are closed.

Case studies: 20ft cladded cafe

Option 3 - Rollers shutter hatch

Steel lockable shutters, with either manual or electrical operation. The shutter box can be housed either internally or externally.

Case studies: 14ft pop-up bar

Flat pack pop-up containers

These units come with a large upward tilting hatch, which makes them suitable as catering units and retail units. Their flat pack form makes them incredibly easier to set up and take down again, and transport from site to site.

Request a Quick Quote!

Contact our sales team for your no obligation quote, including delivery!

Patio style and bifolding doors

Many of our clients choose alternative door styles that lend themselves well to the function and aesthetic of a unit designed to attract customers, such as glazed patio style doors, sliding doors and bi-folding doors. See The Farm Shop conversion as a great example of what can be achieved.

Case Study

Superdry pop-up shop

Using 2 x 20ft full side opening containers, we made units for the internationally popular brand to sell their products market style. With a few additions such as steel racks, stud plates for signage, and a branded repaint, the shipping containers became two eye-catching, portable retail units.


Take a look at some of the most engaging work we have undertaken in recent years. With detailed pictures, a step by step guide and a deep insight to many projects, our case studies cover a range of applications.

Pop-up catering

If your business is catering, the pop-up container can easily be modified to sell food and beverages, with cooking and preparation facilities inside. Popular at festivals, outdoor attractions and events, pop-up catering is a rapidly expanding business, with innovative and creative designs helping widen their appeal with customers and caterers. See this 20ft cladded cafe, created for our client The Trudy Scrumptious Cafe. Trudy Scrumptious is a rural cafe in, serving home made ice cream, cakes, toasted sandwiches, tea and coffee in Tavistock Meadows, Devon.


Just some of the clients we've worked with...

Mercedes Benz
ITV
Ministry of Defense
Environment Agency
National Trust
superdry
Balfour Beatty
British Gas
Network Rail
Harley Davidson
Hilti
Audi
<
>

Testimonials

As a long established and reputable shipping container company, we want to instil confidence in our customers that we can deliver on our promises, and provide high quality products and service.

But don't just take our word for it, see for yourself what our past and present clients have to say about Containers Direct.
quote icon
"Excellent experience from start to finish."Arcadia Desiccant Technology Ltd
14th January 2025
order - a used 10ft Container with S4 Roller Shutter Doors
quote icon
"We really appreciate how quickly this was delivered and how professional the whole process felt."Jon Giles, The Tank Museum
10th January 2025
order - a used 14ft Container Conversion
quote icon
"I found your team very easy to deal with, and that they were prompt and responsive to any queries. Both Cory and Hannah were a pleasure and very professional, well done to both the sales and transport teams."Parish CE Primary School
7th January 2025
order - a 'once-used' 20ft Container
quote icon
"An excellent service all round and the perfect workshop for our school's caretaker!"Harewood Junior School
6th January 2025
order - a 'once-used' 20ft Container
quote icon
"I nearly got scammed by someone else trying to sell me a shipping container. However, the information on the website regarding delivery, siting of the container and the excellent response from the sales staff gave me a lot of confidence. I was also particularly pleased with the delivery driver who took his time to assess where the container was to be placed and to ensure that I was happy with it as well. The access to my site is not easy but the driver was excellent. Thank you very much."Lindsay Muir
24th December 2024
order - a used 15ft Clearance Container
quote icon
"Thank you to all in sales and transport for a smooth transaction, communication was excellent. We would strongly recommend any one in our area who is looking for a container. Thank you very much and best of luck in 2025."John Seymour - Gosport and District Angling Club
21st December 2024
order - a used 15ft Container
<
>

Committed to Quality

We are ISOQAR Approved; certified to the ISO standard relating to Quality Management Systems, demonstrating our Company's commitment to quality. We are also members of MakeUK who champion and celebrate British manufacturing and manufacturers, and member of the Container Self Storage and Traders Association; an international organisation representing the interests of Container Self-Storage Operators, Traders and Innovators.
ISOQAR Approved
ISO Cert No. 13586-QNS-001
ISO 9001:2015
Member of MakeUK
Member of the Container Self Storage and Traders Association
We have placed cookies on your browsing device to enable this website to function correctly.
Further usage of this website indicates you are happy for us to do this..
Find out about the cookies we have set and how we use them.