Pop-up consignment event comes to mall Mother’s Day weekend
Pear Pop Up, a new consignment event, takes place on Mother’s Day weekend in the Kalispell Center Mall.
Josie Hiivala and Alexa Johnston started the event to create a practical and accessible way to shop for lightly loved items including women's and children's clothing, accessories, baby clothes and items, and home decor. All items at the event must be without dents, rips, stains, pilling or loose hems.
There will also be a Mother’s Day section with flower bouquets, macarons, cupcakes, stationery, candles, and other new, gift-worthy items.
“We’re all about the quality of the item,” Hiivala said.
A pop-up retail store is one that operates as a special event for a short period of time.
Their love of shopping inspired them to start Pear Pop Up. Johnston enjoys browsing aesthetic and beautifully set up resale shops and dreamt up the idea to have something similar in the Flathead Valley. After mentioning the idea of the event to Hiivala, who is a web designer and developer, Pear Pop Up was set in motion.
Johnston explained the event as “a consignment resale combined with an event experience.” “Think of an event but set up like a boutique,” she said. “A boutique but with lower prices. Lower prices but also community. Think community over competition. We want this to be the place to bring moms, women, creative industries, and local businesses together in one place.”
The event will have food vendors and a space to hang out and drink coffee with friends and meet people.
“We want people to make connections with others in the community, even with the consignors,” Hiivala said.
Pear Pop Up runs Thursday, May 5 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Then on Friday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On Friday, there will be a licensed massage therapist giving 15-minute massages.
The last day of the event is Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. which will be a discount day with an extra 25% off.
To attend on Thursday or Friday, shoppers must purchase a ticket for $5, but Saturday is free. Shoppers can buy their tickets online to skip the line on opening night.
Pear Pop Up is a zero pre-sale event meaning that shoppers will be able to browse completely untouched inventory.
Other vendors at the event include Sable Coffee, Chick-fil-A, Sage and Bloom, Forage and Floral, Sprouts, Luco Cards, Butterkrem and Luralu.
Hiivala expressed excitement at the number of consignors expected. Another goal of the event is to allow local retailers to turn over extra inventory.
“We have actually doubled the number of consignors needed for the event,” she said. “Local businesses will be selling past seasons inventory for cheap, discounted prices.”
Hiivala and Johnston’s long-term goal is to have the event twice a year, in April and October. “We want every person to come away from this event and think ‘Wow, I can’t wait to shop/sell at that event again!’” their website says.
More information on the Pear Pop Up consignment event can be found at pearpopup.com or through their Instagram.