Sook, the pop-up retail space provider, ceased trading on 31st December, citing lack of investment. Founded by property entrepreneur John Hoyle five years ago, Sook enjoyed increasing success in providing brands with access to temporary spaces in some of the best retail locations across the UK.
These included Hammersmith, Shoreditch, Islington Square, South Molton Street, and Oxford Street in London.
Major malls like Bluewater Kent, Bullring Birmingham, Liverpool One, Trinity Leeds, Metrocentre Newcastle, and St. James’s Quarter Edinburgh were among the regional locations that were utilised by real estate conglomerates to occupy retail space that would have otherwise remained vacant.
“Sook’s unique model allows local brands the opportunity to have a physical presence where they may not have been able to otherwise,” stated Grosvenor, the operator of Liverpool One.
Two months prior, Sook had inked a deal with Depop, a marketplace, to grant 11 circular internet sellers physical storefronts for a duration of six months. Sellers were to receive a special 25% discount on all Sook pop-up retail venues in the UK under the Depop @ Sook initiative.
It also provided customised locations for short- and long-term locations for TikTok and pop-ups for fashion and beauty names including Debenhams and Nadine Merabi.
“In spite of the extraordinary efforts of our team, growing sales and achieving international scale we were unable to raise sufficient investment to continue in the current environment. I’m so proud of all that we achieved and incredibly sad that we cannot continue,” said Sook founder John Hoyle.
