eBay to offer curated pop-up holiday shops
eBay is temporarily entering the brick-and-mortar space for the holiday season.
The e-commerce marketplace is opening pop-up storefronts called “Hard to Find Gift Shops” in Detroit, Miami, and Houston, beginning on Friday, Nov. 19. eBay will share a location hint on its social media channels the day before a pop-up shop launches, and then reveal the actual location 24 hours later.
Each shop will focus on one specific holiday category, as follows:
The Hard to Find Sneaker Shop | Detroit, Nov. 19 - 20
Sneaker collector and seller Jaysse Lopez, owner of independent omnichannel sneaker retailer Urban Necessities, will sell items from the Urban Necessities assortment. The event will also feature a display of all 50 pairs of the rare Off White x Nike Dunk Low sneaker collection.
The Hard to Find Collectibles Shop | Houston, Dec. 3 - 4
In partnership with top eBay sellers, including two from Houston, this pop-up shop will feature high-value trading cards, collectibles, and memorabilia.
The Hard to Find Luxury Shop |Miami, Dec. 10 - 11
This pop-up will include items such as Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags, Gucci psychedelic and floral collections, and rare timepieces from watch brands such as Richard Mille, Audemar Piguet, and Rolex.
eBay will also offer the same inventory online at ebay.com/hardtofindshop.
This is not the first time eBay has opened a brick-and-mortar pop-up shop as part of its holiday promotional strategy. On Black Friday (Nov. 29) 2019, the company launched a one-day pop-up, “Black Friday Escape Room,” in downtown Manhattan. The multi-room installation enabled customers will to compete in holiday challenges and puzzles and visit eBay's “Zen Room,” where they could sip hot, holiday-themed drinks and shop eBay's holiday selection and deals.
eBay’s latest activity in the brick-and-mortar pop-up space is designed around its growing presence as a retailer of rare and collectible items. In June 2021, the e-commerce giant began authenticating new and pre-owned handbags sold for more than $500 from 16 prominent luxury brands, including Saint Laurent, Gucci, Celine, and Balenciaga.
In addition, eBay had already been vetting and verifying all new and pre-owned collectible sneakers for over $100 in the U.S., routing luxury watches to a third-party authenticator for assessment, and letting buyers and sellers of sports memorabilia use the managed Prova Group SmarTag solution to verify items.
"This holiday season will put even the most serious shoppers to the test, but eBay was made for moments like this," said Jordan Sweetnam, senior VP and GM, eBay North America. "We created the Hard to Find Shops to bring our unmatched selection to life - from the rare and coveted to the sold-out-everywhere-else. The experience mirrors the impossibility shoppers are facing this year - and reminds them that eBay has something for everyone on their list."
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay enabled over $85 billion of gross merchandise volume in 2020.