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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
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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.
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"I remembered when we purchased two containers from you a couple of years ago that I was pleased with the service then and this time was no exception, every thing was fantastic from start to finish. I will certainly be in touch should we need further containers, please pass my thanks to all who were involved as it a pleasure to do business with you."Ray Watkins, Broxbourne Sports Club
10th April 2024
order - a 3m Flat Pack Container
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"Delivery was simple and efficient. Driver/crane operator knew exactly what he was doing.Delivery was simple and efficient. Driver/crane operator knew exactly what he was doing."Clare Spencer
2nd April 2024
order - a 4m Flat Pack Container
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"Excellent service, i've had 8 containers from you now and never had any issues."Q3 Langley Academy
28th March 2024
order - a 10ft Used Shipping Container
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"The container is very high standard."Bushcraft Company
20th March 2024
order - a New Once-Used 20ft Container
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"Overall, an excellent service and product. Now that our container is built, it is proving to be vital for our needs at present. Thank you."Andrew Black
20th March 2024
order - a 3m Flat Pack Container
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"Cory and the team were very friendly and efficient. Thank you"R B Cooke & Son
21st February 2024
order - a New 20ft Shipping Container
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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
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