A pop-up car yard in the mall

The irregular entrance into the world of pop-up shops has got people talking and stock shifting at one forward-thinking car dealership.

The Gazley Motors pop-up shop at Queensgate Shopping Centre in Lower Hutt has attracted a lot of attention in its first couple of weeks, with questions about test-drives the source of mirth among many shoppers.

Managing director Myles Gazley said the response to the pop-up dealership had been overwhelmingly positive. ‘‘We’ve [already] sold quite a few cars.’’ Although the idea of having a car dealership in a mall might seem a novel idea, it was a tried and tested model overseas and he was happy with how the store had turned out.

‘‘It is well lit and in a good spot at the bottom of the escalator. There’s plenty of foot traffic.’’

The idea was to take the products to where the shoppers were and engage with consumers in Lower Hutt.

In an increasingly online marketplace, shoppers still valued the opportunity to check out products in person.

‘‘It’s like buying a pair of shoes, if a car doesn’t fit, you won’t like it later. You’ll always need a showroom.’’

With regard to the question of test drives, Gazley said the showroom vehicles couldn’t be removed from the mall during opening hours for obvious reasons, but cars could be easily be brought over from their Alicetown dealership to be tested.

Showroom co-ordinator Peter Gilbert said the company had ‘‘hit the nail on the head’’ with the idea and said the shop had attracted interest from people who might not otherwise walk into a dealership.

‘‘Here it feels like a shop. It’s a relaxed environment and they don’t feel there’s any pressure.’’

Queensgate regional centre manager Jan Plummer said despite having had cars in the mall in the past, having a dealership was a first.

Although it might seem out of place in a shopping centre, it offered a ‘‘unique’’ and ‘‘engaging’’ environment for the retailer and shoppers.