The Taco Bell shipping container store is a pop-up experiment that graces this year's SXSW festivities. It embraces an unorthodox yet eco-friendly construction that took only three days to build. About half the footprint of a traditional Taco Bell, it explores how the fast food chain could potentially deal with its upcoming mass expansion. It plans to open 2,000 new locations in the United States by 2022.
Interestingly, a similar company has also tested out a shipping container store. It is a readily available solution that's beneficial in a number of capacities. These two examples show the different ways a business can adopt such structures. While Starbucks revamped them for more class, Taco Bell embraces the shipping container look by simply branding the exterior.
Shipping Container Pop-Ups
Taco Bell Opens Up an Eco-Friendly Store at SXSW
Trend Themes
1. Shipping Container Architecture - The use of shipping containers as building materials presents opportunities for eco-friendly and cost-effective construction projects.
2. Pop-up Retail - The trend of pop-up stores allows businesses to quickly and creatively test new markets and concepts.
3. Fast Food Expansion - The fast food industry's plan for massive expansion creates opportunities for innovative and efficient store designs like shipping container pop-ups.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture and Construction - The architecture and construction industry can explore the use of shipping containers as a sustainable and efficient building solution.
2. Retail - The retail industry can take advantage of pop-up store trends to engage with customers and test new concepts in a cost-effective manner.
3. Fast Food - The fast food industry can benefit from disruptive store designs, such as shipping container pop-ups, to support their expansion plans and provide unique customer experiences.