Pop‑Up Businesses: Could This Be Gull Lake’s Next Big Small Idea?
- Gull Lake Events
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
As part of our ongoing series exploring practical, creative, and community‑building ideas from other small towns, we’re spotlighting another possibility for Gull Lake. These aren’t proposals or plans—just conversation starters to help us imagine what our community could try next.
Across the Prairies, small towns like ours are finding clever ways to spark new business activity without the cost or commitment of a full storefront. One of the most successful approaches is the Pop‑Up Business Program—a simple, low‑risk model that gives local entrepreneurs a chance to test ideas, activate empty spaces, and bring fresh energy to Main Street. With the right spaces and the right timing, it’s worth asking the question we always come back to: could this work here in Gull Lake?
What Is a Pop‑Up Business?
A pop‑up is a temporary, short‑term business space that lets someone try out an idea without taking on a full lease. It can run for:
a weekend
a week
a month
or during a specific event
Pop‑ups are perfect for bakers, makers, collectors, repair services, seasonal ventures—anyone who wants to test a business idea in a low‑risk way.
Unlike a traditional market with multiple vendors, a pop‑up is a focused experience: typically a single business using a dedicated space for a set period. This allows entrepreneurs to create a unique environment and connect directly with their customers.
Why Pop‑Ups Work in Small Towns
Communities under 2,000 people across the Prairies have used pop‑ups to:
Fill empty storefronts
support home‑based entrepreneurs
add new services without long‑term commitments
bring life to Main Street between major events
test ideas before investing in a full business
Pop‑ups succeed because they match the scale of rural life: small, flexible, and community‑driven.
Would This Fit Gull Lake?
We already have the ingredients:
Spaces that could host pop‑ups
Vacant storefronts, the theater lobby, Elks Hall, the Museum Visitor Centre (summer), outdoor spots during events—and even our rink and curling rink lobbies during busy winter weekends.
A community full of talent
Bakers, makers, collectors, hobbyists, and service providers who could test ideas with very little risk.
Built‑in foot traffic
Hockey tournaments, theatre nights, summer travel, and existing markets already bring people into town.
A strong local support network
Gull Lake shows up for local entrepreneurs—and pop-ups give residents something new to explore.
How a Pop‑Up Program Could Look Here
A simple, practical model could include:
short‑term rentals for a weekend, week, or month
event‑linked pop‑ups during Canada Day, Winterfest, tournaments, Porchfest, Heritage Week
an “Entrepreneur of the Month” rotating through a single space
outdoor summer pop‑ups at the Museum Visitor Centre
theatre lobby micro‑shops during shows
Even our rink and curling rink lobbies could host seasonal or event‑based pop‑ups. Hockey tournaments, bonspiels, and busy winter weekends already bring steady foot traffic through those spaces, making them ideal for small food pop‑ups, maker tables, or quick‑turnover ventures that thrive in a lively, social atmosphere. This creates activity all year long—not just during market season.
Pop‑up programs in other small towns are usually promoted through simple tools—Facebook posts, sandwich boards, posters at local hubs, and cross‑promotion with nearby businesses. The goal is to keep it visible, friendly, and easy for people to discover.
Does Our Proximity to Swift Current Matter?
It’s a fair question, and the short answer is: not in a negative way. In fact, being close to Swift Current can actually increase the success of a pop‑up program in Gull Lake.
Swift Current serves a different purpose: big box stores, established businesses, and chain retail. What it doesn’t offer is the small‑town, low‑risk environment where someone can test a weekend bakery, a vintage sale, a repair service, or a handmade goods shop. Those ideas can get lost in a city—but they stand out here.
Our proximity also means we benefit from spillover traffic. People already pass through Gull Lake for tournaments, theatre events, summer travel, and family visits. A pop‑up gives them a reason to stop. Even a small capture rate of that traffic is meaningful for a town our size.
There’s another advantage: city residents often seek rural experiences. A Swift Current maker or baker might want to test a pop‑up here precisely because it feels different — more personal, more heritage‑anchored, and more community‑driven.
So… Could This Work Here?
Everything suggests yes.
It’s low‑risk, low‑cost, and built for the scale of rural life. It fills the quiet spaces between our big events, supports local entrepreneurs, and brings new energy to Main Street.
A Pop‑Up Business Program isn’t a plan—just an idea worth exploring.
And like every idea in this series, it starts with a simple question:
What could Gull Lake try next?
Blake Campbell
💡 This is just one of the many stories shaping life in Gull Lake.
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Sponsorship Note: This editorial is brought to you by Gull Lake Events. This platform is made possible through the support of my local business, Campbell’s Accommodations. We believe in the importance of local news and are proud to help keep Gull Lake informed and connected.
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