Introduction
Client: Scholl Shoes
Location: Corso Garibaldi, 65 – Milano, Italy
Store Type: Pop-up retail store
Open Date: May 26, 2025
Agency: Malm Studio (Shopify Experts)
Scholl Shoes wanted to test a short-term pop-up concept in Milan to showcase limited-edition designs and engage foot traffic in one of the city’s trendiest shopping districts. To support this, they needed a fast, reliable point-of-sale (POS) system that could integrate seamlessly with their existing Shopify e-commerce setup—and scale back down once the pop-up closed.
Flexibility for a Pop-Up Model:
Allow Scholl Shoes to open and close the store without the overhead of a traditional retail lease.
Demonstrate how Shopify POS can be repurposed for future pop-up activations or temporary kiosks.
Objectives
Rapid Deployment:
Configure a fully functional Shopify POS environment in under three weeks.
Ensure all hardware (iPads, card readers, receipt printers) and software settings were optimized for a temporary location.
Inventory Synchronization:
Keep online and in-store inventory aligned in real time to avoid overselling.
Enable staff to quickly locate product availability across channels.
User-Friendly Checkout Experience:
Provide a lightning-fast, intuitive checkout flow for both customers and store associates.
Support multiple payment methods (credit/debit cards, contactless, Apple Pay).
Challenges
Time Constraints: The client confirmed the pop-up lease only three weeks before opening day. Malm Studio needed to configure the entire POS stack—hardware, software, and staff training—on a very tight schedule.
Temporary Infrastructure: The store location on Corso Garibaldi lacked a permanent wired network. Malm Studio had to ensure stable connectivity via mobile hotspots and a backup 4G router to prevent any downtime during peak shopping hours.
Inventory Transparency: Scholl Shoes’ HQ inventory was managed in a separate warehouse. Synchronizing SKU counts between the central database and the pop-up store in real time required careful setup of Shopify’s inventory locations and fulfilment logic.
Malm Studio’s Solution
Shopify Backend Configuration
Location Setup: Created a dedicated “Corso Garibaldi 65” location in Shopify, assigning all pop-up–specific inventory to that location.
Inventory Routing: Enabled Shopify’s built-in location preferences so that online orders would draw stock from the main warehouse, while any in-store purchases automatically decremented the “pop-up” location.
Product Tagging & Collections: Tagged limited-edition styles as “POPUP” to appear in a curated “Milan Exclusive” collection on both the POS interface and the online store.
POS App Customization:
- Configured item lookup shortcuts so associates could scan barcodes or search by style name.
- Set up personalized “Your Bag” UI for customers to review items, apply discounts, or add gift receipts.
- Enabled tipping features and custom cash drawer settings (for cash transactions).
Staff Training & Documentation
Conducted a two-hour remote workshop (via Zoom) one week before opening:
Navigation: How to use Shopify POS on iPad, including waitlist management, split-tender payments, and returns.
Inventory Checks: Teaching staff to toggle between the “Milan Pop-Up” location and “Main Warehouse” to verify stock levels.
Order Notes & Tagging: Logging customer preferences and adding gift-wrapping requests directly in POS orders.
Delivered a concise two-page Quick-Start Guide PDF covering
Store-opening checklist
Daily cash-count procedures
Troubleshooting common POS errors (e.g., Wi-Fi drop, printer feed jams).
Go-Live & Support
Soft Launch (May 24–25): Malm Studio’s on-site consultant visited the Corso Garibaldi location two days before the official opening to:
Verify hardware was installed correctly.
Run end-to-end test transactions (including refunds and exchanges).
Ensure the mobile 4G network performed under load.
Opening Day (May 26, 2025):
Provided remote support for any urgent ticketing or connectivity issues.
Monitored real-time Shopify POS analytics to confirm orders were syncing back to the HQ dashboard.
Results & Benefits
Rapid Time-to-Market
Full POS deployment and staff training completed in three weeks—on par with permanent retail rollouts.
Zero downtime on opening day; the checkout process ran smoothly from the first customer to the last sale.
Unified Inventory Management
Achieved real-time stock accuracy: in-store purchases adjusted the Shopify “Corso Garibaldi” location immediately, preventing double-selling when high traffic spiked over the weekend.
Online orders during the pop-up period automatically deducted from main warehouse stock, preserving the exclusivity of “Milan Exclusive” styles.
Exceptional Checkout Experience
On iPad POS, average transaction time was under 90 seconds from product scan to receipt printing.
Customers praised the seamless Card-Present and Apple Pay options, contributing to a 12% uplift in add-on accessory sales compared to previous pop-ups using legacy systems.
Flexibility & Scalability
As a temporary store, Scholl Shoes realized that Shopify POS:
Can be deactivated at the end of the lease with a single toggle in settings.
Could be repurposed quickly for future events (e.g., trade shows, seasonal kiosks).
Malm Studio provided the POS setup files and standard operating procedures, enabling any new location to launch within 48 hours if needed.
Client Testimonial
“Malm Studio’s expertise turned what could have been a logistical nightmare into a breeze. From pre-configuring the hardware for the Point of Sale to guiding our team through the first sale, their attention to detail and the inherent flexibility of Shopify POS made our Milan pop-up a hit.”
— Paolo Pizzolon, Scholl Shoes
Key Takeaways & Best Practices
- Plan Inventory Locations Early: Assigning a dedicated “pop-up” location in Shopify before launch avoids stock-routing errors.
- Invest in Connectivity Redundancy: Mobile or hybrid networks ensure 24/7 uptime, especially in temporary venues without reliable wired internet.
- Leverage Shopify’s Hardware Ecosystem: Pre-certified card readers and printers minimize compatibility headaches; plug-and-play pairs directly with the POS app.
- Provide Hands-On Training & Documentation: Even experienced retail staff appreciate quick reference materials and a trial run before a live launch.
- Design for Reusability: By standardizing all settings (collections, POS devices, printing templates), the same “pop-up kit” can be shipped to other cities or events with minimal rework.
Conclusion
Malm Studio’s end-to-end Shopify POS implementation empowered Scholl Shoes to execute a high-impact pop-up store in Milan’s Corso Garibaldi district. The combination of rapid deployment, reliable inventory syncing, and an intuitive POS experience showcased how flexible and scalable Shopify can be—especially for temporary retail activations. This case exemplifies how an agile tech stack, paired with expert configuration, delivers both operational excellence and a standout customer journey.