Frank & Oak will open a pop-up store in Chicago next month.
The store, at 1953 W Wabansia Ave., will open on Saturday, Aug. 8. The site will be the brand’s second physical location in the U.S. The first U.S. site, also a pop-up location, was opened in May in Boston.
The Montreal-based brand already operates six locations across Canada, but elected to open pop-up stores in the U.S. through its Collective Impact campaign. Customers voted for the city they wanted the pop-up to be in through the preordering of gift cards on the Frank & Oak Web site. Twelve choices were offered, with the top six to host the pop-up locations. Boston was the overwhelming winner and became the first U.S. pop-up site.
Both pop-up sites are expected to open for 12 to 18 months. The expectation is that will be four more pop-up sites, although the locations have yet to be disclosed.
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Frank & Oak, which closed on a Series B funding round of $15 million in September 2014, is an apparel brand that considers itself a media firm. That’s because the business model incorporates digital content as a significant component of the operation. In addition to the e-tail component, a biannual print magazine and online content changes monthly to coincide with the 12 new collections every month.
As for the apparel offerings, the Frank & Oak line targets creative entrepreneurs, individuals who tend to have an interest in fashion. There are about 60 to 75 new pieces every month. The collections have specific themes, and there is a monthly feed on the site on what to wear and how to wear it.
The brand was cofounded by Ethan Song, who is also chief creative officer and chief creative director, in 2012. Song describes his firm as an “experience company.” As an e-tailer, that experience — content on the site, ability to buy products online and personal service, whether texting customer service or working with a personal stylist — is powered by technology.