Inside PopCom Roadshow Series: PopShop Local Nationwide Presentation & Investors Engage with the Founder

In January, PopCom founder Dawn Dickson-Akpoghene and the team hit the road to visit the seven cities where our most recent PopShop Locals were installed and to meet with our incredible crowdfunding investors along the way. Thus far, she has touched down in Columbus, Charlotte, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cleveland, and Oahu, Hawaii. 

What has been our greatest highlight? Connecting, educating, and listening to our investors as they share why they invested and their vision for the future of PopCom’s robotic storefronts and the PopShop Local program.

"I'd like to see PopShop expand internationally and establish a household name," one investor says during our first Meet & Greet at Polaris Mall in Columbus, Ohio. Other Ohio investors showed an interest in seeing PopShop Locals in airports and on college campuses and military bases.

Dawn unlocked the vending machine and let the audience witness how products were stocked and dispensed. "What products do you want to see in the PopShops?" she inquired.

"Anything that is unique to the area, being in Polaris," a young investor responded. "I appreciate seeing black-owned small businesses elevate in life.”

Many others joined in to request products like books, shoes, technology accessories (like chargers and headphones), and hand sanitizer. Some even suggested that on-the-go makeup, such as lip glosses, eye liners, and tweezers, would be handy.

Currently, the PopShop Local Columbus at the Polaris Mall carries The Brow Dr. and Black Owned, both of which have Ohio-based founders.

PopShop Local Columbus

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Dawn continued the PopShop Local roadshow series and investor meetup at Concord Mills Mall in Concord, North Carolina, a Charlotte suburb, where Brew and Feed introduced its innovative tea flavors and spice blends last December. Investors in this city were just as enthused about PopCom's energy and inventiveness as founder Robert Moreland of Brew and Feed.

“Why did you decide to invest in PopCom?” asked Dawn. 

"I chose to invest because I believe that this form of retail is the future of the industry," a Charlotte investor responded. “Prior to finding PopCom, I was looking for a company that does this.”

Many attendees noted how convenient and easy it was to shop at the PopShop. "It's simple to find what you're looking for," one shopper commented. "The company that operates this [PopShop] provides outstanding product descriptions and videos. It’s a very intuitive experience.”

PopShop Local Charlotte‍

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Dawn made a trip to the PopShop Local Los Angeles, where we carry SoulFlower's 100% pure natural bath products and Flat Out Of Heels shoes at The Beverly Center. She had the pleasure of meeting with both brand owners at this location as well. She then traveled over to PopShop Local San Francisco and visited with local crowdfunding investors at the Metreon Mall, where the Teas with Meaning PopShop launched their organic tea in November of 2021.

PopShop Local Los Angeles

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PopShop Local San Francisco‍

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In late February, the PopCom team also paid a visit to the PopShop Local Cleveland location in the Town City Centre, as well as to PopShop Local Honolulu. On the road, the PopShop Local experience and investor response has been nothing short of incredible.

PopShop Local Hawaii

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PopShop Local Cleveland

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Our PopShop Local Program has debuted seven machines in recent months to great success, delivering a selection of locally sourced goods previously only available through online shopping platforms. There will be many more launches to come in 2022.

What’s next on the roadshow series? Dawn will be attending SXSW in Austin,TX and planning to raise a Series A round of funding to continue to scale the company. 

Stay connected with our journey by following us on social platforms @popcomtech.

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Thank you for reading! Have a look at our quick recap video below.

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