Christmas lights are being switched on around the county and, with them, pop-up shops appear in the high streets and shopping malls, rammed to the rafters with Christmas decorations, cards and gifts. These traders want the ability to do business during the critical retail period running up to Christmas, and aren't looking for anything longer term.

But pop-ups aren't limited to Christmas. They are an increasingly popular form of non-traditional retailing that appeals to start-ups and established businesses alike.

As a way of testing the market, pop-ups provide a perfect platform from which a fledgling business can launch itself in the market place. For established businesses, pop-ups can provide the means of trying out new opportunities or moving into new markets.

For online businesses, they offer an accessible way to move from the virtual marketplace to the real-life high street; for all businesses, they can offer a cost-effective way to increase general brand awareness.

So what can the potential occupier expect from a pop-up? Standard commercial leases address the questions of rent, service charge, insurance, rates, liabilities for repairs and redecoration and are generally for fixed terms, which can be anything from a few months to several years.

In contrast, the pop-up will be for a short, limited period of anything from a few days to a few weeks or perhaps a few months.

Rent should be all-inclusive, so that rates, insurance and service charge are all covered in a single payment. Repairs should be limited to the minimum, the tenant's responsibility being no more than to give the property back in a clean and tidy condition, making good any damage it may have caused, but not being responsible for any repairs which, under a normal lease, could give rise to a massive dilapidations claim.

If you think that a pop-up might suit your business, do some market research as to location and your potential customer base. Many established retail brands started out as pop-ups and they certainly seem to be a trend that is here to stay.

This column is sponsored by Cozens-Hardy's commercial property services. To find out more, contact Caroline Linsdell on 01603 724668 or visit www.cozens-hardy.com