She opened her doors on December 7, and closed them a month later, on January 7.  But Alicia Hashlamoun says that's by design.  

The 24-year-old Eau Claire native operates temporary pop-up shops.  Now living in California, she says she sets them up for as little as a day at a time.  The "gypsy business," as she calls it, is a trend of opening short-term sales spaces for a day, week or two, or a month.  The pop-up retail we may relate to, is done by marketers of seasonal items like Halloween costumes.  Hashlamoun sells women's accessories, all under five dollars.

 Coupling a holiday trip back home to Eau Claire with her business venture, she decided to bring her products with her and open up at 217 N. Barstow and see how she did.  "I'm surprised at the minimum marketing I did and the profit I made.  It's new and different.  People like new."  Hashlamoun says she used Facebook and flyers to get the word out about "Pilar Fashions." 

Hashlamoun says people stopped in from surrounding communities including Elk Mound, Chippewa Falls, Durand, Black River Falls, and Menomonie.  "It's not helping just me, but the people around me.  I think downtown is just perfect.  There are so many cool shops and restaurants and bars."

While here, Hashlamoun gave advice to many people who were interested in setting up their own pop-up retail business. She says she plans to be back again in the spring and will open the shop up again at that time. "I'll keep coming back because it's working."