Shipping Containers for Retail and Pop-Up Businesses

Custom storefronts, pop-up shops, and branded retail builds. Delivered nationwide with freight included.

A base New 1-Trip shell runs $3,500 to $5,500 for a 20ft and $4,500 to $7,500 for a 40ft, with freight included in the ZIP code price. Retail modification packages, side openings, electrical fit-out, and custom paint or branding are quoted on top of the base shell once your build is scoped. Standard unmodified units ship in 5 to 10 business days; a modified retail build takes longer since the work is completed before dispatch. Orders of three or more units go through the bulk desk for volume pricing and phased delivery.

We have sold containers for over 35 years and served more than 70,000 customers, including retail operators who use a container storefront to open in a new location within a week of the order going in, rather than committing to a lease build-out. We sell rather than rent, so the storefront is yours to redeploy at your next location once this one has done its job. If you are still working out what your build needs, our commercial buyer's guide covers retail pop-up sizing and configuration in detail.

Why Retail and Pop-Up Operators Buy From Us

Containers and Modification Packages for Retail Builds

Retail is the one industry where the modification is usually the bigger line item than the container itself. Four builds cover most retail and pop-up requirements, from a bare shell to a fully finished branded storefront. All base shell prices include delivery to your ZIP code; modification packages are quoted once your build is scoped.

Retail Build Modifications

Five modifications make up most retail builds: a side opening, electrical fit-out, custom exterior, a lock box, and a roll-up door. Every modification is completed before dispatch and covered by one financing agreement.

Because retail modifications are the largest line item on this kind of build, they cannot be added to a financing agreement after the order is placed. The full build needs to be scoped and specified at checkout. The standard accessory range is on the container accessories collection; side-opening, electrical, and custom paint work is scoped directly with the bulk desk.

Configurations by Operation Size

Configuration drives both unit count and order route. A single build goes through the bulk desk directly since retail modification work is quoted rather than listed. Three or more units also route through the bulk desk for volume pricing on the base shells.

Standardizing the Build Across a Multi-Location Rollout

Retail groups opening several locations get the most value from a single standardized build held on file.

One build spec across every location means the electrical fit-out, side-opening hardware, and paint finish are identical from site to site, so a new location opens looking exactly like the last one rather than needing its own design pass.

It also improves the quote. A standardized multi-unit build produced from the same modification spec is efficient for us to fulfil, and that efficiency comes back in the pricing on both the shells and the modification work.

Planning more than one location? Call (330) 286-0526 and ask the bulk desk to set up a program build.

Pricing

Base shell prices include delivery to your ZIP code with no separate freight charge, and reflect the five nearest depot locations. Modification work (side openings, electrical fit-out, and custom paint) is quoted separately once your build is scoped, since retail modification spend varies more than any other industry we serve.

Retail builds use New 1-Trip shells almost exclusively, since cosmetic condition directly affects customer-facing brand presentation (a used, dented shell undercuts the point of a branded storefront). Full base pricing detail is in our 2026 price breakdown.

Bulk and Multi-Location Rollout Ordering

Bulk Order Desk: Retail Builds and Multi-Location Rollouts

  A single point of contact who scopes the modification package once and holds it for every location.
  Phased delivery so finished builds arrive as each location becomes ready to open.
  Multi-address dispatch drawn from the depot nearest each site.
  Volume pricing on the base shells when three or more units are ordered.
  A single agreement covering shells and modification work together.

Call (330) 286-0526 and ask for the bulk desk, or email [email protected] with your rollout plan and location count.

Payment, Financing, and Section 179

Four payment routes are available: card or ACH for immediate purchase, Clicklease equipment financing over 12 to 60 months with a 60-second approval and a soft credit pull, Affirm at checkout for shorter terms, and pay-on-delivery for qualifying addresses where the unit is inspected before payment clears.

Containers purchased for business use may qualify as Section 179 depreciable assets, allowing the purchase cost to be deducted in the year of acquisition rather than depreciated across several years. Treatment depends on your business circumstances and should be confirmed with your tax advisor. Full payment terms are on the financing options page.

Modification work is quoted and financed together with the shell as one build, which is why the full scope needs to be settled before the order is placed rather than added afterwards.

Procurement, Purchase Orders, and Vendor Setup

We supply retail chains, franchise groups, and event operators that purchase through formal procurement. Purchase orders, vendor onboarding documentation, W-9 requests, certificates of insurance, and tax-exempt purchases are handled through the bulk desk rather than standard checkout.

• Purchase Orders: Accepted on qualifying accounts. Contact the bulk desk before raising the PO so the build scope and quoted pricing are confirmed first.
• Vendor Setup: We can complete standard vendor onboarding packs and supply a W-9 on request.
• Certificates of Insurance: Available on request where a landlord, mall operator, or franchisor requires one before delivery.
• Tax-exempt Purchases: Supply your exemption certificate at order so the invoice is raised correctly.
• Consolidated Invoicing: Multi-location rollouts can be invoiced as a single document or split by site.

Because the modification scope is quoted rather than listed, bringing procurement into the conversation before the build is scoped avoids the common delay where a PO is raised against an estimate that changes once the design is finalized. Call (330) 286-0526 before the PO is issued.

Lead Times

A retail build takes longer than a standard unmodified container because side-opening hardware, electrical fit-out, and paint work are all completed before the container leaves our facility. If you have a fixed opening date or lease start date, confirm lead time with us before ordering rather than after.

Delivery is completed by tilt-bed truck. The site needs 12 feet of access width, 60 feet of clear run-out at the drop point, 14 feet of overhead clearance, and firm level ground. Retail sites in shopping centers, downtown lots, or event grounds should confirm delivery access and any landlord or event permit requirements before scheduling, since these sites often have tighter access windows than an open commercial lot.

Inspection and Warranty

Every container is inspected before dispatch and again at delivery, with the condition record reviewed with you at the point of handover. New 1-Trip shells carry a 10-year structural and 10-year no-leak warranty; modification work is covered separately and confirmed at the point of order.

Pay-on-delivery is available for qualifying addresses, which means the finished build is placed and inspected on your site before payment clears. For retail operators ordering a build for the first time, this removes the risk that the finished storefront does not match what was scoped. The inspection process is documented on the container inspection process page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer volume pricing on multiple retail builds?

Yes, on the base shells. Orders of three or more units go through the bulk desk, which applies volume pricing on the shells and coordinates phased delivery and multi-address dispatch as each location becomes ready. Call (330) 286-0526 with your rollout plan and location count.

Can I pay by purchase order?

Purchase orders are accepted on qualifying accounts. Contact the bulk desk before raising the PO so the build scope and quoted pricing are confirmed first, since retail modification pricing is quoted rather than listed.

Can you supply a W-9 and complete vendor onboarding for a retail chain or franchise group?

Yes. We can complete standard vendor onboarding documentation and supply a W-9 on request. Certificates of insurance are also available where a landlord, mall operator, or franchisor requires one before delivery.

Do you handle tax-exempt purchases?

Yes. Supply your exemption certificate at the point of order so the invoice is raised correctly from the outset. Amending an invoice after issue is slower than applying the exemption at order.

Can one order be delivered to several different retail locations?

Yes. Multi-address dispatch is standard on multi-location rollouts, and each finished build is drawn from the depot nearest its destination location. Delivery can be phased so builds arrive as each site becomes ready to open.

Is delivery included in the price?

The base shell price includes delivery to your ZIP code with no separate freight charge. Modification work (side openings, electrical, and paint) is quoted separately once your build is scoped, and that quote includes the finished, delivered price.

What is the lead time on a full storefront build?

The longest lead time in our range, because side-opening hardware, electrical fit-out, and paint work are all completed before the container leaves our facility. If you have a fixed opening date, call (330) 286-0526 to confirm lead time before ordering.

Can I inspect the build before paying?

Pay-on-delivery is available for qualifying addresses, which places and inspects the finished build on your site before payment clears. Every container is also inspected before dispatch and again at delivery, with the record reviewed at handover.

What warranty comes with a retail build?

The New 1-Trip shell carries a 10-year structural and 10-year no-leak warranty. Modification work (electrical, side openings, and paint) is covered separately, with terms confirmed at the point of order.

Can I add modifications after the shell has been delivered?

Not under the original financing agreement. Because modification work is completed before dispatch, adding it after delivery means removing the unit from service and treating it as a separate build. Scope the full build at checkout to avoid this.

Working out what your retail build actually needs before you buy? Our commercial buyer's guide covers retail pop-up sizing, modification options, and how container storefronts compare to a traditional lease build-out.

Get a Quote for Your Retail Build.

Enter your site ZIP code for a base shell price with freight included, then call the bulk desk to scope your side opening, electrical, and paint package. Planning more than one location? The bulk desk handles volume pricing, phased delivery, and multi-address dispatch.

Get My Instant Quote  |  Bulk Desk: (330) 286-0526